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Idlewild

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Group. Formed December 1995.

Photo of Idlewild Blue Oyster Cult

Biography

Idlewild are a Scottish rock band, formed in Edinburgh, in 1995, comprising Roddy Woomble (lead vocals), Rod Jones (guitar, backing vocals), Colin Newton (drums), Allan Stewart (guitar) and Gareth Russell (bass). To date, Idlewild have released six full-length studio albums, with their latest, Post Electric Blues, self-released to fans in June 2009.

Initially, the band's sound obeyed the conventions of 1990s British indie-punk guitar music, however, unlike many of their contemporaries, it developed over time from an edgy and angular sound (as heard in their early material—once described by the NME as "the sound of a flight of stairs falling down a flight of stairs") to a sweeping, melodic rock sound as displayed on The Remote Part and Warnings/Promises. While Idlewild's sound cannot be easily placed into a specific genre, they have clearly been influenced by the likes of: Gang of Four, Pavement, R.E.M., Blur and Fugazi.

Part of Idlewild's early success can be attributed to their singles gaining heavy rotation on Steve Lamacq's Evening Session on BBC Radio 1. Alongside his all-round endorsement of the band, Lamacq often cites them as one of his favourite bands.

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Latest Blog Posts Really Simple Syndication

Blogs from the BBC

  1. Top Tip: Idlewild - Post Electric Blues

    Thu 8 Oct 2009 16:12 Guest blogger: Mandi Freeman, Producer, Vic Galloway Show Mandi: I'm very excited... Nick Dempsey
  2. John McCusker Blog - Part 2

    Fri 14 Nov 2008 16:41 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } Mixing Rock and Folk John McCusker writes: I'm writing... Mike Harding

BBC Reviews Really Simple Syndication

  1. Post Electric Blues 2009

    Post Electric Blues

    Reviewed by Chris Roberts

    They’ve loosened up, discovered fun – a kind of lift-off, at last.
  2. Scottish Fiction: Best Of 1997-2007 2007

    Scottish Fiction: Best of 1997-2007

    Reviewed by Julian Marszalek

    Idlewild possess the capability to lob frequent sonic hand grenades into occasionally...
  3. Make Another World 2007

    Make Another World

    Reviewed by Anthony Leaver

    ...An impressive return for Idlewild at a time where they could have sunk without trace.
  4. Warnings / Promises 2005

    Warnings / Promises

    Reviewed by Richard Banks

    The melodies on offer here are bolstered with some tasteful strings, piano and pedal...

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