Roddy Woomble, a.k.a. the best named frontman in rock, is better known as the lead singer of Scottish rockers Idlewild, and after listening (and returning) to his solo debut all week, we're convinced he's gonna see a legion of new devotees to the church of Woomble. This album is that good. Roddy takes a step away from the indie-punk/post-hardcore/arena-rock of his day job and fully immerses himself in the tradition of lilting, Scottish folk, infusing his terse, pithy verse into elegant melodies. Here's a taste of the title track, in which Roddy sings of his motherland: "I'm sick of living in these buildings that were built in blood and rain/But from the warm side of the window, the view's always looked the same." And earlier he says "your sadness tastes like whiskey" -- which is the most delicious sort of sadness, we say. Lovely stuff. Or as one UK reviewer said, it's "folking brilliant."
Roddy Woomble - "My Secret Is My Silence" (MP3)
Won't be disappointed with this one. My Secret Is My Silence is out July 10th in the US on 7-10 Music.
