Warnings/Promises

About Warnings/Promises

Warnings/Promises is the fourth full-length studio album by the Scottish rock band, Idlewild, released on 7 March 2005, on Parlophone. The album marks the only appearance of bassist Gavin Fox, following the departure of Bob Fairfoull in 2002, and is the first album to feature touring guitarist Allan Stewart as a permanent member. During the recording of the album, Roddy Woomble described the process as feeling "so different, in every way, than any of our other records," and cited that Idlewild felt like a "new band". The album is a departure from the sound of their earlier material, blending contemporary folk influences with melodic rock. Mike Diver, from Drowned in Sound, described the album as "the opinion-splitter in Idlewild's canon of work. It marked the final chapter in the group's relationship with Parlophone." Guitarist Rod Jones, stated that the album is "more stripped back and direct" than previous albums, and that it has a sense of "frailty" to it, while drummer, Colin Newton, noted that the album is "not an immediate sounding record; in fact I can imagine it being quite difficult to get into at first. I think it fits together quite well, but there isn't anything that's instantly catchy like "When I Argue I See Shapes" or "You Held the World in Your Arms". Lyrically, Woomble describes the album as sounding like "a series of public service announcements." Woomble credited Jones with influencing the sound of the band's previous album, The Remote Part, but noted that Warnings/Promises "had more of my influence on it, bringing it into roots and folksy territories."The album entered the UK Album Chart at No. 9, and is currently certified as Silver in the UK, having sold over 60,000 copies. It was performed in full on 20 December 2008, at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut. The track 'Too Long Awake' features on the video game, Saints Row more »