http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.5317529&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fmusic-videos.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 07:04:10 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.5317529&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fmusic-videos.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