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This effort from the British quartet is as good a release as I've heard this year. Combining a 1980s flavor with a punk-like garage band edge, Idlewild features the chops of lead vocalist Roddy Woomble and guitarist Rod Jones and rocks all the way through.
The opening track "Little Discourage" draws the listener in immediately, as does "I Don't Have the Map" and "These Wooden Ideas." Why? Because they've got verses that lay back a bit and loud, melodic choruses with balls. "Roseability," "Let Me Sleep" and "Listen to What You've Got" all have a New Order/Depeche Mode feel but with more grit. The crowning jewel is "The Bronze Medal," a ballad about coming in third place and dealing with the regret of not winning it all.
The production is perfect for this record. There are no bells and whistles, just a straight-ahead rock approach that lets the songs and the band speak for themselves. My advice is to pick this one up and blow out your speakers with it.
~Mike Farley
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