Idlewild
Scottish Fiction (Best of 1997-2007)
***
Scottish
Fiction charts the sad descent of one of Britain’s most
exciting bands into bland MOR oblivion.
In 1998 when Scot-rockers Idlewild burst onto the scene as a lo-fi
noise-pop band bursting with ideas and youthful energy, they looked
set to be Britain’s best guitar band. The excellent debut
mini-album Captain in 1998 gave way to the quaint and
focused indie-pop of Hope Is Important, before a new
commercialised vision saw them aping the stadium-indie blandness
of REM to an increase in sales and poularity. The music was watered
down further as they became a coffee-morning rock band for the
middle-aged masses – translation: they had become a bit
shit.
As a ‘Best of’ Scottish Fiction hits wide of the mark.
True it does span the bands entire career, but it really should
have focused mainly on the fertile 1998-2000 period – stand
out tracks like the schizoid ‘When I argue I see shapes’
come from this period.
This aside this is a passable compilation, the newer material
will appeal too many but for anyone looking for an introduction
to Idlewild I urge them to skip this and invest in their first
three releases.
by
John McCaloy
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