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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
The fourth album from Idlewild, Warnings/Promises sees these Scottish rockers drifting 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 their Automatic for the People lies just around the corner. --Louis Pattison
Review
Listening to Warnings / Promises, it's incredible to think that Idlewild were once famously described as sounding "like a flight of stairs falling down a flight of stairs" by the NME. The band's 1998 debut Hope Is Important was chock full of sinewy indie-punk riffs. It was a beautiful mess, like an old scrapbook overflowing with hastily scribbled notes and rough sketches.
100 Broken Windows followed in 2000, where they unveiled their flair for a killer pop chorus, while retaining their spiky edges and art school kudos. It was easily Idlewild's best and most infectious work to date (and for many it remains so).
Then came The Remote Part, which saw them breakthrough to the mainstream with the album's second single, "American English". This is the point where it all started to sound a tad like stadium rock, a little like M.O.R, and a lot like REM. This wasn't completely out the blue, of course; there were early signs that this might happen. "I'm Happy To Be Here Tonight" on Hope Is Important and "The Bronze Medal" on 100 Broken Windows hinted at a softer side niggling away in the background. And hey, it's already happened to Feeder...
On Warnings / Promises, the band give this gentler alter-ego some room to blossom. There are however times when the Idlewild of old rears its indie head - see "I Want A Warning" and "The Space Between All Things" but it's all too quickly brushed under the rug. The riffs-upon-riffs-upon-riffs approach seems a faded memory now. Instead the melodies on offer here are bolstered with some tasteful strings, piano and pedal steel, giving the album a folky, wistful feel.
Still, there's solace in the fact that some things never change. Idlewild's use of harmony and backing vocals remains impeccable; their choruses remain mountainous. Warnings / Promises may not be a bad listen, but it's a truly radical departure from the likes of "Last Night I Missed All The Fireworks" and "You Don't Have The Heart", and you can't help but think the die-hard fans will be disappointed. --Richard Banks
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gorgeous,
By A Customer
This review is from: Warnings/Promises (Audio CD)
More melodic than The Remote Part, my previous favourite, and with a hint of folk rock in there too. "Love Steals Us From Loneliness" seems at first to be a bit of a let down, but as you listen to it more and more you begin to appreciate the beautiful, slightly saddening lyrics. "Welcome Home" is instantly addictive. "As If I Hadn't Slept" has great lyrics and a well-blended upbeat tune. "Not Just Sometimes But Always" is my personal favourite, just because the lyrics roll off your tongue and the subtle violin melody slips ino the music beautifully. "El Capitan" has an extremely catchy tune and makes you want to listen to it endlessly, with a happy and wistful tune.I love every song on the album, but here I have picked out my favourites. This is a great all round album, clearly the best of Idlewild. Every song stands out for itself. If you have liked any of Idlewild's music, like soft rock/folk/indie, or indeed have a good taste in music, GET THIS ALBUM. It's AMAZING - I'm not exaggerating!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A brilliant progression. Criminally under-rated,
This review is from: Warnings/Promises (Audio CD)
A fantastic effort from Idlewild here. why is it selling for £1.96??????????? is this a mistake? because, well, i think it is quite wrong that one of the greatest albums of 2005 shud be sold off so cheaply so quickly! whats going on? Idlewild are on top form in this latest effort and have not been recognised at all for their brilliance! OK, so it took me a while to get into the album. after having been a MASSIVE fan of captain, hope is important, 100 BW and remote part i was looking for more of the same, and was dissapointed. but then, what should i be looking for here? the same old, or something new, bold and imaginative? i went back to the album and listened to it in a different frame of mind, and im still loving every second of it! a brilliant buy and certainly worth a lot more than a couple of quid! shame on you amazon!!!!! the album has crossed so many musical genres and shown that idleiwld can do just about anything and make it sound their own. they are completely individual and original in their ideas, whilst finding inspiration in so many different musical areas. they deserve the highest praise for this outstanding piece of work. but who's going to ive it to them? obviously not amazon, come on guys!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Extremely Good Accomplished album,
This review is from: Warnings/Promises (Audio CD)
I'm a big fan of Idlewild, I've bought all of their albums and was hooked after hearing 'When I argue I see shapes' early on in their career. Idlewild started off with alot of rough edges and sounded pure punk. They have slowly moved their sound on since the Captain EP then over Hope is important and 100 Broken Windows and have evolved. The amounts of different sounding songs they have recorded is amazing. They are a great live band and won an award for best live act.This album is a sonic pleasure with a lot of new ideas and instruments and I believe it will satisfy all existing fans. Idlewild made a massive leap when they made The Remote Part which is a fantastic album, on this album Idlewild dish out more of the same great looping songs with lyrics which repeat but slighly different line from the last line. The lyrics themselves are often timeless like Michael Stipes at his best with Woomble coming up with obscure clever wording which often give a feeling like they are references from great books or influential poetry when they are probably infact from his own mind. Like for instance "Photograph my tears as they hit the ground" is on parr with Stipes "count your eyelashashes secretly" I would say that the album would have been absolute perfection like the last one was if one of the songs were left off because the lyrics are a bit throw away and when Roddy sings them they sound bare and lacking conviction like U2s new stuff. Buy this album it is brilliant and will stil be listened to in 15 years. It has 12 great songs and one hidden track and when you've had enough buy the other 3 and if you can find it, buy the first EP as well. I'm so glad Idlewild are Scottish they are better than Franz Ferdinand, Belle and Sebastian, Snow Patrol and Travis. Check out KT Tunstall.
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