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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
Review
Athlete have come of age on Tourist. Gone are the lazy laid back beats that pervaded Vehicles& Animals, "El Salvador", "Shake Those Windows" and"You've Got The Style". Also absent is the dizzy persona trying to suss out what life's all about.
They've developed on this, their second album, but there's an overriding sense of melancholia, so much so that initially the album proves quite difficult to listen to. "Wires", the first single, is about singer Joel Pott's recollection of his newborn daughter being rushed into intensive care. Unlikely indie song material indeed, but the beautiful poetry combined with a contagious catchiness has got everyone singing under their breath.
The unassuming voice of Pott slurping up to each note can sometimes get a bit too much, like talking to someone with low self-esteem, but when he sings on "Trading Air": "Someone better help me disarm myself, I don't want no-one else, All I want is you", I kind of think he means it. The love expressed on this album is not just this year's; it's a daily, toilet cleaning, baby sick wiping endurance type love.
The band are clearly trying out new ideas on this record but the splicing of a gospel choir onto the second half of "If I Found Out" is somewhat incongruous. It just jars: indie bands and gospel choirs don't go, as the gospel choir invariably makes the band look a bit weedy in comparison. "Ooh you gotta have soul" could have been tacked onto any of the songs, and makes you want to grab some Southern fried chicken.
Final track "I Love" combines the best components of new and old style Athlete: a tiny acoustic guitar, in a shimmering sampled background, with Joel giving a perfect sense of wellbeing in loving everybody here. Then a laidback beat cuts through from the old days, the upwards lilt returns into Joel's voice and coolcasio beats come in.
Ultimately, the songs here are intelligent, relating more specific personal experiences yet crediting the audience with the ability to understand them, something that marks them out from their less risky contemporaries. A nice evolution. --Lucy Davies
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format: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...
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
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
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
Format: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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Most Recent Customer Reviews
xlnt!
this product was as good as described and kept to the timing described aswell for dispatching and arriving on time as said. thank you.
Published 2 months ago by LL1
Athlete, tourist
Some great tracks on this CD, I'd heard the whole thing before on my boyfriends computer but wanted to buy it for myself so I could get it onto my mp3. Loving the low price too!
Published 15 months ago by A. Rowe
Love it
Very good- ace to chill out to after a busy day...I absolutely love the range of songs in the album- the brilliantly bittersweet 'Chances', to a stripped back 'I love'- superb.
Published 19 months ago by ste k
great
a great album, perhaps not as deep and meaningful as their first effort, but it's a good album. buy it
Published 21 months ago by nickpinny
Amazing
While I didn't purchase the first album, I heard 'Wires' on the radio, and instantly discovered I liked the song. Read more
Published on 13 Oct 2009 by DanielB1982
SUPERB ATHLETE
I have the latest Athlete album and vehicles and animals before i purchased Tourist.
This is a superb addition to the ATHLETE catalogue and if you get a chance go and... Read more
This is a superb addition to the ATHLETE catalogue and if you get a chance go and... Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2009 by Mr. P. M. Green
Absolutely fantastic!
Well i think this album is absolutely brilliant. It's easily within my top 3 favourite albums as there isnt a single bad song on the album! Read more
Published on 13 Oct 2007 by Mr. Mark Challis
Awful
Drab, one-paced, derivative, mediocre sub-Coldplay tosh. Music to make a half-hearted attempt to commit suicide by.
Published on 16 Sep 2007 by Liz
Different direction
Although it's a good 2nd album, I enjoyed it much less than V&A. Having spent a long time listening to both, the first album clicks for me more. Read more
Published on 27 Aug 2007 by Counter Culture
Everyone should own Athlete albums
Love this album so much. I cant really choose a favourite track because I really do like them all but if I was forced it would probably be a tie between Chances and Yesterday Threw... Read more
Published on 26 April 2007 by Jen Hen
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