Jubilee Offer: Patriotic Classics for £2.50 |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
|
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Having spent the majority of their career languishing in the middle of indie's second division, churning out superior angular guitar pop to mild acclaim, Idlewild use The Remote Part to make a bid for promotion to the grown-up's league. UK Top 10 single "You Held the World in Your Arms" luxuriates in a widescreen confidence and love of grand gestures that had previously eluded the Scottish four-piece and sibilant single "American English" is bigger still, an anthem penned with lighter waving and the absurdity of universal truths in mind. REM are still an obvious role model for Roddy Woomble and team, with songs like "(I Am) What I Am Not" and "Tell Me 10 Words" recalling Document's similar shift in gear. Alas, Woomble is sometimes a little too in thrall to Michael Stipe's obtuse wordplay, hiding behind lines like "losing isn't learning to be lost, it's learning to know when you're lost" when he should, by his own admission, "sing a song about himself, not some invisible woman." Minor gripes aside, though, The Remote Part finds Idlewild in excellent form, buzzing with ambition, energy and intelligence, broadening out their style to take in the acoustics of "I Never Wanted", the fuzzed up rock of "A Modern Way" and even a poetry reading on "In Remote Part". --Ian Watson
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Idlewild have come a long way in a short space of time. Whilst their debut album was brash and uncomfortable, the follow-up "100 Broken Windows" showed more control, a well-honed songwriting talent, and signs of greatness to come. Now on "The Remote Part" the band find perfection in their sound, and match it with a powerful set of songs that attack you with feeling, proving to the likes of Coldplay that emotional music does not have to be wistful and melancholy. If ever an album began perfectly then it is this one. "You Held The World In Your Arms" rips into you right from the start, with dynamic guitars and strings creating a tension that never lets up until the finish. This is surely one of the greatest songs of the millennium to date. Then, without a chance to catch a breath, you are flung headfirst into the punchy "A Modern Way Of Letting Go", before finally being able to relax in the shimmering beauty of "American English", the other standout track on the album. There are moments of magic throughout – like the two-part guitar solo at the end of "I Never Wanted", and the majestic piano line that rides over the chorus in "Live In A Hiding Place" – and Roddy Woomble's emotive vocals sit perfectly on the intense backing sound. The stirring album closer "In Remote Part" fuses an explosion of sound with Edwin Morgan's reading of "Scottish Fiction", and proves that poetry can be used effectively in song without appearing pretentious. One of the most exciting and unique-sounding albums produced for a long time - if Idlewild continue this remarkable progression then album number four will be something to behold.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
After hearing a couple of tracks on the radio i decided to buy this album and im glad i did as this is now one of my fav albums of all time. Most people will know Idlewild from the song (You Held The World In Your Arms) which is on this album and a great song at that but i have to say theres much better songs than that on this album (American English) for one is amazing and shows Idlewild at their best. Overall this album is purely amazing.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I first heard "You held the World in Your Arms" on Kerrang and after being heavily impressed i bought the album, and what an album it is. The best Idlewild album in my opinion and something that would attract interest from Goo Goo Dolls fans for example. The album simply does not have a filler song and all the songs could be related to by anyone with well thought lyrics and superb musical accompiament. A definite must.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
THEIR BEST WORK
To start with I am not a big fan of Idlewild as I found their earlier work a bit weak with only a few good tracks on each disc. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Stephen
If you don't like this then you don't like Idlewild!
This is a creative accumulative redefining of their early albums, in other words the best of what they do best! Read more
Published on 30 May 2010 by A. English
Idlewild - The Remote Part
Bought this CD after seeing them on BBC iPlayer performing at T in the Park. Not disappointed. A great album.
Published on 27 Aug 2009 by Chris W.
On reflection - a transitional album
Some six years on from the Remote Part, we can now reflect on how it sits in Idlewild's catalogue of work. It was a successful albums which habours some excellent singles. Read more
Published on 27 Jun 2008 by A. J. Walker
Top Notch
This album really is the pinnacle of Idlewild's career so far. With some great fast-paced punky tracks like Out of Routine, and an absolute gem in Scottish Fiction. Read more
Published on 6 Dec 2005 by "treximus"
Its fantastic
Just a short review this time. The album is my favourite ever, with only QOTSA Songs for the Deaf coming close. The opening track "You held the world... Read more
Published on 8 Oct 2005 by Joey_T_Rocks
Scottish Fiction? Scottish Friction?
I was first introduced to the delights of Idlewild whilst at University - around the time they were touring to promote The Remote Part. Read more
Published on 27 July 2005 by Jonathan Collin
brilliant!
Having been a big fan of previous work of this scotish outfit, I was greatly anticipating the new album. Read more
Published on 4 Sep 2003 by "james___g"
Disappointing
I have to say I found this album rather a letdown. "100 Broken Windows" is one of my favourite albums of the last few years. This doesn't even come close. Read more
Published on 20 Aug 2003 by merlinme
The more I listen, the better it gets
Wonderful lyrical & tuneful rock music. Think a more ballsy REM, and then make them Scottish. With tunes like American English, Century after Century and I Never Wanted, this album... Read more
Published on 30 July 2003 by robotfish
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
