In 1997, few would have
expected that Idlewild would one
day be given the deluxe reissue
treatment. Their initial releases
were frenetic, feedback-driven
screeches of songs the epitome
of bratty lo-fi punk. There were
signs, however, that something
else was afoot: in singer Roddy
Woomble they had a poetic anti-star
of a frontman and 1998
debut album Hope Is Important
showed glimpses of a tuneful,
vulnerable side to the band.

Two years later, 100 Broken
Windows would prove to be their
finest moment, songs such as
Little Discourage, Let Me Sleep
(Next To The Mirror) and The
Bronze Medal showcasing a new
maturity to their songwriting
without sacrificing the
abrasiveness that made their
earlier records so exciting. The
obvious touchstone is IRS-era
REM, with Woomble’s vocal
stylings and lyrical eccentricity
recalling vintage Michael Stipe,
while retaining an identity of his
own.

This reissue underlines the
amount of quality material the
band amassed during the build-up
to the album, with a second
disc crammed with B-Sides,
demos and alternate versions.
Fans will be thrilled at the
inclusion of previously
unreleased material such as
Alternative To College and
Undone, no doubt wondering
why they’ve remained unheard
for so long.