Post Electric Blues

Last updated

Post Electric Blues
Postelectricblues.jpg
Studio album by
Idlewild
Released11 June 2009
RecordedFebruary–March 2009
StudioBryn Derwyn, Bethesda, Wales; Chem 19, Glasgow, Scotland
Genre Indie rock
Length40:45
Label Self-released, Cooking Vinyl
Producer Dave Eringa
Idlewild chronology
Make Another World
(2007)		Post Electric Blues
(2009)		 Everything Ever Written
(2015)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 72/100 [1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Drowned in Sound (7/10) [3]
God is in the TV Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [4]
The Music Magazine(favourable) [5]
PopMatters Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]
The Skinny Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]

Post Electric Blues is the seventh studio album by Scottish indie rock band Idlewild, self-released to around 3000 fans in June 2009. The album was subsequently released on 5 October 2009 on Cooking Vinyl. [8] Prior to recording, guitarist Rod Jones revealed that the album has "quite an upbeat musical feel," and that it sounds "like a band having a good time." [9]

Contents

Upon the album's traditional release, Jones stated: "I think the way we approached making this record, and doing things ourselves and involving our fans just gave us the freedom and time to do what we wanted to do without any pressure. I think it has been a turning point for us." [10]

The album peaked at No. 90 in the UK Album Charts in its first week of physical release. It might have charted higher but the band sold a number of pre-order copies via their website, which is not a registered chart company.

The album's first single, "Readers & Writers" was released digitally on 28 September. [8]

The album was performed in full on 19 May 2009 at Dingwalls, in London. [11]

Background and recording

Following the release of Make Another World , Idlewild's label, Sanctuary Records, went into administration, leaving the band without a recording contract. Idlewild subsequently decided to release their next studio album directly to their fanbase. In November 2008, the band launched a new website, www.idlewildmusic.com, with the following message: [12]

After 11 years of recording and releasing records within the constraints of the record industry we now feel that the time is right and the technology exists for us to deal more quickly and directly with the fans. It also allows us total control of our music and will ultimately mean that should you choose to get involved you will hear our music as soon as it is available. Although the album will have a more traditional release some time later in 2009 we hope you will support us in our efforts to try something new and choose to pre-order the album now.

Those that pre-ordered the album received fifteen exclusive live tracks from the band's recent King Tut's residency, blog entries from band members and exclusive video footage from the recording process.

In early January 2009, the band entered pre-production with frequent producer Dave Eringa at their rehearsal space in Rosyth, Fife. [13] In February and March 2009, the band recorded at Bryn Derwyn in Bethesda, Wales, and then moved to Chem19 in Glasgow, Scotland. Eringa served as the producer and engineer during the sessions. He later mixed the recordings at Beethoven Street Studios in London in March 2009, with mix engineer Tom Loffman; the album was then mastered by Ed Woods. [14] At this time, Jones began recording his debut solo album, A Sentimental Education using Eringa's equipment. [15]

Composition and lyrics

According to vocalist Roddy Woomble, the first track written for Post Electric Blues was album opener "Younger Than America". Influenced by Westerns and Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Woomble states that: [16]

"after [we had] written the song, I thought the record might turn into an American sounding piece of classic rock, but it didn't turn out that way really, especially after writing "Readers and Writers". The record went in whatever direction it chose to."

Regarding the album's lyrical content, Woomble states that he wanted "to have a more off-the-cuff feel to the record".

Release

The album was subsequently posted to fans in June 2009, and released on 5 October 2009 on Cooking Vinyl records.

Artwork

The album's artwork features band photographs taken by photographer David Gillanders. The photographs were taken in January 2009 at the band's rehearsal studio in Rosyth. Regarding the album's artwork, vocalist Roddy Woomble states that: [17]

In the past we've favored black and white, and sepia styles, but I've been looking a lot of old Jazz LP covers from the early 70s and I love the look of them. So it's going to be colorful. The Glaswegian photographer David Gillanders came to the practice space last week and spent the afternoon taking pictures while we played. [...] David's photographs are always great. He's done some really important documentary work in far off places, including Malawi, Madagascar and Ukraine. His photo study of Knife crime in Glasgow is particularly harrowing.

Leak

A note was included with the pre-order album package thanking fans for their patience and asking them not to upload the album on to the internet. However, this note was ignored and it has been freely available on the internet since mid-June 2009. [18]

Track listing

All songs written by Idlewild. [14]

  1. "Younger Than America" – 3:57
  2. "Readers & Writers" – 2:50
  3. "City Hall" – 3:21
  4. "(The Night Will) Bring You Back to Life" – 3:24
  5. "Dreams of Nothing" – 3:08
  6. "Take Me Back to the Islands" – 4:58
  7. "Post-Electric" – 5:08
  8. "All Over the Town" – 2:07
  9. "To Be Forgotten" – 3:23
  10. "Circles in Stars" – 3:47
  11. "Take Me Back in Time" – 4:38

B-sides

Personnel

Personnel per booklet. [14]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Remote Part</i> 2002 studio album by Idlewild

The Remote Part is the third studio album by Scottish rock band Idlewild, released on 15 July 2002 by Parlophone. As they were becoming increasingly aware of their label's interest in them and their demos, the band's musical direction was being steered by guitarist Rod Jones. For the first half of 2001, the band recorded songs with producers Stephen Street and Lenny Kaye. Due to the uneven nature of the songs done between tours, they spent some time reworking 20 tracks in the Scottish Highlands. They recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales, RAK Studios in London, and Sawmills Studios in Cornwall with producer Dave Eringa. Described as an alternative rock and indie rock record, it lacked the punk rock elements of their previous work.

<i>Captain</i> (album) 1998 EP by Idlewild

Captain is the first release by the Scottish rock band Idlewild, issued by Deceptive Records in 1998. Although the number of tracks would normally classify it as an EP, Captain is commonly known as a mini-album. The guitarist Rod Jones notes that the album "was a sort of introduction to Idlewild".

<i>100 Broken Windows</i> 2000 studio album by Idlewild

100 Broken Windows is the second studio album by Scottish rock band Idlewild, released on 9 May 2000. While touring in support of their debut studio album Hope Is Important (1998), the band wrote and recorded its follow-up in stages. Sessions were done between May and November 1999 at a variety of studios: Air in London, Jacob's in Surrey, Rockfield in Wales, and Electrical Audio, Chicago. Initial recording with Bob Weston resulted in unremarkable material, by which point they switched to working with producer Dave Eringa. Described as an indie punk album, 100 Broken Windows has been compared to R.E.M. and Hüsker Dü.

<i>Hope Is Important</i> 1998 studio album by Idlewild

Hope Is Important is the debut studio album by Scottish rock band Idlewild, released 26 October 1998 through Food Records. After finalizing their line-up, and release two singles in 1997, the band released their mini album Captain in early 1998. Following this, the band signed to Food Records, and begin recording their debut album between February and June 1998 at Chapel Studios in Lincolnshire and Westland Studios in Dublin with producer Paul Tipler. Described as a grunge and punk rock album, Hope Is Important was compared to Bleach (1989) by Nirvana.

Idlewild (band) Scottish rock band

Idlewild are a Scottish rock band formed in Edinburgh in 1995. The band's line-up consists of Roddy Woomble, Rod Jones, Colin Newton (drums), Andrew Mitchell (bass), and Luciano Rossi (keyboards). To date, Idlewild have released nine full-length studio albums.

<i>Warnings/Promises</i> 2005 studio album by Idlewild

Warnings/Promises is the fourth studio album by Scottish rock band Idlewild, released on 7 March 2005 by Parlophone. Following the release of their third studio album The Remote Part (2002), Gavin Fox replaced bassist Bob Fairfoull, and touring guitarist Allan Stewart became a permanent member. They spent the majority of 2003 writing material, before traveling to Malmö, Sweden to record at Tambourine Studios with producer Dave Eringa. After finishing five tracks, they went to Los Angeles to work at Sunset Sound Recorders with producer Tony Hoffer. Due to the laidback nature of the sessions, the band had to re-record everything; recording concluded in October 2004. Described as an college rock and folk rock album, Warnings/Promises emphasized more acoustic instrumentation than its predecessor.

John McCusker Musical artist

John McCusker is a Scottish folk musician, record producer and composer. An accomplished fiddle player, he had a long association as a member of the Battlefield Band beginning in the 1990s and was later a band member and producer for folk singer Kate Rusby. He has served as producer and arranger for artists in a range of genres and also has several solo albums to his credit.

Roddy Woomble Musical artist

Roderick Woomble is a Scottish singer, songwriter and writer. He is the lead vocalist of indie rock band Idlewild, with whom he has recorded nine studio albums. In 2006, Woomble released his folk-influenced debut solo album, My Secret Is My Silence, and has since released four subsequent studio albums: The Impossible Song & Other Songs (2011), Listen to Keep (2013), The Deluder (2017) and Lo! Soul (2021).

Robert James "Bob" Fairfoull is a Scottish musician. He was the bass guitarist for the Scottish rock band Idlewild. He attended Portobello High School in Edinburgh between 1992–96 and was in the same class as Paul Thomson, the drummer from the band Franz Ferdinand.

David James Eringa is an English record producer, sound and mix engineer.

<i>Make Another World</i> 2007 studio album by Idlewild

Make Another World is the fifth full-length studio album by the Scottish rock band Idlewild, released on 5 March 2007 through Sequel Records. The album is the first with bass guitarist Gareth Russell, following Gavin Fox's departure at the end of 2005, and is their first since leaving Parlophone. Vocalist Roddy Woomble said that the band "made a conscious decision to make a strong, loud, rock record."

Redline Records was an independent record label based in Perth, Australia. Started in the year 2000 as a joint project between the band, Jebediah, and its management company, Naked Ape Management, the label predominantly released recordings of Australian indie bands under licensing agreements. Redline Records was distributed by Shock Records in Australia and New Zealand.

Rod Jones (musician) Musical artist

Rodric Iwan Pryce Jones is a Welsh guitarist, singer and songwriter.

The Xcerts are a British alternative rock band, originally formed in Aberdeen, Scotland in 2001. They have released four studio albums, with their latest being Hold On To Your Heart (2018).

Heidi Talbot Musical artist

Heidi Talbot is an Irish folk singer from Kill, County Kildare, Ireland. Talbot is a former singer of Irish-American musical group Cherish the Ladies.

<i>Locked Out from the Inside</i> 2009 studio album by Nine Black Alps

Locked out from the Inside is the third studio album by Manchester-based alternative rock band Nine Black Alps, released on October 5, 2009. The album was released digitally with the purchase of tour tickets on August 6, 2009. The album was released on the band's own Lost House Records label.

A Sentimental Education is the debut studio album by Idlewild guitarist Rod Jones, self-released in February 2010 and on Borough Music in April 2010. The album was mixed by regular Idlewild producer Dave Eringa.

The Fruit Tree Foundation is a Scottish musical project founded by Idlewild guitarist Rod Jones and former Delgados vocalist and guitarist Emma Pollock in 2010. Created in conjunction with the Mental Health Foundation, the project's overall aim is to "raise awareness of mental health and challenge perceptions of mental health problems by creating great art."

<i>Everything Ever Written</i> 2015 studio album by Idlewild

Everything Ever Written is the eighth studio album by Scottish indie rock band Idlewild, released on 16 February 2015 on Empty Words Records. Produced by guitarist Rod Jones, the album was recorded after a lengthy hiatus, during which the future of the band was uncertain. The album is the first to feature keyboardist Luciano Rossi and guitarist and bassist Andrew Mitchell.

<i>Interview Music</i> 2019 studio album by Idlewild

Interview Music is the ninth studio album by Scottish indie rock band Idlewild, released on 5 April 2019 on Empty Words Records. It was produced by Dave Eringa, who had worked on the band's previous albums 100 Broken Windows and The Remote Part. It reached No.22 in the UK album charts.

References

  1. ↑ "Reviews for Post Electric Blues by Idlewild". Metacritic.
  2. ↑ Andrew Leahey. "Post Electric Blues". AllMusic.
  3. ↑ Neil Ashman. "Album Review: Idlewild – Post Electric Blues". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 8 October 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  4. ↑ God is in the TV review [ permanent dead link ]
  5. ↑ "Get a loan today!". themusicmagazine.co.uk.
  6. ↑ "Idlewild". PopMatters.
  7. ↑ "Idlewild – Post Electric Blues – The Skinny" . Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  8. 1 2 Lindsay, Andrew. "Idlewild set official release date for 'Post Electric Blues'". stereokill.net. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  9. ↑ Lindsay, Andrew. "Interview: Rod Jones (Idlewild)". stereokill.net. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  10. ↑ Lindsay, Andrew. "Interview: Rod Jones". stereokill.net. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  11. ↑ Lindsay, Andrew. "Idlewild perform new album in full". stereokill.net. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  12. ↑ "Idlewild". Idlewildmusic.com. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  13. ↑ "Idlewild › Registration Form". Members.idlewildmusic.com. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  14. 1 2 3 Post Electric Blues (booklet). Idlewild. Cooking Vinyl. 2009. COOKCD501.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ↑ "Idlewild › Registration Form". Members.idlewildmusic.com. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  16. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 October 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. ↑ "Idlewild › Registration Form". Members.idlewildmusic.com. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  18. ↑ Note included within package
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.