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Track Listings
| 1. Chances |
| 2. Half Light |
| 3. Tourist |
| 4. Trading Air |
| 5. Wires |
| 6. If I Found Out |
| 7. Yesterday Threw Everything at Me |
| 8. Street Map |
| 9. Modern Mafia |
| 10. Twenty Four Hours |
| 11. I Love |
| 12. [CD-Rom Track] [Multimedia] |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
After their first album brought Athlete both commercial and critical success (including a Mercury Prize nomination), it was always going to be a tough act to follow. But on Tourist, the London four-piece have ditched the quirky pop of their debut and instead created an album that rivals Coldplay with its sweeping guitars, soaring melodies and emotive lyrics. Sonically, there's much going on here: from strings to electronic beats and squelchy, synthesized bleeps. As a result, Tourist manages to sound both epic and personal at the same time--a change reminiscent of Radiohead's move from the Britpop of Pablo Honey to the inspired songwriting of The Bends. Best of all, singer Joel Pott has managed to ditch the Mockney accent that marred their debut, making Athlete sound like a more serious proposition. And with songs like hit single "Wires", grandiose opener "Chances" and the bouncy, strutting "Modern Mafia", Tourist looks set to elevate Athlete to a whole new level. --Robert Burrow
Album Description
Athlete, the South London fourpiece comprised of childhood friends, return from the massive success of Vehicles & Animals with another album of catchy well-written indie-pop tunes on Tourist. This brand-new collection of Britpop-scented good-natured songs includes the brilliant single, "Wires".
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Better with every listen...,
This review is from: Tourist (Audio CD)
The standard thing to think before purchasing any album is assuming it will all be similar to it's first single, although in many respects it is, Athlete have conjured up a handful of bright and breezy numbers to add to the slower styles portrayed magnificently in 'Wires'.Chock-a-block with engaging piano riffs to accompany any emotion or feeling - be it downheartedness, love-sickness or optimism - 'Tourist' is sure to remain at the top of your CD pile for a lengthy amount of time. All of the songs lay claim to expertly controlled use of guitar, piano and the odd sound affect combined with sincere, honest and true-to-life lyrics which can easily be related to, which forms the structures of a wonderfully produced indie-pop creation and potentially the album of the year so far. The pick of the bunch include the second release 'Half Light' - possessing portions of sunny and cheerful melodies and clever lyrics accurately sung by lead vocalist Joel Pott. Other stand-out tracks include 'If I Found Out', again jovial aided by the inclusion of a gospel choir providing brilliant atmosphere, 'Modern Mafia' a catchy tune based around electric guitars forming the loudest of the lot and 'I Love', a gentle album finale carefully performed to great effect. All in all this album could push Athlete into the league of other indie sensations such as Coldplay, Radiohead and Travis and I feel they could fair well up there with the best of them...
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't pigeonhole,
By
This review is from: Tourist (Audio CD)
It seems to me that every guitar-based indie/pop group that happen to release a ballad immediately get dismissed as a "Coldplay wannabe". Don't misunderstand, I'm not knocking Coldplay; those of us who've grown past the 'fashion victim' stage find it intensely ironic that Coldplay, who were Britain's Brightest Hope a few short years ago, are now looked upon as the Antichrist - and all because they committed the cardinal sin of becoming POPULAR (how dare they). Keane have already joined them, Franz Ferdinand are on the verge of a backlash and in time Bloc Party (and anyone else who catapluts to mainstream attention this year) will surely face the same fate. No, I'm not knocking them, or Keane, or any of the others. I just find the critics' (and some Amazon reviewers') lack of imagination depressing.To me, 'Tourist' shows a touchingly straightforward, down-to-earth honesty that makes it more affecting than many of the albums it's been lumped together with. It's quite a different prospect to 'Vehicles and Animals', more solemn and serious, more earnest. However, I can't imagine anyone who enjoyed Athlete's debut not liking this - even if their immediate reaction is mingled surprise and disappointment at the lack of uptempo songs. The heartfelt single 'Wires' is a good indication of what to expect and also the album's finest track, but there are plenty of other gems here such as 'Chances', 'Tourist' and 'Twenty Four Hours'. Look beyond the meaningless labels so beloved of the critics, and you won't regret it.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
It'll Be A Big Success,
By
This review is from: Tourist [CD + DVD] (Audio CD)
Athlete's new album Tourist is destined to be the huge breakthrough the band are obvioulsy aiming for. This is backed up by the top 5 success of it's first single Wires and also the fact that the album entered the UK Chart at No.1 recently. Despite this commercial success the album is quite a diversion from the debut Vehicles And Animals. If you were expecting more of the same fun quirky pop music that made Vehicles And Animals such a delight then you will be initially disappointed with Tourist. Only Modern Mafia sounds as if it would fit in on that album. The rest of the songs on the album are more ballad like songs. If you like Wires you'll probably like the majority of the songs here. In my mind, the band have changed their style to try and become a larger name. In a sense they are trying to become Coldplay or at least aim for the same sort of fans they have. While in no way is this a bad thing, the only problem is that Athlete aren't Coldplay and the album suffers for that. Most of the songs are not instantly catchy with the exception of Modern Mafia. If you pereseve with it though, the songs will grow on you considerably and it will be an enjoyable album if a little lifeless. However, it is this type of music that seems to generate large sales figures. In summary i'd say buy it regardless as it is a decent album but if you're a fan of Vehicles And Animals don't buy the album expecting an exact replica because this is a band developing into something else rather than sticking with the same sound that endeared people to them in the first place. Instead they will attract an even larger fanbase while keeping many who originally loved them.
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