Art • The
cover of Athlete’s “Tourist,” a
hit in the United Kingdom, features
a cover with creativity similar to
that
of the lyrics in the album. EMI Records
Ltd.
Athlete’s U.K. smash ‘Tourist’ travels
well
By Adam Pringle
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
The cover of Athlete’s second album, “Tourist,” features
a pair of airliner seats covered in a bunch of cords, wires and electronic
devices,
including a boom box.
In a sense, this striking cover design represents the expansive and electronic-heavy
arrangements that dominate the album. Athlete is essentially a band that plays
simple and melodic British pop-driven by guitar and piano, but on this release
their sound is augmented by electronic flourishes, orchestra strings and even
the occasional use of a gospel choir.
Athlete’s sound can be described as Coldplay with more electronic arrangements
but fewer pop hooks (then again, those same adjectives can be used to describe
Coldplay’s most recent release, “X&Y”) or a less ambitious
Radiohead. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Athlete may not be as
groundbreaking or complex as Thom Yorke’s band—Yorke is the lead
singer of Radiohead, but they play solid and accomplished Britpop that is
pleasant to listen to.
Perhaps that is why the South London quartet has become a phenomenon in Great
Britain, where “Tourist” reached No. 1 on the country’s album
chart and the singles “Wires” and “Half Light” both
hit the top spot on the radio airplay chart. Their Coldplay-meets-Kraftwerk
sound
is unique yet not too experimental or esoteric, and that combination has
guaranteed them success in their native country.
The first five songs on “Tourist” are simply marvelous. In fact,
the first five songs are almost as good as anything Chris Martin and the rest
of Coldplay, accomplished on their near-masterpiece “A Rush of Blood to
the Head.” The opening track is “Chances,” a gorgeous piano
ballad that effectively and seamlessly integrates strings and electronic arrangements
into the melody of the song. In addition to the captivating and overpowering
arrangements, “Chances” features intriguing lyrics about seizing
opportunities and using them to make things better.
“
Half Light” is a slightly more up-tempo and driving tune that is heavy
on guitars and synthesizers. It effectively combines a U2-like anthemic guitar
sound with new wave-inspired whirring synthesizers.
The title track is a fine song that contains lyrical imagery, including the
lines, “This
European air/It always warms my face” and “Suitcases down our
street/Are rolling once again/I roll away with them.”
“
Trading Air” is another stunning ballad that wisely keeps the electronic
arrangements to a minimum. Unlike “Chances,” the melody has an
undercurrent of sadness that adds emotional depth to the song.
Lead singer and guitarist Joel Pott has a voice that is limited in range
and sometimes sounds like Tom Petty with an English accent, but on this track
his
passionate and heartbreakingly poignant vocals perfectly suit the emotions
conveyed in the song’s lyrics about romantic longing and loneliness.
Pott sings his lyrics with feeling and raw emotion that give the song much
of its impact.
“
Wires” is an unusual choice for a single considering that it is more
experimental and less immediately accessible than most of the other songs
on the album. However,
it effectively combines relatively experimental electronic arrangements with
an acoustic guitar and piano to create a solid and distinctive
British pop single.
Unfortunately, the album begins to run out of steam after the conclusion
of “Wire.” The
remaining six tracks are not terrible, but they are not as memorable or accomplished
as the songs that gloriously open the album. ” “If I Found Out” is
another attempt to combine electric arrangements with the band’s basic
pop sound, but these electronic elements feel tacked on to the song’s
melody. It does not help that this song includes gospel choir vocals in a
way that is
forced and heavy-handed instead of inspiring.
The worst track on the album is “Modern Mafia,” an attempt at a gritty
and soulful rocker that instead sounds hollow and trite. The end result sounds
like something off of a Matchbox Twenty album. In addition, the lyrics do not
explain what the song’s title refers to. Sure, “Modern Mafia” is
a fairly catchy title that also contains alliteration, but it does not make
sense at all even within the context of the song.
The four remaining tracks (“Yesterday Threw Everything at Me,” “Street
Map,” “Twenty-Four Hours” and “I Love”) are
rather generic tunes that lack memorable pop hooks and melodies. They are
listenable,
but they come across as filler instead of worthwhile songs.
Athlete is a young and talented band with a promising future. Their latest
release, “Tourist,” is
flawed in a number of ways, but it also contains a number of high points
worth hearing. If Athlete continues to improve and refine their electronic-infused
British pop sound, their next release could be something truly special.
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