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New Musical Express

Where 'The Remote Part' was their 'Green'-esque lunge into the spotlight, 'Warnings/Promises' is their full-blwon 'Out Of Time' spectacular. But with less twangle, more teeth. [5 Mar 2005, p.50]

ShakingThrough.net

Idlewild may still be figuring out exactly how to juggle its conflicting elements, but there are more than enough truly bright spots on Warnings/Promises to remind the listener of what the band is capable of when it fires on all cylinders -- and even when it doesn't.

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Filter

They've arrived at a more basic and touching--at times sleep-inducing--music that lingers for better and for worse. [#16, p.89]

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Warnings/Promises establishes Idlewild as a very good band, but also indicates that it probably won't ever be a great one.

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Rolling Stone

Warnings/Promises is even better [than The Remote Part], a set of hopeless love songs for sad-eyed city girls.

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Magnet

Sounding like mid-period R.E.M. isn't the noblest of ambitions, but it somehow seems to work. [#69, p.98]

Q Magazine

[An] album of considerable grace and poise. [Apr 2005, p.116]

Dot Music

Woomble’s lyrics, while literate, are never quite as clever as his supporters would like to believe.

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Drowned In Sound

‘Warnings / Promises’ is the work of a band pushing itself to the limits of its generous, but ultimately not boundless musical ability.

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Pitchfork

Songwriting chemistry is a tricky thing, and while having two or three competing voices can push writers to new heights, a group of five here leads to songs that are merely passable.

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The Guardian

A slightly awkward composite of the band's old strengths and a flurry of new ideas.

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Uncut

Warnings/Promises was written on acoustic guitar and fleshed out in the studiio--a tactic that bears mixed results. [Apr 2005, p.97]

Mojo

There are times when their admiration for R.E.M. burns a little too brightly... but overall this marks another step forward. [Mar 2005, p.100]

PopMatters

At its best, the new album is as beguiling as Teenage Fanclub's recent effort Man-Made. At its worst, it's as turgid as R.E.M.'s most recent snoozer.

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Neumu.net

The problem with Warnings/Promises is the material: the band failed to bring enough good song ideas with them when they went into the studio.

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Alternative Press

Idlewild undeniably sound like a once-great band helplessly slipping into their confusing middle years. [Sep 2005, p.164]

Under The Radar

Rarely gets its head above water. [#11, p.112]

Stylus Magazine

It has one pace, and that pace is “mature”.

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cokemachineglow

Even when the songs work (rarely), the band doesn’t; even when the lyrics work (read: never), the music doesn’t; even when guitars aren’t processed to sound like a cat in a dishwasher, the riffs suck.

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Prefix Magazine

Idlewild has become predictable and boring.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 7.5 (out of 10) based on 20 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Chelsea M gave it an8:
This is not their best CD, I don't know if they'll ever top The Remote Part, but it still inherently Idlewild. No one else could capture their sound. Best song of the year, afterall...

Andrew J gave it a9:
Extremely listenable with outstanding harmonies at the root of all the best songs. 'Not just sometimes but always' and 'I understand it' are outstanding highlights. Fairplay to Idlewild.

Henry J gave it a9:
Idlewild's "Warnings/Promises" brings a lot of variety to the band's style; the album's diversity really reflects the band's ability to try new things.

matt a gave it an8:
While not as good as The Remote Part, this is a solid outing for the band and even though there is no song like American English or Live in a Hiding Place, the album is very consistent.

Niki M gave it a9:
Having had this album for sometime now I can't recommend it highly enought. Idlewild continue to improve with each recording for me. While I was initially disappointed with this album the more I hear each track the more I fall in love with it. Their best yet!

keith n gave it an8:
Listen to it. Let it grow. an excellent album well worth listening to again and again

Joris V. gave it a6:
Very mediocre. Only the standout and superb Love Steals Us From Loneliness catched my attention... and maybe El Captain and I Understand It...

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