Idlewild - Post Electric Blues

Their malnourished student days of sinewy, art-school angst increasingly a thing of the past, Post Electric Blues ironically sees Idlewild continue to evolve into a distinctly positive, melody-orientated rock band. It's bound to incur criticism from those pining for the frantic undulations of their Captain era, but such is the burden of any band trying to evolve their sound away from the artistic constraints of punk and the various fickle entrapments that label entails. Like it or not, Idlewild have always demonstrated an affinity and, indeed, a knack for pop. With age has come self-assurance and the financial resources to properly communicate these ideas, which is no bad thing. Throughout Post Electric Blues there are reminders of the band that penned A Film For The Future. If you feel alienated by this album, ignore the initial awkwardness and bear in mind that this is the same friend, you just have a bit of catching up to do.