Hope Is Important (studio album) by Idlewild

From Secondsoul 12/21/2012 13:44

Worth getting just for the wonderful "When I argue I see Shapes"

When going into a room you should really make your intentions known. Tell us why you are here and we'll get things done faster than we could. You know, good service? Unless you're a spy ofcourse and then you might not want to have your intentions known. Sneak about... a little, go in the draws. But yeah, you usually want to tell people what you want when going into some... hypothetical room. What intentions did Idlewild want with their debut? A picture of a paddling boat smashed apart on the shore, inspected by onlookers in a photo that was taken before the Titanic set sail. These are going to be soft vanilla cream trend joiners aren't they? Follow in the footsteps of early R.E.M. or a Pixies gone tame. Well... no. The answer is no! THIS IS LOUD! THIS IS SCREAMING AT THE BARKING DOGS! "WHAT DO YOU SAY IF YOU'VE TAKEN ME OVER, YOU SAY YOU'RE TAKING ME OVER, YOU SAY YOU'RE TAKING ME OVER" he is howling seconds into the album in a farcry from 'Love Steals Us From Loneliness' while 'You Don't have Heart' has the band ripping hinges of your doors with vocals, wooden sticks and metal strings! 'Everyone Says That Your so Fragile' because that song made light work of you and your Bob Marley wish washed mind! Guitars stab at acts like Oasis in 'A Film For The Future' with a rabid ferocity that you won't here again until... well 'Paint Nothing' comes on! These are more rabid than The Sex Pistols yet mostly remembered for their Starsailor esque inroads. Oh... so what about them later tunes and ballads? Well songs such as 'I'm Happy To Be Here Tonight' certainly anticipate them. They are much more refined in that direction with 'The Bronze Medal' on their next album. For now it is best to want the heavy screeching dush this album gives in spades. The My Bloody Valentine calling back of 'I'm a Message' is a highlight while 'Safe And Sound' is the half way point between Alice In Chains and the latest cream of the butter farm bands that was 90's UK music. Do You like guitar music? Do you like incoherence and a hidden gem? Take this one.