Idlewild Album: “Hope Is Important”

Looking for the best in power-pop and thrashy rock? Look no further than Hope Is Important, the first full-length LP from Scottish pseudo-punkers Idlewild. Although musically more diverse than first EP Captain, the band have retained the winning formula. Opening track You've Lost Your Way cleans out the ears for the melodic stomper that is A Film For The Future, the album version of When I Argue I See Shapes is excellent and the addition of the other excellent singles Everyone Says You're So Fragile and UK Top 50 single I'm A Message adds to an excellent album. The top non-single tracks have to be I'm Happy To Be Here Tonight (a real breather) and Paint Nothing. I can only look forward to their second album, which on the evidence of this and previous single Little Discourage, will be well worth waiting for.

I had 100 broken windows when it came out and i still think its one of my most important albums (out of 550+), so i don't know why it took me so long to get their first full length album.

Many reviewers used the words pop and mainstream to describe this album and admitdly there are a few soft songs but otherwise this is a raw emo-punk album. The opening track is a short 1min hard punk belter. The other tracks have the hard/ melodic feel to them, reminiscent of At the Drive-In. The best song has to be 'I see shapes'.

To be honest on my first listen this album was hard to comprehend, but give it time (about 4 listens), and then critically analyse it and i'm sure fans of the latter album would love it. I'm off to get their Captain E.P.

IdleWild are a unique band, there sound is completely new within the mainstream music World. There are hints of Nervana in some of the tracks on this album, but most are like nothing you have ever heard before. This album was the must buy punk album of '98 and if you don't yet have a copy buy now. This is one of those albums you will want to listen too over and over, but you won't be sure why. It does have it's bad points, and there are some disappointing tracks, but that is what the `skip' button on your C.D. player is for. When you hear the sounds of `When I argue I see shapes' and `I am a message' you'll know that this album was well worth buying.

Idlewild's new record 'The Remote Part' is very pleasant, and a very accomplished record. However, if you seek to discover why Idlewild were once called a punk band, or how they have a reputation for rollicking live shows, check out their first full-length LP, Hope Is Important.

Opener 'You've Lost Your Way' is the punkiest on the album; it actually sounds a lot like the Sex Pistols and it a short, sharp, visceral blast. Meanwhile, however, the anthems 'When I Argue I See Shapes', 'Paint Nothing' and 'Everyone Says That You're So Fragile' show that Idlewild can write catchy punk-pop choruses to match anyone else out there; moving along at breakneck speed and sounding as cool as anything.

Meanwhile, the heavy-rock (but not punk) direction taken on 100 Broken Windows is hinted at on 'A Film For The Future', while one beautiful indie-pop ballad, the lovely 'I'm Happy To Be Here Tonight', is the only direct link to the softest sections of the new record. 'I'm A Message' and 'Low Light', however, both show the heartbreaking beauty that is evident on Remote Part, while still rocking thoroughly.

Overall, this is a brilliant, carefree, totally cool punk debut and while Remote Part may be more mature and accomplished, and 100 Broken Windows may be their greatest, most ambitious work, all 3 are necessary to really get every side of Idlewild into the picture. 4 stars.

iDLEWiLD are a fantastic band with some great songs, and this album is no exception. When I argue I see shapes, I am a message and Fragile are my personal faves. Buy this album, you won't be dissapointed. Also, 100 Broken windows is brilliant. Buy that too.