Customer Reviews

Tourist (Limited Edition CD + Bonus DVD)

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Personally, this band came out of nowhere to stun me. I first heard of them flipping through channels, and their video for 'Wires' came on MTV. I didnt think much of it. The same incident occured a few more times, and still didnt think much of it. Then i downloaded the song, 'Wires', and i was addicted to it. It could very well be the best single of 2005 thus far. I picked up their records a few days later.

What stuns me the most about this album, is how layered it is. Their sound is very full, and somewhat dreamy at times. The music is beautiful throughout.

The album kicks off with 'Chances', which at first, seems like a slow piano ballad, before blasting off in a chorus filled with a whole orchestra, which will leave you singing "It's all about your, cries and kisses". The next track, is the title track, 'Tourist', which starts with lead signer Joel Pott singing "This European air, it always warms my face" with nothing but an acoustic guitar.

The first single, 'Wires', definetly is a major highlight. It was written about when Joel Pott daughter was born premature, and had suffered complications. This is really beautiful. The lyrics just speak for itself.

The next track, is 'If I Found Out'. What will strike a chord to most people, is the choir that appears towards the end of the song. It defiently, something original and different. It didnt come off bad at all.

'Street Map' is another beautiful number. It starts off, very much like the opening track; piano and vocals. Half way through, it would seem that the record skipped and everything just stops, before the whole band coming in a few seconds later into one of most beautiful parts of the album.

The second last track is 'Twenty Four Hours' which is catchy, and gorgeous. This one will leave you singing for sure. The album ends off with 'I Love'. A slow, laidback track with nothing but an acoustic guitar, percussions, and a few etra sounds here and there. A good song, to end an incredible album.

Though most of the album being very depressing, one of a more upbeat track, would have to be 'Modern Mafia'. Its the most upbeat track on the record and will definetly leave you singing.

Many people compare Athlete's new sound to label mates, Coldplay. I also heard many people say that the reason for the change, could be because the label could be banking on the success, and tried to make these guys into a carbon copy. Personally, i think this album is way too good for such a comment.

Athlete have worked hard, and the music definetly displays their talent. The band has definetly grown musically a lot. This album is filled of catchy songs, which are really beautiful. There are no fillers in here for sure. Joel Pott writes them with such emotion, and he sings them even better. If you can get your hands on the limited edtion pressing with the DVD (which showcases the making of this record, the 'Wires' video, and other live tracks), its worth it as well. It will show you a behind a scenes look on the making of the record, which is pretty rad.

I highly recommend this release for fans of Coldplay, Radiohead, and such. People are starting to take these guys more seriously, following some witty moments on their previous record (im pretty sure 'Beautiful' would fit nicely to this record), which was pretty good too. The band has grown up, musically and lyrically, and they are one to watch out for in the coming year.

Personally, this band came out of nowhere to stun me. I first heard of them flipping through channels, and their video for 'Wires' came on MTV. I didnt think much of it. The same incident occured a few more times, and still didnt think much of it. Then i downloaded the song, 'Wires', and i was addicted to it. It could very well be the best single of 2005 thus far. I picked up their records a few days later.

What stuns me the most about this album, is how layered it is. Their sound is very full, and somewhat dreamy at times. The music is beautiful throughout.

The album kicks off with 'Chances', which at first, seems like a slow piano ballad, before blasting off in a chorus filled with a whole orchestra, which will leave you singing "It's all about your, cries and kisses". The next track, is the title track, 'Tourist', which starts with lead signer Joel Pott singing "This European air, it always warms my face" with nothing but an acoustic guitar.

The first single, 'Wires', definetly is a major highlight. It was written about when Joel Pott daughter was born premature, and had suffered complications. This is really beautiful. The lyrics just speak for itself.

The next track, is 'If I Found Out'. What will strike a chord to most people, is the choir that appears towards the end of the song. It defiently, something original and different. It didnt come off bad at all.

'Street Map' is another beautiful number. It starts off, very much like the opening track; piano and vocals. Half way through, it would seem that the record skipped and everything just stops, before the whole band coming in a few seconds later into one of most beautiful parts of the album.

The second last track is 'Twenty Four Hours' which is catchy, and gorgeous. This one will leave you singing for sure. The album ends off with 'I Love'. A slow, laidback track with nothing but an acoustic guitar, percussions, and a few etra sounds here and there. A good song, to end an incredible album.

Though most of the album being very depressing, one of a more upbeat track, would have to be 'Modern Mafia'. Its the most upbeat track on the record and will definetly leave you singing.

Many people compare Athlete's new sound to label mates, Coldplay. I also heard many people say that the reason for the change, could be because the label could be banking on the success, and tried to make these guys into a carbon copy. Personally, i think this album is way too good for such a comment.

Athlete have worked hard, and the music definetly displays their talent. The band has definetly grown musically a lot. This album is filled of catchy songs, which are really beautiful. There are no fillers in here for sure. Joel Pott writes them with such emotion, and he sings them even better. If you can get your hands on the limited edtion pressing with the DVD (which showcases the making of this record, the 'Wires' video, and other live tracks), its worth it as well. It will show you a behind a scenes look on the making of the record, which is pretty rad.

I highly recommend this release for fans of Coldplay, Radiohead, and such. People are starting to take these guys more seriously, following some witty moments on their previous record (im pretty sure 'Beautiful' would fit nicely to this record), which was pretty good too. The band has grown up, musically and lyrically, and they are one to watch out for in the coming year.

`Tourist' is the sophomore set from UK indie rock quartet Athlete. Their sound is somewhat like a blend of Coldplay, Snow Patrol, Keane, and Radiohead.

I fell in love with their brilliant single `You got style' from their debut. When I heard the brilliant single `Wires', I knew I had to get this CD. It is a sweeping melancholic ballad featuring an achingly yearning vocal performance from lead singer Joel Pott, surging orchestration, and filled with static effects and distorted sounding guitars against a piano/string backdrop. Reportedly recorded for his sick infant. Definitely one of my top songs of this year!

The uptempo `Half light' incorporates electronic bleeps and a catchy Britpop sound. There's the melodic `Tourist', and the stirring, string drenched ballad `Chances' with pensive lyrics about seizing chances while you can.

`If I found out' is a sweeping epic and an almost gospel feel from the lyrics, and the backing choir. Moving and great!

A great addition to any music collection.

A fabulous record, and a great follow-up to the equally superb "Vehicles and Animals" (2003). This is what Coldplay's X&Y could have been, had they not succumbed to the temptation to go with a "big sound" for stadium concerts. (But don't get me wrong, I like X&Y.) The Athlete songs, some poignant and some witty, have a lot of space in them. They're honest and natural. A truly superb band. I can't recommend this warmly enough.

If you've listened to The Bends or Parachutes 9 million times like me, Tourist will be a fantastic addition to your collection. This CD surpasses most other indie rock albums I've heard when it comes to consistency and melodic charm. Athlete does a superb job of mixing a big sound, creative progressions, and intelligent (though heavily sentimental) lyrics while keeping mainstream rock fans like me interested. I fell in love with this CD the first time I heard it. If you like Athlete you'll probably also dig Aqualung, Bottom of the Hudson, maybe even Postal Service.

Athlete opened for Snow Patrol here in Chicago and found myself really enjoying their performance. Their CD is a nice collection of solid, well engineered indie music on par with anything else out there. Reminds me of GOOD Belle & Sebastian only Athlete is more consistent. An emotional but fairly mellow CD, it has taken a few listens but has grown on me. For those of you who enjoy music like Snow Patrol, Coldplay, Belle & Sebastian, Echo & The Bunnymen or Death Cab try this CD. Stand out tracks are Half Light, Trading Air and 24 Hours.

Truthfully, how often do you buy an album that is full of great songs? Most have...what?...three or four decent ones? If that?

Finally, the trend is broken.

Athlete's sophomore effort TOURIST provides 11 tracks of some of the best music in any genre for quite some time. The musical stylings are reminiscent of Coldplay but the lyrics of each song surpass those of the more well-known group. Another reviewer touched on it: Athlete is Coldplay, if Coldplay's songs had emotion.

The title track "Tourist" is sure to see time on the charts as are some of the others, but the strongest songs on the album are "Chances" and "Street Map". Nothing is better than a song whose lyrics hit home on the first listen and these songs do just that. If nothing else, TOURIST provides 11 straight tracks of musical brilliance. No need to push the 'skip' button on the CD player...that is, unless you want to go straight to your favorite song...and it's almost assured that one of the 11 will become one of your favorites.

Athlete came on the scene a few years ago. I heard one of their songs on a Q Magazine CD and was impressed. They played a lot in Europe and I forgot about them. Now they are on their second record and it is very promising. "Chances" and Half Light" are very distinct sounding songs. It's a little more electronic sounding than a Keane song. This album has a bunch of weird minimal songs, but nothing really grabs you. There is Coldplay and Snow Patrol, and suppose that many people would rather be in those bands than Athlete. There is brilliance to some of these songs, but they don't really drive me to any emotional state. Mostly music connects with people on some emotional level. I bet people out there are crazy about the sounds of "I Love" but it doesn't do anything for me. I prefer Long-View and Low. Those are bands that make intimate music that I relate to.

On Athlete's first release, "Vehicles and Animals," the English band showcased a rather bubbly form of pop/rock that sounded more like a European version of Fountains of Wayne minus the suburban lyrics. While well formed and accessible, their first release played a little bit like a guilty pleasure due to its electronically bolstered teenaged feeling. On this, their sophomore release, Athlete has taken a step in another direction. Comparisons to label-mates, Coldplay, now abound, as the boys have adopted a much more somber, serious sound. Yes, it is true that certain tracks such as second single "Half Light" or "Street Map" could easily fool the casual listener into believing he or she was listening to Coldplay, but should Athlete be held liable for this similarity? It would be easy to accuse Athlete for jumping on the Coldplay/Keane bandwagon, but I'd rather judge the record for what it is and not what it is like. Whereas "Vehicle's" first single "You Got The Style" was a fairly good indicator of what else lived on that record, with its dance worhty "It's gettin' hot in here" lyric, "Tourist's" first single "Wires" is similarly typical of the record as a whole. Easily one of the highlights of the record, "Wires" is an emotionally charged, melodic track written about singer Joel Pott's prematurely born child. Other key tracks include the upbeat "Modern Mafia," the beautiful "I Love," and the title track. If Athlete improves upon "Tourist" in the same manner this release was an improvement over their debut, Athlete stands to beg the question, "Coldplay who?"

A year and a half along after first listening to this album, it still remains on my playlist. What strikes me is not the depth of the lyrics, which can sometimes be described as lacking depth (still much more mature than Vehicles and Animals). But rather, the fact that the music is moving for when you're in a particular mood...brooding when listening to Street Map or Trading Air, singing/humming along to the more energetic Half Light or If I Found Out.

Sigh...the music still harks me back to the times when I listened to it frequently last year, riding around on the Tube and trains while living in London.
(I had the fortune of watching them at their concert at the Hammersmith Apollo, which did not stray far from the original score and arrangements. I would have hoped for some variation and creativity, but perhaps that will come in future tours)

I may not be the most discerning listener, but regardless, Tourist remains one of the choice albums of my music collection.