ATHLETE

Beyond the Neighbourhood

2008-01-16

For Athlete’s third release, the band built on sounds captured on laptops while touring the United States. They recorded and produced the album themselves in a studio they built near their U.K. homes. Self-producing the CD may have been a mistake. A producer could have pushed them to be more creative, to test their limits. An undercurrent of potential runs through the CD, which makes the lackluster release especially frustrating. One major blunder on the CD is the insensitivity of the fist-pumping anthem “Hurricane” in light of Katrina’s devastation. In addition to a quote gone awry (“This is something we’ve gotta get used to”), lead singer Joel Pott sings, "Oh, hurricane. What you gonna do to us this time?” Us? The song sets up the U.K. boys as outsiders, which makes establishing a connection with the music difficult. --MLG

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Rock

  • reviewed 11/2013

    The Goldberg Sisters
    Stranger's Morning

  • reviewed 01/2012

    WILLAMENA
    Lost in the Shadows

  • reviewed 02/2014

    THE FAREWELL DRIFTERS
    Tomorrow Forever

  • reviewed 03/2013

    BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB
    Specter at the Feast

  • reviewed 11/2016

    Elephant Stone
    Ship Of Fools

  • reviewed 05/2009

    JARVIS COCKER
    Further Complications

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.