The Birthday Suit The Eleventh Hour
The Birthday Suit is the latest venture from Idlewild guitarist Rod Jones. As an avid Idlewild fan it was hard to approach this record without pitting it against some of my favourite tunes ever – When I Argue I See Shapes, Rosability and Everyone Says That You’re So Fragile if you were wondering…
However, I am extremely pleased to say that this record is on of the best I’ve heard this year by far. Opener Do You Ever? mixes Rod’s staple mark chunky driven riffs with almost tribal rhythmic drums. It’s clear to see the connection with Idlewild’s later albums – the anthemic strings and wistful vocals of They Say I Love You take your ears softly away from the world.
On My Own is reminiscent of Placebo’s album Meds with hooks galore and a soup of guitar lines that puts a spotlight on Rod’s brilliant technical ability, alongside a confident and distinguished vocal. This is an extremely upbeat record that’s sure to brighten the doom and gloom of winter weather this year. We Can Make It combines a medley of vocal rounds, harmonies and 4 to the floor drums that The Proclaimers would walk quite a way to get a piece of I’m sure.
Accompanying him on vocals is Jacqueline Irvine who’s Stars-esq counter-balance of soft beautiful vocals on tracks such as Hope Me Home provide a whole other level of dynamics to the album. Rod is also joined by Jill O’Sullivan from Sparrow & The Workshop on Taking Over You.
If you liked Make Another World by Idlewild you’ll fall hook line and sinker for The Birthday Suit.
The Eleventh Hour is out on November 11th via Sing It Alone Records and the band is set to tour early next year.
Words: Ben Welling
