The Coulda-Shoulda-Woulda Files: Idlewild’s Attempt To Speak “American”

noah | November 17, 2006 11:49 am
a-english.jpg

Time for another installment of the Coulda-Shoulda-Woulda Files, where we blow the dust off of a forgotten favorite and give its lack of chart success a once-over.

Artist: Idlewild Song: “American English,” 2002 What happened: “American English” was on this Scottish band’s pretty decent fourth album, The Remote Part. The song peaked at No. 15 on the UK singles chart, but The Remote Part on the whole barely made a dent in the States, despite the band’s opening slot for Pearl Jam on the Riot Act tour. Why it should have been a hit: The slow build, the chiming guitars, the lighter-worthy chorus–why was “American English” not pegged to score a climactic love scene on some WB show? We’re guessing that the allergy to British rock bands on this side of the pond got in the way of this song’s success–not to mention that its lyrics about “contracting the American dream” probably confused patriotically skittish radio programmers.

Idlewild – American English [MP3, link expired] Idlewild [Official site]

Tags: