http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.5317529&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rssLike so many other British rock bands in the late 1990s, South London four-piece Athlete were caught in the slipstream of Oasis. With a bevy of conventional rock songs and gigs in the usual venues, they attracted the attention of a myriad of record company execs. But rather than taking these early indicators of approval as a license to rock out, they chose to reassess their aims and musical tastes. The quirky <I>Vehicles and Animals</I> shows that shift to a unique and singular aesthetic vision -- the proof being that their music has drawn comparisons to so many disparate groups. Pavement and XTC are the easiest reference points, but Athlete could just as easily share a stage with Super Furry Animals, Mercury Rev, Beta Band or Gomez. Impressively, singer Joel Pott was even able to chronicle life in a band ("El Salvador") with good humor and not a hint of self-pity. <I>Tourist</I>, their 2005 release, showcased the group's growing confidence with a stripped-down sound relying heavily on Pott's breathy delivery and some epic ballads. The CD earned commercial and critical success and Athlete a not-too-far-from-top-billing on the 2005 European outdoor festival circuit. - Neil WestBrit Rocken720Thu, 26 Nov 2009 06:28:01 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.5317529&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss Like so many other British rock bands in the late 1990s, South London four-piece Athlete were caught in the slipstream of Oasis. With a bevy of conventional rock songs and gigs in the usual venues, they attracted the attention of a myriad of record company execs. But rather than taking these early indicators of approval as a license to rock out, they chose to reassess their aims and musical tastes. The quirky <I>Vehicles and Animals</I> shows that shift to a unique and singular aesthetic vision -- the proof being that their music has drawn comparisons to so many disparate groups. Pavement and XTC are the easiest reference points, but Athlete could just as easily share a stage with Super Furry Animals, Mercury Rev, Beta Band or Gomez. Impressively, singer Joel Pott was even able to chronicle life in a band ("El Salvador") with good humor and not a hint of self-pity. <I>Tourist</I>, their 2005 release, showcased the group's growing confidence with a stripped-down sound relying heavily on Pott's breathy delivery and some epic ballads. The CD earned commercial and critical success and Athlete a not-too-far-from-top-billing on the 2005 European outdoor festival circuit. - Neil West http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.30794726&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss Brit Rock Mon, 2 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Athlete Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.30794726 alb.30794726 Athlete art.5317529 3.99 The Getaway EP alb.30794726 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/7/8/4/1844871_170x170.jpg 2009-11-02 00:00:00.0 null true false single http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.30794726&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.30794726&variant=data&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.16550802&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss Brit Rock Tue, 25 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Athlete Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.16550802 alb.16550802 Athlete art.5317529 9.99 Beyond The Neighbourhood alb.16550802 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/7/0/4/1114077_170x170.jpg 2007-09-25 00:00:00.0 2007-09-25 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.16550802&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.16550802&variant=data&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.29325134&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss Brit Rock Tue, 2 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Athlete Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.29325134 alb.29325134 Athlete art.5317529 0.0 Live In San Francisco alb.29325134 2006-05-02 00:00:00.0 null false false single http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.29325134&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.29325134&variant=data&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.9441995&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss Brit Rock Tue, 14 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 Athlete Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.9441995 alb.9441995 Athlete art.5317529 7.99 Half Light alb.9441995 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/2/8/3/1103824_170x170.jpg 2006-03-14 00:00:00.0 2005-04-25 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.9441995&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.9441995&variant=data&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.7240328&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss Brit Rock Tue, 12 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Athlete Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.7240328 alb.7240328 Athlete art.5317529 1.99 Wires alb.7240328 2005-04-12 00:00:00.0 2005-04-12 00:00:00.0 true false single http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.7240328&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.7240328&variant=data&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.7243157&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss Brit Rock Tue, 12 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Athlete Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.7243157 alb.7243157 Athlete art.5317529 7.99 Tourist alb.7243157 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/1/5/2/1072510_170x170.jpg 2005-04-12 00:00:00.0 2005-04-12 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.7243157&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.7243157&variant=data&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.29325153&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss Brit Rock Tue, 12 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Athlete Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.29325153 alb.29325153 Athlete art.5317529 0.0 Wires alb.29325153 2005-04-12 00:00:00.0 null false false single http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.29325153&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.29325153&variant=data&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.5317608&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss Brit Rock Sat, 10 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0700 Athlete Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.5317608 alb.5317608 Athlete art.5317529 9.99 Vehicles & Animals alb.5317608 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/8/8/7/677885_170x170.jpg 2004-04-10 00:00:00.0 2004-04-10 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.5317608&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.5317608&variant=data&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fdiscography.rss