The Remote Part
by Idlewild
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 18 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 18
  3. Negative: 1 out of 18

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  1. reynoljo
    Feb 11, 2019
    9
    I'm honestly questioning why these lads didn't become worldwide superstars. Everything is there: beautiful hooks, delightful melodies, rousing beats, moving basslines, satisfying harmony (in relation to the melody) and excellent mixing and arrangement.

    All I can say is you should listen to this album and prepare to be moved and altered; I've always considered these guys to be 60% ABV    I'm honestly questioning why these lads didn't become worldwide superstars. Everything is there: beautiful hooks, delightful melodies, rousing beats, moving basslines, satisfying harmony (in relation to the melody) and excellent mixing and arrangement.

    All I can say is you should listen to this album and prepare to be moved and altered; I've always considered these guys to be 60% ABV (I.E. powerful and worth hearing) Pop Music -- thus I can't understand why they aren't renowned, as they add bind their own artistic sensibilities so perfectly to words and melodies that are both catchy and genuinely adventurous. Call me a fool, but I think more people should listen to Idlewild.    … Expand
  2. Rikardsen
    Aug 15, 2011
    10
    One of the best albums every recorded, Idlewild have a delicate way of summing up things about life and the world without ever mentioning them, still sounds as fresh today as it did when it was a released.
  3. Nightkin
    Feb 14, 2006
    6
    The instrumentals sounds are quite fresh but the band could sound a lot better if only the singer stopped trying to sound like an American punk-pop artist and let his beautiful Scottish accent through.
  4. matta
    Jul 19, 2005
    9
    What on earth are these comparisons saying that they sound like REM??!! Talk about a slap in the face. Idlewild is way better, and this album is proof. One of the five best albums of 2003.
  5. MiguelG
    Feb 11, 2005
    10
    At first I listen to "You Held The Wold In Your Arms", and it was good. Then I heard "A Modern Way Of Letting Go", and it was even better. The thid song I heard, was great: "American English"!!! Then I get the album and... more than great. It may sound a little R.E.M.ish (in their "Document" times) at some points, but it only make even greater the album. I Highly recomend it
  6. PaulW
    Aug 8, 2004
    10
    Pure class, it has been my favourite album for a long time now, i never get tired of it!
  7. ChowderH
    May 31, 2004
    10
    Excellent - by turns heart-wrenching melody, heart-pumping rock and heart-warming to find an album worth the money i spent on it!
  8. CharlieV
    Apr 10, 2003
    10
    It's an awesome album, and they perform it great live! to name some of the songs i like: Modern Way of Letting Go, You Held The World In Your Arms, American English, Scottish Fiction.
  9. BillW.
    Aug 27, 2002
    10
    Every single song is totally awesome. "Out of Routine" is soooo sweet that I punched my dad RIGHT IN THE FACE!
  10. MattS.
    Aug 26, 2002
    10
    I have all three Idlewild albums and their mini-album "Captain", and I can say that their sound matures, but they are still damn good. Great album.
  11. DavidB.
    Aug 14, 2002
    10
    Consistently brilliant
  12. JamesM.
    Aug 8, 2002
    10
    An amazing albulm! Every song is brilliant and American/English is one of the best songs ever. Worth getting the whole albulm for that one song

Awards & Rankings

53
#53 Best Album of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Magnet
    90
    An embarrassment of riches. [#58, p.91]
  2. Spin
    67
    Idlewild are compelling when they put Woomble's sad-sack lyrics front and center, but on aggressively average rockers like "You Held The World In Your Arms" and "Century After Century," the band's turgid squall swamps his words. [Jun 2003, p.103]
  3. Rolling Stone
    80
    They ratchet up the latent R.E.M.-isms, elevating themselves heads above their musical kin.
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