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Idlewild - Hope is Important cover

Idlewild: Hope Is Important

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? by Raziq Rauf
Hark back to a time when London radio really was alternative; when the Spirit of Independence wasn’t just a corporate slogan used to patronise those who still give a shit. An independent alternative radio station – it was something people stood up and called out for. That was way back when, though. A lot of time has passed since the spring of 1998 when this record soundtracked my life. Back then the last major national guitar fad of Britpop was thinking about packing it in due to it faltering so. This record seemed so beautiful in its crisp unrefined qualities that I would go on to watch them live more times than any other band.

[2 minutes] My dad at the wheel of the car, flickering and switching his gaze from the road to me, clearly wondering what on earth his son was doing. I was possessed. It may have seemed as though I was fitting. I was not. The radio had ensnared me and I had to dance. It did prove to be a film for the future [2 minutes]

Arguably, it was this record you are to blame for enveloping my soul in music. This was the first record that I truly loved and as with all first loves there will always be a special place for it. It will always be the first out of the collection to be placed in the selection. It will always be the one to comfort me in times of despair and disquiet. This is the one.

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Idlewild - Hope Is Important

The album that got me *really* into music was probably Coldplay - Parachutes. It changed the way I viewed music all together. It brought me out of a phase when my head was full of house and trance anthems. My obsession with the album didn't last long. I bought the first Reloaded compilation album and suddenly I became obsessed with nearly every song on there. Coldplay were pushed to the back of my collection and all my sister's old Brit-pop albums were brought back out. It kinda went from there.

Even though my opinions of Parachutes have somewhat dropped now it really does hold a special place in my heart.

As does Hope Is Important. I'm so glad I made the choice in the record store that day between Idlewild and Placebo.

Idlewild rock my multi-coloured socks off.
Old_Anonymous_Comments | 12 Sep '02, 21:33 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Idlewild - Hope Is Important

I guess the album I'm most in love with is also the first one I ever went out and bought, Different Class by Pulp, which I got way back when I was about 12ish. I didn't *get* it then as I'd like to think I do now, but still, I see where you're coming from - I had the whole music changing my life thing when I saw the Manics live in Sheffield in '98. Hearing Motown Junk, Motorcycle Emptiness and You Love us for the first time moved me more than I could ever begin to say. Although it did also make everything from TIMTTMY seem crap in comparison...
Old_Anonymous_Comments | 26 Sep '02, 00:00 | Send note | Report this | Reply