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Idlewild
Artist profile

Idlewild

Idlewild formed in Edinburgh in 1995 and released their debut album 'Captain' in 1998. That album included songs like 'Annihilate Now!' and 'I Never Wanted,'...

album102 lyric pages photo_library5 photos groups8 listeners here now Editor's note live
person Curated by Ethan Walker LyroVerse team
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El Captain Video on page · 28 visits arrow_forward Finished It Remains Video on page · 24 visits arrow_forward (I Am) What I Am Not Video on page · 23 visits arrow_forward Annihilate Now! Video on page · 22 visits arrow_forward Actually It's Darkness Video on page · 21 visits arrow_forward A Distant History Video on page · 20 visits arrow_forward
Editor's note

Idlewild, the Edinburgh band that kept evolving

From the raw energy of 'Captain' to the chart-topping 'Ultramarine,' they never settled into one sound.

For a sense of their range, put 'Annihilate Now!' next to 'A Distant History.' The first one feels like a burst from a practice room, the second like something built to last.

Idlewild mattered because they bridged scrappy indie rock with something more thoughtful, without losing their edge. 'Annihilate Now!' from their 1998 debut 'Captain' had that urgent, shout-along quality that grabbed you right away. By the time 'You Are Not the Ocean' came out on 'Ultramarine' in 2003, the lyrics were getting parsed for political meaning, and the songwriting had opened up.

They started in Edinburgh in 1995, putting out 'Captain' in 1998 and '100 Broken Windows' soon after. 'Ultramarine' hit number one in the UK in 2003, and they kept making records like 'Warnings/Promises' and 'Everything Ever Written' into the 2010s.

edit_note Ethan Walker · LyroVerse team · Apr 19
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LyroVerse editor's notes are short interpretation guides, not final verdicts. If something needs a correction, visit About or Contact.

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102 lyric pages live 5 photos available Editor's note live Video on page
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Archive material and source history

Idlewild formed in Edinburgh in 1995 and released their debut album 'Captain' in 1998. That album included songs like 'Annihilate Now!' and 'I Never Wanted,' which helped establish their early sound. Their follow-up '100 Broken Windows' came out the next year and built on that foundation.

In 2003, their album 'Ultramarine' reached number one on the UK charts. The single 'You Are Not the Ocean' from that album drew attention for its lyrics, which some interpreted as commentary on US foreign policy. They kept releasing albums after that, including 'Warnings/Promises' in 2005 and 'Everything Ever Written' in 2015.

The band's core members have included Roddy Woomble on vocals and guitar, Rod Jones on guitar and vocals, Colin Newton on bass, and Gavin Fox on drums. Their song 'A Distant History' appears among their top tracks, along with 'Actually It's Darkness' and '4 People Do Good.'

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Where should I start with Idlewild on LyroVerse?

The Start here section opens with El Captain, Finished It Remains, and (I Am) What I Am Not so you can move through the artist's stronger lyric pages first.

How many lyric pages are live for Idlewild?

LyroVerse currently has 102 visible lyric pages for Idlewild.

Does Idlewild have photos on LyroVerse?

Yes. There are 5 photos available, and the preview gallery on this page links to the full photos section.

Does LyroVerse have an editor's note for Idlewild?

Yes. The editor's note on this page is a short LyroVerse team guide, not a final verdict on the artist.

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