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 02/2006

    CALEXICO
    Garden Ruin

  • reviewed 05/2014

    KINA GRANNIS
    Elements

  • reviewed 02/2006

    BUCKWHEAT ZYDECO
    100% Fortified Zydeco

  • reviewed 06/2012

    THE BACON BROTHERS
    Philadelphia Road - The Best of The Bacon Brothers

  • reviewed 02/2007

    THE SPARES
    Beautiful and Treacherous Thing

  • reviewed 02/2014

    Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band
    Take Me to the Land of Hell

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.