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. --MLGROSIE FLORES & THE PINE VALLEY COSMONAUTS
GIRL OF THE CENTURY
PICKWICK
Can't Talk Medicine
Rustic Overtones
Light at the End
GOLDEN DOGS
Everything in 3 Parts
ELLIOT SMITH
New Moon
COMMANDER CODY
DOPERS,DRUNKS AND EVERYDAY LOSERS
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.