Billy Idol has been many things in his long career; from original ‘76 punk as vocalist of Generation X to futuristic cyberpunk, his sojourn through the choppy waters of the music industry has been characterised by constant flux. For his latest album Dream Into It, Mr Idol delivers a reflective effort that finds him making pit stops along all points of his musical journey. Yet, this is no mere exercise in nostalgia, and with the aid of a few guest appearances, he’s delivered an album that can hold its own with anything released today.
With Dream Into It being Billy’s first album of all-new material in a decade, to say that this album was highly-anticipated would be something of an understatement. With anticipation comes expectation and with that a Chinese Democracy level of reckoning, as any album ten years in the making surely would. Billy circumnavigates this problem by slipping one under the net with the opening (and title) track; you might think he’d arrive amidst an explosion of ticker tape and flash pots, but Dream Into It has a strange, otherworldly vibe. It’s the last thing you’d expect, which is exactly why it’s the right move to make. If there’s one thing that unites Billy Idol’s various incarnations then it is a strong focus on the song, a melodic eye in the centre of the storm, and that turns ‘Dream Into It’ (and, indeed, the whole album) into a sticky type of earworm that’ll stay with you long after the disc has stopped spinning.
Finding Billy Idol on more familiar ground, ‘77’ could have been released at any point in the last 45 years. With the help of Avril Lavigne ‘77’ becomes a fist-pumping, foot-on-the-monitor anthem, and in true punk style says it all has to in three frenetic minutes. While Billy’s voice has undoubtedly aged, it is still instantly recognisable, only more gravelly and rough-hewn, in a wise move the lyrics have been adapted to reflect this and it feels as if he’s become the old bluesman…of punk! Yet, it is worth reiterating that Dream Into It is not resting on past glories and the energy and vitality displayed on ‘Wildside’ (featuring Joan Jett) places it right in the present.
Dynamic and fleet of foot, ‘Still Dancing’ is a strong closer that’s full amphetamine-fuelled guitars and piston-like drums that’s sure to set venues alight on Billy’s upcoming tour and suggest he’ll still be dancing many years hence.
- Dream Into It is released via Dark Horse Records on 25th April 2025.
- Official Website
Track List:
1. Dream Into It
2. 77 (featuring Avril Lavigne)
3. Too Much Fun
4. John Wayne (featuring Alison Mosshart)
5. Wildside (featuring Joan Jett)
6. People I Love
7. Gimme The Weight
8. I’m Your Hero
9. Still Dancing
