I kind of like idlewild...

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..so abuse me. Seriously, this isn't the kind of thing I usually go for, but a lot of the songs on 100 Broken windows (the only CD i have) are prtty good. Shopuld I bother withtheir other albums? Oh, they don't sound a bit like REM to me, but I haven;t really listened to an REM album since 1990 or so.

― g (graysonlane), Tuesday, 17 December 2002 18:46 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, i never really got the REM comparison. or at least why they deserve it more than a brillion other bands

― bob zemko (bob), Tuesday, 17 December 2002 19:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I kind of like them too, but they do sound quite a lot like (very early) REM to my ears at times on "The Remote Part".

I would suggest from your comments that you go for "Hope Is Important" next 'though.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 17 December 2002 21:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I can;t remember REM being as RAWK as idelwild is often, that's all

thanks for the response

― g (graysonlane), Tuesday, 17 December 2002 21:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I love them but the new album seems very wishy washy in comparison to their far superior earlier material

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 17 December 2002 22:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Not only do I love love love the new album, I find you can make an extremely good companion album by tacking together the B-sides from the singles. In particular, I can't believe A Distant History, The Nothing I Know and Great Times Wasted have been, er.. wasted, as B-sides. They're utterly A-grade.

Perhaps some of the charm of 100 Broken Windows is missing as there's a bit less variety, but quite frankly, variety can take a running jump.

Hope Is Important is quite different. A lot of somewhat ill-advised, though still very listenable, punkish throwaways, two killer singles (When I Argue I See Shapes and Everyone Says You're So Fragile), a gorgeous acoustic strummer (I'm Happy To Be Here Tonight, also v. good in the live version on the Live In A Hiding Place single) and a couple of enjoyable indie rock bits (Close The Door, I'm A Message). It's pretty good, but I like the two more recent albums more.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 17 December 2002 23:47 (twenty-two years ago)

agree that their b-sides are generally pretty strong, esp. the recent ones

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 17 December 2002 23:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Look for the Captain mini-album as well - pisses on all they've done since, sez I (and I like all they've done since very much).

― Charlie (Charlie), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 03:45 (twenty-two years ago)

I like em too, but I don't think they've made their killer album. I have 100 Broken Windows and the Remote Part, and both are very REM-ish indeed. More punky, for sure, but Roddy's vocal and lyrical style are very Stipe-y. And those jangly guitars on "These Wooden Ideas".

The new record has their most consistently good songwriting, but the production's a bit too polished and stadium-eating. "Let Me Sleep Next to the Mirror" is my favourite 'Wild track, but the best way to experience Idlewild is in concert. A storming live act.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 10:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, I love LMSNTTM best off 100BW as well. I personally like the stadium-eating of The Remote Part, which is probably why I can forgive the lack of variety. I'm seeing 'em live next year. Don't know anyone else who likes them so it'll probably be a smallish venue too.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 12:33 (twenty-two years ago)

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