There are few things as disappointing as seeing a great band play and then rushing out to buy their album -- only to find it just doesn't compare. That's what happened to us with Scottish rockers Idlewild a couple of years ago.

Live, they were exciting -- gritty, grungy, spunky, punky and fronted by a man with one of the best rock star names ever: Roddy Woomble.

But their 2000 album 100 Broken Windows was sadly tame by comparison. Remote Part, their latest effort, takes a sizable stride in the right direction. Bridging the post-grunge sound of the '90s with the melodicism and poppiness of '80s bands like R.E.M., Idlewild present 11 cuts of ambitious, painstakingly crafted alt-rock.

And while the lads still seem a little overfond of mid-tempo tunes with vocal harmonies and anthemic choruses, at least they're willing to crank up the amps now and then and fire off a charging, gnarly rocker like Stay the Same.

We bet they're still tons heavier live -- see for yourself at the Pyramid next Tuesday -- but at least The Remote Part is more wild than idle. (More on Idlewild)

Track Listing
1. You Held The World In Your Arms
2. A Modern Way Of Letting Go
3. American English
4. I Never Wanted
5. (I Am) What I Am Not
6. Live In A Hiding Place
7. Out Of Routine
8. Century After Century
9. Tell Me Ten Words
10. Stay The Same
11. In Remote Part/Scottish Fiction