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 12/1969

    JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 POUND UNIT
    JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 POUND UNIT

  • reviewed 09/2007

    BAT FOR LASHES
    Fur and Gold

  • reviewed 03/2013

    ALPHA REV
    Bloom

  • reviewed 12/1969

    TORI AMOS
    Live At Montreux 1991 & 1992

  • reviewed 05/2007

    Sarah Borges & The Broken Singles
    Diamonds In The Dark

  • reviewed 04/2010

    SHELBY LYNNE
    Tears, Lies and Alibis

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.