This came out in 2003 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
There are few things as disappointing as seeing a great band play and then rushing out to buy their album — only to find it just doesn’t compare.
That happened to me with Scottish rockers Idlewild a couple of years ago. Live, they were exciting — gritty, grungy, spunky, punky and fronted by a man with one of the best rock star names ever: Roddy Woomble. But their 2000 album 100 Broken Windows was sadly tame by comparison. The Remote Part, their third effort, takes a sizable stride in the right direction. Bridging the post-grunge sound of the ’90s with the melodicism and poppiness of ’80s bands like R.E.M., Idlewild present 11 cuts of ambitious, painstakingly crafted alt-rock. And while the lads still seem a little overfond of mid-tempo tunes with vocal harmonies and anthemic choruses, they also seem more willing to crank up the amps and fire off a charging, gnarly rocker like Stay the Same. We bet they’re still tons heavier live — but at least The Remote Part is more wild than idle.
