Idlewild To Perform Every LP In Order This Winter

The gigs will take place at Glasgow's KT Wah Wah Hut.

All dates can be found below.

12.17 'Hope Is Important'
12.18 '100 Broken Windows'
12.19 'The Remote Part'
12.20 'Warnings/Promises'
12.21 'Captain' & 'Make Another World'

Visit Idlewild on MySpace.

Learn all about Roddy Woomble's latest project here.

MP3: Idlewild - You Just Have To Be Who You Are

Idlewild Frontman Readies Second Side Project

Following the release of his stellar solo LP (2007's Silence), Roddy Woomble has teamed up with some good friends (K. Drever & J. McCusker) for Before The Ruin. The folk influenced set (which was originally a personal effort as well) is due out later this month. Full track listing is as follows. Roddy MP3 at bottom of post.

1. "Silver & Gold"
2. "Into The Blue
3. "Along The Way"
4. "Before The Ruin"
5. "Hope To See"
6. "Rest On The Rock"
7. "Out Of Light"
8. "Poorest Company"
9. "Moments Last Forever"
10. "Stuck In Time"

Learn more at Roddy's official site.

View his Euro tour plans here.

MP3: Roddy Woomble - Whiskeyface

Idlewild Unveils Pair Of Hometown Gigs

Forthcoming Scottish dates are as follows:

Sep 6 Elmwoodstock (Fife)
Sep 13 Picture House (Edinburgh)

Visit Idlewild on MySpace.

Roddy Woomble's sophomore solo LP is out next month.

MP3: Idlewild - You Just Have...

Roddy Woomble Readies Sophomore Solo LP

Idlewild's frontman is back!

Expect Before The Ruin this September.

A world tour will follow its release.

For further info, head here.

MP3: Roddy Woomble - Every Line... [alt link]

Idlewild Frontman Begins Weekly Newspaper Column

The band explains his latest endeavor: *Roddy has started doing a weekly column in the Sunday Herald. If you live in Scotland, this paper is widely available. His 1st column appears on March 9.*

Those of us outside of Scotland can enjoy it here.

MP3: Idlewild - If It Takes You Home

Idlewild Frontman Becomes Food Critic

Roddy Woomble tells all in his online diary: *One thing I have been doing is a bit of moonlighting as a restaurant reviewer. I did it last year too, for a popular Scottish magazine. It's more work than I'd expected, the chance to sample new restaurants and taste different meals is good, but it's harder than imagined to come up with interesting adjectives to describe burgers, or fish dishes. I'm trying my best though, although it's starting to impair my enjoyment of the meal slightly, due to worry that I can't describe the way the food tastes properly.*

Visit Idlewild at their official site.

MP3: Idlewild - Self Healer [alt link]

Idlewild Likens 2008 To 'A Blank Canvas'

Frontman Roddy Woomble shares the following entry on his official online diary: *2008 is stretched out like a blank canvas, which is both exhilarating, and a touch scary. I have nothing to do except what I decide to do. We'll no doubt get to work on a new Idlewild record at some point, in Rod's new little studio... and I've a few other projects and ideas in the pipeline, but no pressing engagements, so far at least. I think it's maybe the first year in my life that it's been like that. And I suppose that deserves a new years toast.*

Read my review of Roddy's debut solo LP here.

MP3: Idlewild - If It Takes You Home

Idlewild Goes Acoustic For VH1 UK

Not exactly a new clip but a brilliant one, for sure. Check out the band's stripped down take on 100 Broken Windows favorite, 'These Wooden Ideas', below. Idlewild MP3 at bottom.


MP3: Idlewild - Last Night I Missed All The Fireworks [alt link]

Idlewild Responds To Retirement Rumors

Frontman Roddy Woomble shares the following message on the band's MySpace blog: *There's been some talk and worry amongst Idlewild fans about us calling it a day after this 'best of' album and tour. The reality is that there's nothing the five of us like doing more than writing songs together and performing them. Our records might not sell as many copies as they used to but I don't think that's because they aren't as good. I'm of the opinion that we're getting better at describing ourselves, and writing more interesting songs the longer we go on. So no, we're not 'splitting up', the opposite in fact... in December we're getting to work on our seventh album.*

MP3: Idlewild - If It Takes You Home

The World Of B-Sides & Rarities, #200!

Idlewild - Poor Thing

This tune was the official b-side to 'American English'.

It was also included on the Japanese version of the band's third (proper) full-length record, The Remote Part.

Enjoy the beautiful track below.

MP3: Idlewild - Poor Thing

Idlewild Rarities Compilation Due Out October 29

View the full track listing for the LP below.

1. Queen Of The Troubled Teens
2. Self Healer
3. Chandelier
4. I Want To Be A Writer
5. Satan Polaroid
6. This Is Worse
7. You Don't Have The Heart (live)
8. There's Glory In Your Story
9. A Distant History
10. I Was Made To Think It
11. Poor Thing
12. The Nothing I Know
13. Everything Flows (Teenage Fanclub cover)
14. I Found That Essence Rare (Gang Of Four cover)
15. Hold On To Your Breath
16. Gone Too Long
17. Don't Let Me Change
18. El Capitan (acoustic)
19. Winter Is Blue (Vashti Bunyan cover)
20. Hidden Ways

MP3: Idlewild - If It Takes You Home

JJ72/Idlewild Ex-Members Form Concerto For Constantine

I'm beyond intrigued. No music to share with you just yet but here's the band's official bio, as lifted from their brand new MySpace page: *Concerto for Constantine is three Dubliners: singer and guitarist Mark Greaney (formerly JJ72's frontman and songwriter), bassist Gavin Fox (formerly of Turn, Idlewild and Vega4),and drummer Binzer (formerly of The Frames, BellX1, and Halite; he also plays drums for Mundy and My Brightest Diamond). In the summer of 2007, Mark and Gavin found themselves bandless simultaneously. They had, over the years of knowing one another, sporadically yet passionately discussed the notion of forming a three piece rock band. It was time for action. The first, and only, person to be sought for drumming duties was Binzer. He has been referred to as "the Irish Jimmy Chamberlain". Enough said.

A rehearsal took place in August 2007. It was raw. It was visceral. And, having enough gigs under their collective belt from over the past decade, they knew immediately that it worked. Spines shivered, hearts beat faster and ears hurt. A beautiful thunder was born. As individuals, the experience and talent is impressive. As a band, it is colossal. This is three men at the top of their game, playing the music that they have always wanted to play.*

MP3s: JJ72 - Oxygen + Idlewild - Self Healer

Idlewild Announces Full European Trek

Can a North American visit be next? Let's hope! All dates below courtesy of NME:

Liverpool Carling Academy (Oct 9)
Preston 53 Degrees (10)
Leicester The Venue (11)
Sheffield Leadmill (13)
Lochinver Village Hall (15)
Inverness Ironworks (16)
Oban Corran Halls (18)
Dundee Fat Sam's (20)
Glasgow Barrowlands (21)
Portsmouth Pyramid (23)
Falmouth Princess Pavillion (24)
Exeter Phoenix (25)
Nottingham Rescue Rooms (27)
Warwick University (28)
Cambridge Junction (29)
London KOKO (30)
Dublin The Village (November 1)
Belfast Mandela Hall (2)

MP3: Idlewild - Last Night I Missed All The Fireworks

Idlewild Set To Release 'Best-Of' In October

In celebration of a full decade of Idlewild, the band has decided to release a greatest hits compilation on October 1st, simply titled, Scottish Fiction: Best Of 1997-2007. The LP will be packaged with a 3-hour DVD featuring a live concert filmed this year at the Aberdeen Music Hall, all music videos & over an hour of unseen documentary footage filmed over the last 12 years. Can't wait! Track listing & MP3 below.

Track listing: You Held The World In Your Arms ~ No Emotion ~ Roseability ~ When I Argue I See Shapes~ Love Steals Us From Loneliness ~ American English ~ These Wooden Ideas ~ El Capitan ~ A Modern Way Of Letting Go ~ Let Me Sleep (Next To The Mirror) ~ I’m A Message ~ In Remote Part / Scottish Fiction ~ I Understand It ~ Little Discourage ~ As If I Hadn’t Slept ~ Live In A Hiding Place – Make Another World

MP3: Idlewild - No Emotion

LodeStar Festival Canceled!

NME's got the dirt: *This year's LodeStar festival has been cancelled today (August 1). The 6 Music sponsored event and was due to kick off on August 31 in Cambridgeshire and feature Badly Drawn Boy, Idlewild, The Bees, Maps and The Pigeon Detectives. Organiser Doug Durrant suggested that tickets sales were affected by "weather perception". He said: "Despite a tremendous amount of effort in marketing the festival, unfortunately we were battling against all the pictures and reports about the dreadful weather we've been having this year."

Speaking about the weather he said: "Well, ticket sales were fairly low, and totally reflective of the weather up until today (August 1). "The weather might have turned around but it's really come too late for LodeStar." However Durrant said he was focusing on 2008 explaining: "I think that when you've worked hard for two years to put on a fantastic festival for people and I doesn't happen, the only way to get over it is to look forward." Ticket holders are entitled to a full refund.*

This is the 2nd time in 10 days that Idlewild has fallen victim to a canceled festival date. If you recall, the much-buzzed Truck Festival was nixed due to weather just last week.

(photo via Magnet)

MP3: Badly Drawn Boy - Walk You Home Tonight

Truck Festival Gets Rescheduled

Due to torrential flooding in South Oxfordshire, this weekend's Truck Festival (featuring Electric Soft Parade, Goldrush, Idlewild & Brakes amongst others) has been postponed. Here's more info: *It is with great regret that Steventon Festivals and Truck Foundation are forced to announce the postponement of this year's Truck festival. Much of the site is under several feet of water and the Ginge Brook has completely overflowed its banks, leaving all the camping, parking and audience areas underwater and dangerous. We already have numerous acts on site as well as tshirts, programmes, CDs and the rest and we are only doing this as an absolute last resort.

WE ARE RESCHEDULING :) the event at the same location on the weekend of the 22nd September with all tickets remaining valid, and we would like to encourage ticket holders to come to that event rather than seek refunds, as it will make it more likely that we can stay afloat financially.* (via Truck's official site)

MP3s: Idlewild - Captain + Brakes - Hold Me In The Reiver

Review: Roddy Woomble - My Secret Is My Silence

Earlier this year, I begrudgingly gave Idlewild's latest record, Make Another World, a less than stellar review. For as much as I adore the Scottish act, I was beyond underwhelmed with what they presented on their fifth proper full-length. Fast-forward six months later, and Roddy Woomble - Idlewild's frontman, is set to release his solo debut, My Secret Is My Silence. The album, which was recorded over a nine-day period in South Yorkshire during March '06, is thankfully, a much stronger and coherent release than World.

Judging from snippets of reviews I read prior to hearing Silence, I was expecting a Nick Drake-esque melancholic folk record. In actuality, Roddy's solo album falls somewhat closer to Bright Eyes' Fevers & Mirrors, Nick Cave's recent recordings and early Tim Buckley more than anything else. If Idlewild's Make Another World was a tepid two-star release, than My Secret Is My Silence would surely garner close to four. A truly pleasant surprise. Take a listen to the album's second track, 'As Still As I Watch Your Grave', below. Learn more about Roddy here on his official site.

MP3: Roddy Woomble - As Still As I Watch Your Grave

Idlewild Shows No Emotion

Even though I am not the hugest fan of their upcoming LP, Make Another World, I still have a great deal of love for Idlewild (read my review of the album here!). The first single and video from MAW is 'No Emotion', one of the better, if not the best, track on the album. Whomever selected this tune to prelude the album's release (March for digital, April for phsyical), nice job!

How adorable is Roddy in this video?? I hope you enjoy trampolines and exercise balls 'cuz this video has more than your fair share of both!

Idlewild - No Emotion

Wrapped up in books

Note March 5th in your diary for the launch of Idlewild's Roddy Woomble's next mega-project... following on from the heels of Idlewild's collaboration with Glaswegian poet Edwin Morgan on their last record, Roddy's put together a wider ranging record involving collaborations between Scottish poets and bands that will showcase the best of Scotland's high- and pop-cultures (there's even a T.V. tie in! Truly multimediatastic!)

With contributions from musical luminaries such as the Delgados' Alun Woodward and Emma Pollock, Aiden Smith from Arab Strap, TMS faves Sons & Daughters , Teenage Fanclub's Norman Blake as well as Fife's own King Creosote, and authors such as Edwin Morgan, St Andrews' AL Kennedy, the incredible Alasdair Gray (who also provides the record cover) and Ian Rankine, this is something that is very special indeed.

Pre-order it from amazon.co.uk

More on the project here!

Sons & Daughters and AL Kennedy - The War on Love Song

Tracklisting:

01. Mike Heron & John Burnside - Song For Irena
02. De Rosa & Michel Faber - Steam Comes Off Our House
03. James Yorkston & Bill Duncan - A Calvinist Narrowly Avoids Pleasure
04. Foxface & Rody Gorman - Dreamcatcher
05. Alun Woodward & Alasdair Gray - A Sentimental Song
06. Aidan Moffat & Ian Rankine - The Sixth Stone
07. Norman Blake & John Burnside - Girl
08. Karine Polwart & Edwin Morgan - The Good Years
09. Sons And Daughters & A L Kennedy - The War On Love Song
10. Alisdair Roberts & Robin Robertson - The Leaving
11. Strike The Colours & Rody Gorman - Message In A Bottle
12. Aereogramme & Hal Duncan - If You Love Me You'd Destroy Me
13. Malcolm Middleton & Alan Bisset - The Rebel On His Own Tonight
14. Trashcan Sinatras & Ali Smith - Half An Apple
15. Vashti Bunyan & Rodge Glass - The Fire
16. King Creosote & Laura Hird - Where And When
17. Emma Pollock & Louise Welsh - Jesus On The Cross
18. Idlewild & Edwin Morgan - The Weight Of Years

Review: Idlewild - Make Another World

I've been a believer in Idlewild since their epic sophmore full-length, 100 Broken Windows, was officially released back in 2000. I listened to that album on heavy heavy heavy rotation for years. Then, I fell in love with The Remote Part, which was a brilliant follow-up to 100BW.

Slowly but surely I got into their back catalog: the debut punk-influenced EP, Captain, and their first LP, the equally rascally, Hope Is Important. When 2005's Warnings/Promises saw the light of day, it got completely and brutally bashed by critics, claiming that the band had lost all sorts of 'edge' they may have had years back and that they had fallen into the 'REM trap'. By that, I believe that they meant, their songs had lost that initial draw which made them so distinct in the first place. I happened to disagree with the majority of the reviewers on this one. Sure, W/P was definitely not Idlewild's strongest release to date but it had enough kick, drive and sheer passion that screamed IDLEWILD; no other band could have made that album. Oh, and it sounded NOTHING like any current REM rubbish.

Now, here we are, the band is just about to release their fifth album, Make Another World. When 'If It Takes You Home' was given away as a free download on their official site last month, I was elated because the tune brought to mind early Idlewild and a sense of urgency that perhaps W/P was missing. Well, the ten songs that comprise their latest release, actually run the gamut from 2-and-a-half-minute thrashing guitar numbers (notably 'If It Takes You Home' + 'Everything As It Moves') to slow burners like 'Future Works' & 'You And I Are Both Away'.

I regretfully must say that Make Another World is inconsistent and honestly, their weakest album. Believe me, it pains me to admit this but there are very few redeeming tracks on the LP. The slower tunes sound they'd fit perfectly on your local adult contemporary radio station (yikes!) and the upbeat tunes don't hold a candle to anything on their earlier releases. However, there's some gold on MAW and I've included one of those tracks below. Only time will tell if this one will improve with repeated listens and I surely hope it does.

MP3: Idlewild - A Ghost In The Arcade (removed by request of management)