Idlewild: Scottish Fiction - Best of 1997-2007
Idlewild's Scottish Fiction - Best of 1997-2007 out Sept 10th
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Monday, 10, Sep 2007 10:00
Fiction, out September 10th
In a nutshell...
Anthemic indie at its best.
What's it all about?
After 12 years and six albums, Edinburgh indie band Idlewild do the honourable thing and put all their best bits on one splendid album. While the band may not be as high profile as they once were, there are enough songs on here that anybody, whether an indie kid or not, will know.
Scottish Fiction is an album that very nearly didn't happen. After eight successful years with record label Parlophone, it looked like the end of the road for the band when they left the company in 2005. However, with the release of Make Another World earlier this year Idlewild are back on form.
While many greatest hits albums are slated as money-grabbing nonentities, Scottish Fiction is a great listen from start to finish. Always more of a singles band, Idlewild produced some classics over the years, including You Held The World In Your Arms, American English and When I Argue I See Shapes.
Who's it by
Idlewild are lead vocalist Roddy Woomble, guitarist Rod Jones, bassist Phil Scanlon and Colin Newton on drums. After breaking through as a post-hardcore band in the mid-90s, they quickly redefined the Scottish indie scene and cleared the path for Franz Ferdinand et al to go mainstream.
As an example...
"Every face/Even the ones you saw yesterday/It looks different today/Cos everything's changed since yesterday/In every possible way/Things seem different today/Not like yesterday" - You Held The World In Your Arms
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
Very unlikely. Idlewild should have won more awards over the years but the Grammys are out of the question.
What the others say
"A best-of album from one of the most underrated British bands in years. All 13 top 40 hits are on this cracking compilation." - Album Vote
So is it any good?
Scottish Fiction is an enthralling listen from start to finish. Idlewild have, and always have had, such a distinctive likeable tone that makes all their songs instant hits.
Starting with the immensely powerful You Held The World In Your Arms, Scottish Fiction is a greatest hits album worthy of the title Best Of. The pounding A Modern Way Of Letting Go, the simplicity of American English and the heartfelt In Remote Part are all stunning songs.
Mixed up with newer releases No Emotion and Make Another World, Scottish Fiction is a varied yet well developed album.
In fact, possibly the best greatest hits album since Stop The Clocks by Oasis.
8/10
Richard Fox