I've been delaying my impressions and response, as this has kinda been another album like Warnings/Promises where it's taken a while for it all to sink in. Plus, I knew when I finally started writing about it, it was going to be a mini-novel.
Everything still hasn't sunken in yet, and I think this one will take longer to sink in than any previous Idlewild album for me, but there are my early thoughts.This is hands down their poppiest, least-edgy record to date. It's pretty ironic that they wait until they're off a label and distributing the album themselves to release something that so accessible and mainstreamish. I'm not sure if their original intent was to actually go "post-electric" as the album and song imply, as it seems like everything may have originally be written on acoustic guitars. Don't get me wrong, most everything still has electric guitars, and it's still rock and roll, it's just not the type of rock and roll you expect to hear from Idlewild. This is one of the first times where I think the comparisons they used to get to REM actually seems to stick, as the song blueprints kinda do remind me of them (but still don't really sound like that either). It's hard to explain, but you'll know what I mean when you hear it. Looking at most people who've gotten this early release's impressions, seemed like everyone was a bit shocked or didn't know what to think at first, and then it sunk in. I personally haven't been able to get 3 or 4 of the tracks out of my head for the last few days!
It's the first Idlewild album since Hope Is Important where the first track isn't either my favorite track on the album, or one of the absolute best songs on the album. The second and third tracks seem to make up for that though, as they're both my present favorites and two of the catchiest pop songs the band has written.
There are a few tracks that sorta have the same general vibe as Roddy's solo album, which I think is a good thing. The title track is pretty damn cool. There's another poppy song that honestly sounds like nothing the band has ever done, it was sorta messed with my head the first time I heard it. Oddly, the "most Idlewild-ish sounding" tracks on the album are some of my least favorite tracks at this point.
In the tradition of The Bronze Medal, In Remote Part, and Finished It Remains, the album's closing track is absolutely stunning. It builds and builds, and you expect it to finally explode like In Remote Part or Finished It Remains, but it surprises you instead. It's extremely satisfying, fitting in regards to the album title, and a beautiful song.
To finally get back to Digi's simple question as to whether or not it's good stuff... Of course it is, it's Idlewild.
