Search - Idlewild :: Remote Part

A titter of mirth at the constant REM analogies

Paul Wright | Leicester, England. | 04/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's quite interesting to see how reviews for british bands written by american critics and fans compare to, well, the british equivalent.



Being British myself, and having seen Idlewild play last night in Nottingham my review is totally biased as I'm still buzzing off of how amazing they are.



First of all my opinion of this album: Divine follow up to 100 Broken windows with Idlewild in more reflective and emotive mood. There is a definite depth to this album that exceeds previous works whilst maintaining the trademark riffing and power melodies. American English is a damp squib, in fact it's dire. This raises the point I'm making about the difference in opinion from either side of the pond. US opinion generally states that "American English" is a soaring rock classic (unsurprising from the largest concentration of Nickelback fans in the world). Britsh opinion is generally that it's generic and tiresome. That is the only criticism of the whole album I have as I love every single track other than "American English".



the REM analogies are frequent either side of the Atlantic but I don't really see the massive connection. To say that Roddy Woomble has looked to Michael Stipe for lyrical inspiration is basically laughable. From Early work like Captain, Hope Important and 100 Broken Windows through to this album and their new release "Warning/Promises" the lyrical ingenuity has always been clearly lauded towards contemporary and classical Scottish poets, although structurally I admit to some similarities to REM. the previous comments about this album trying to cram the whole of the Smashing Pumpkins back catalogue into one album is side splitting also, mainly because Idlewild are so much better, so much cleverer and frankly downright more interesting in every possible way to the criminally overrated and happily now defunct Smashing pumpkins.



don't get me wrong, I am under no illusion that Idlewild are the most original band ever to grace the earth but hats should not be tilted toward iconographic US bands like the aforementioned REM/Smashing pumpkins. I think a better breakdown would be to think of Idlewild as a blend of The Smiths and Mogwai. Idlewild carry a lack of sickly sweet sentiment in their songs even when writing about love and relationships and this album is no different and I personally feel enhances their reputation as one of the most important contemporary bands today - not just in the UK but on a global scale. I don't think they get the recognition they deserve and although "The Remote Part" offers more to a mainstream audience I still don't think they'll get the exposure to propel them to the heights they are capable of achieving. I don't mind that one bit as the last thing the world needs is another Stadium rock band.



buy their records and be totally immersed but don't try and pigeonhole them to other bands. for fans of anything from folk to Indie to Post Punk. you'd be doing yourselves a great injustice by avoiding this band.













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