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Warnings/Promises then doesn’t take you anywhere you haven’t been before, but it does however return you to a place of happy times and fond memories. A bit like going back to your grandparents’ house years later, after they've long departed.
And that, for me, is worth the cost of a ... Read review
The fourth album from Idlewild, Warnings/Promises sees these Scottish rockers drifting ... more
further and further from their genesis as feedback-toying moshpit gremlins; mostly conceived on an acoustic guitar and fleshed out later in the studio, it perhaps ma...
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One of the undoubted strengths of Idlewild is their lighterpoetic edge which nurdles ... more
between the more obvious rocky moments.These are not of bedwetting ilk, but instead a quality that givesgreater depth to the tunes. Added to their already super streng...
The fourth album from Idlewild,Warnings/Promisessees these Scottish rockers drifting ... more
further and further from their genesis as feedback-toying moshpit gremlins; mostly conceived on an acoustic guitar and fleshed out later in the studio, it perhaps makes sense that this is an album that's at its strongest when it catches its creators at their most reflective. Clear stand-outs come with the folksy "I Understand It" and the cello-and-xylophone-accompanied "Not Just Sometimes But Always", restrained moments where frontman Roddy Woomble's vocals sounding more like R.E.M's Michael Stipe than ever are granted enough room to spread their wings. However, some of the rockier moments misfire see the blustering "Too Long Awake", which cuts off abruptly after a few minutes of fairly aimless guitar screech as if suddenly aware it's outstayed its welcome. All in all, there's a feeling here that this is a transitional album for Idlewild, one that catches them in the process of morphing into something else entirely. But who knows? Maybe theirAutomatic for the Peoplelies just around the corner.--Louis Pattison
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Advantages: Melodic, at times lovely Disadvantages: Safe, predictable and sounds like you know who
...ones either.
Warnings/Promises then doesn’t take you anywhere you haven’t been before, but it does however return you to a place of happy times and fond memories. A bit like going back to your grandparents’ house years later, after they've long departed.
And that, for me, is worth the cost of a ticket.
... more
Michael Stipe and friends return with their 107th studio album. Yes, the boys from Athens, Georgia are back with another polished performance full of enigmatic lyrics, sweeping melodies and acoustic laments.
What’s that? It’s not Smiley Mikey and pals? It’s those shouty, 3 minute rock-out indie kids commonly know as Idlewild? Shorely shome mishtake.
Ok- it’s a cheap and easy joke but everyone else has done it so I might as well. And like all the best jokes it’s funny ‘cos it’s true.
There really is no getting away from it- Roddy, Rod, Allan, Gavin and Colin have now completed their metamorphosis into R.E.M Juniors. However don’t necessarily take that as a criticism. 50 years of rock and roll means there can be very few truly original acts. The best most can hope for is to take their influences from the upper end of the talent spectrum and attempt to maintain the legacy of their chosen heroes, only very occasionally do some manage to improve on it.
Idlewild don’t take the classic R.E.M sound any further, but they do at least honour it, probably more so than the original band continue to these days.
Opener “Love Steals Us From Loneliness” is as good an example as any on the album. From the first “Oh-Wah-Oh-Oh–Oh-Oh” harmony 2 seconds in you find yourself already singing along. By halfway you’re convinced you’ve known this song all your life, which in many ways you have. It really could have come straight off “Out Of Time”.
“Stop, turn around, try looking with your eyes wide open.” sings Roddy on “Welcome Home”- a soft, peaceful, beautiful refrain and probably the best on the album. In fact whilst "soft" is a word that comes to mind repeatedly when listening to this release "subdued" is probably more accurate. The songs aren't exactly quiet, more understated. But again that’s no bad thing as in the main it’s done well.
It’s fair to say older devotees of the band may be disappointed since only tracks “I Want A Warning”, “The Space Between All Things” and “Too Long Awake” have the loud, edgy guitars that characterised the first two albums- and even the latter is re-produced later in a gentler, reflective form as a secret acoustic song after the end of the album proper.
For the rest it appears all that’s happened is that the guys have just grown up. This really is a very adult recording, but fortunately it never quite strays too far into the realms of AOR. The tunes are relaxing- pleasant but not bland. The words thoughtful and, on occasion, suitably obscure, although Roddy does run the risk of over-egging the paradox pudding at times.
We also get the obligatory string sections (“Not Just Sometimes But Always”), occasionally strained lyrics (“From the harbour I harboured the strangest memories”- “El Capitan”) and the cliché that is the big Scottish finale of a half acoustic, half guitars-like-bagpipes finish of “Goodnight”.
But these are minor quibbles. And the worst that can be said is that there is a certain amount of predictability, rather than a noticeable lack of quality. Indeed there isn’t a bad song on the record, just unfortunately no great ones either.
Warnings/Promises then doesn’t take you anywhere you haven’t been before, but it does however return you to a place of happy times and fond memories. A bit like going back to your grandparents’ house years later, after they've long departed.
Advantages: A consistant album with a lot of decent songs. A change of direction from the Indie rock days of Hope Is Important Disadvantages: It sounds a little too like REM in places. It's still seems to be one step away from their fantastic album
...the most noticeable points on Warnings/Promises is the move further away from 100 Broken Windows. There are still a few Indie Rock tracks on this album but it's more like The Remote Part including a large number of Indie Ballads instead. I've seen them compared to REM in a few places, including here on Ciao and at times this album does have an REM inspired edge. The base of the album is still very much Idlewild and the glimpses back to their older ... ...quite similar to "Little Discourage".
The comparison's to REM aren't completely unfounded, but I think Idlewild really make the sound their own. That's not the only comparison that can be levelled at Idlewild's door. There is a very folk sound to the album as it seems to draw influence from more traditional Scottish music. It's a far calling from their origins but it seems to be a move that really agrees with the band. This seems to be another step ...
Andy.mack 16.04.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Warnings/Promises - Idlewild
Advantages: Melodic, Consistent, Exciting, Really shows the bands maturity Disadvantages: In places the REM similarities seem to get a bit tiresome
I've read a few reviews where people have critics this new album from Idlewild, saying that the band are devoid of what made them so great in the past, saying that they've now lost all their edge and are no longer the great band they once were. I would say that the people that say this are talking rubbish - sure the band have progressed from their old sound and are trying out new things on this record, but I'd say it feels like a natural progression ... ...kicks off inevitably with the bands debut single from the album, 'Love Steals Us From Loneliness.' This is a great way to kick the album off as it is a fabulous single and by putting it right at the very beginning of the album it is possible to get stuck right into this album right from the very beginning. The excitement certainly doesn't stop here, and the band go through their 12 track strong album with immense style and with impeccable precision. ...
RazzaLazza 01.05.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Warnings/Promises - Idlewild
Advantages: It's Idlewild, always going to have great songs Disadvantages: A step down from The Remote Part
It's been three long years since Idlewild's last studio album, 'The Remote Part', which gained them great critical acclaim and put them in the public spotlight. Many thought that was their poetic pinnacle but their hoping to disprove that.
With 'The Remote Part' people felt they were dispelling their early harsh melodic punk sound, for a more polished mellowed, and ultimately, a more poetic direction. This album yet again pushes them in a different ... ...that exists in their new sound. There's no out and out thumping melodic tune along the lines of 'You Held The World In Your Arms' or the riff heavy 'A Modern Way of Letting Go'. The songs are now 'slower' and perhaps more melodic, and some might say more 'polished'.
The first song off the album, which is also the first single off it, is 'Love Steals Us From Loneliness', which is one of the stand out tracks on the album. Fast paced and catchy, it ...
moussa_uk 22.03.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Warnings/Promises - Idlewild
Advantages: melodic, mature, addictive, highly underrated song writing. Disadvantages: a step further away from the hard rock that some fans loved.
This band and especially this album deserve to go down in history. The melodic and varied songs on this album easily match those by bands such as Keane, Athlete etc, but for some reason Idlewild has failed to get the spotlight again. This may be due to the suffisticated lyrics they use rather than the same old bland 'love' lyrics that seem to get into the public eye. Songs such as 'Welcome Home', 'Disconnected', and 'El Capitan' are modern day classics ... ...are no weak links. There is no doubt this is a extremely underrated album, the only people who would disagree are the hardcore fans who crave for the hard rocking/punking music that this outfit used to churn out. This, however is much more mature, melodic and beautiful. You WILL NOT get bored of listening to this album, and it WILL become one of your most prized possessions, this I can guarantee. ...
urz2005 04.11.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Warnings/Promises - Idlewild
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Reviews which might be of interest for "Warnings/Promises - Idlewild"
Advantages: A return to the earlier sound Disadvantages: sometimes feels a little forced
I'll start off by saying how Idlewild are one of my favourite bands ever, behind only Joy Division and perhaps Ikara Colt. So if this seems perhaps a little biased, that's probably why.
This is the 5th studio album from Idlewild (6th including the 'Captain' 6 track EP). As a follow up to 'Warnings/Promises', many fans viewed it as very much a make or break point in their career, W/P having been not too well received by a large portion of the fanbase due to a mellowing of the sound, becoming more melodic and slow paced, and less 'punk-y'. I personally was a fan of W/P, though it doesn't stand up as well as the earlier efforts, particlarly 'The Remote Part' and '100 Broken Windows'.
As soon as you put the CD on, the change from 'Warnings/Promises' couldn't be much more obvious without requiring them to go all death metal on us. 'In ...
Product Information for "Warnings/Promises - Idlewild" »
Product details
Title
Warnings/Promises
Performer
Idlewild
Genre
Rock & Pop
Sub Genre
Alternative
Release Date
07/03/2005
Recomended Retail Price
16.99 GBP
Label / Distributor
Parlophone / EMI Operations/CEVA Logistics
Engineer
Todd Burke; Guy Masey
Producer
Tony Hoffer; Dave Eringa
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Format
Performer
EAN
724356077522
Catalogue Number
5607752
Additional notes
Album Notes
'Warnings/Promises' is the fourth full length studio recording from Scottish outfit Idlewild and follows their 2002 release 'The Remote Part'. The album sees the band continue with their more mature indie rock sound, combining delicate acoustic moments with noisier outbreaks, sounding not unlike the earlier recordings of REM. The single 'Love Steals Us From Loneliness' is also included.
Titles on disc 1
1.
Love Steals Us From Loneliness
2.
Welcome Home
3.
I Want A Warning
4.
I Understand It
5.
As If I Hadn't Slept
6.
Too Long Awake
7.
Not Just Sometimes But Always
8.
Space Between All Things
9.
El Capitan
10.
Blame It On Obvious Ways
11.
Disconnected
12.
Goodnight
13.
Too Long Awake (reprise/hidden track)
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since
22/03/2005
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