Breathe a sigh of relief. All the signs were pointing at a grown up Idlewild, the comparisons with REM, the epic but highly polished single American English, being playlisted on Radio 2. Who would have thought, all from a group who used to thrash around onstage and produced the highly energetic mini-album Captain?
But don't worry. Yes, Idlewild have grown up, but they still have room for the trashier songs, like I am what I am and A Modern Way of Growing Up. These songs wouldn't sound out of place from the early days of the band. Even though they've matured, it's only in a good way. They've calmed down, and finally you can hear Roddy sing properly, instead of just yelling.
However this album is sequenced in a very odd order. The more mature, mellow songs are alternately inserted with the faster, punkier songs, the two very different sides of Idlewild. It's almost like the band are split between which personality to follow. Do they stay with their style of punk-pop, or do they mature and seek out an older audience? Let's hope they choose the right path.