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Warnings/Promises
by Idlewild


7.5

based on 20 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 20 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

Official Artist Site

The fourth album for the Scottish band was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Tony Hoffer (Air, Beck).

LABEL:	Parlophone
RELEASE DATE:	16 August 2005
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Alternative, Rock

NOTES: Original UK release 7 Mar 2005.

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

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.

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.

Rolling Stone

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

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.

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.

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.

The Guardian

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

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.

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.

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”.

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.

Prefix Magazine

Idlewild has become predictable and boring.

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...

Warnings/Promises by Idlewild

Warnings/Promises
by Idlewild