Tourist by Athlete

The Americans gave birth to rock and roll when they fused gospel with R&B. I honestly believe though that it was the Brits who gave the music elegance and the ability to battle new trends and emerge sounding new again. Think, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Who, Pink Floyd, Sting and many others over the years and in recent times Coldplay and Athlete.

This was what went through my mind while listening to Tourist, the crucial second effort by Athlete. This band from the British indie circuit has come up with a collection of new pop rock songs that are simply amazing. It has got me hoping that all those who have enjoyed the album will take the time to tell people about their experience with Tourist and keep the CD from being taken off the shelves.

Athlete is made up of Joel Pott on guitar and vocals, Carey Willetts on bass, Stephen Roberts on drums and Tim Wanstall on keyboards. They started performing together as teenagers but it was only five years ago that they officially became Athlete. The first hits were Westside, You Got the Style and El Salvador. The easy appeal of these songs established Athlete’s reputation for solid songwriting and musicianship and led to some people comparing the group to Coldplay. No matter, Coldplay clone or not, Athlete followed up the singles with its first album release, Vehicles & Animals in 2003 that was nominated for the much-coveted Mercury Prize for rock music.

Fast forward to 2005 and here is Tourist. The bad thing that can be said about the album is that it is formulaic and manipulative. On the other hand though, using such words to describe Tourist cannot really be considered bad if the album works. And it does! The music starts really soft and slow with Chances and then proceeds to rev up in volume and tempo with a chorus and full orchestra. The effect this has on the listener is like watching a movie build up to a thrilling climax and then settle down to a satisfying ending. In the case of Tourist, that comes with the last cut, the appropriately laid back I Love. In between these two songs is a delightful aural adventure that proves that Athlete has indeed come to its own as one of the leading rock bands of this period. They should now be able to live down the Coldplay comparison.

There are a lot of things going in Athlete’s favor. Unlike most bands these days, the group has a feel for melody. Technological gimmickry might impress but the most important quality that listeners look for in music is still the melody. Main songwriter Pott is also a natural with words and can be alternately dreamy and tragic. He is also a very effective vocalist. The best thing I like about Athlete though is that this band dares to be different, even uncool and in the process lets loose that knockout punch to the heart.

The first single off Tourist is the powerful Wires, which is a big hit in the UK. The other songs included are Half-Light, Tourist, Trading Air, If I Found Out, Yesterday You Threw Everything at Me, Street Map, Modern Mafia and Twenty-Four Hours.

Don’t pass up on this one.

Christian Music At Its Best

And since this piece is in a rock mode today, I might as well make mention of Wow Hits 2005, where the music rocks, screams, dances and prays. The album is a collection of hits by today’s top Christian artists. There are 34 great cuts contained in two-CD’s. This album is a fine example of how Christian music has kept up with the times. It can be really hip. And judging from the contents, the wealth of talents who choose to express their faith through the music of their generation is just unbelievable.

Among the cuts in the album are Here with Me by Mercyme; All Things New by Steven Curtis Chapman; Who Am I by Casting Crowns; Right Here by Jeremy Camp; (There’s Gotta Be) More to Life by Stacie Orrico; Gravity by Shawn McDonald; You Raise Me Up by Selah; (Untitled Hymn) Come to Jesus by Chris Rice; and Show You Love by Jars of Clay. Anything with something by Jars of Clay is OK by me and Wow Hits 2005 offers a lot more.