http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.5317529&variant=artist-playlists&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fplaylists.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 06:38:18 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.5317529&variant=artist-playlists&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fplaylists.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=ply.13307408&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Thu, 29 May 2008 07:02:06 -0700 Playlists Featuring Athlete on Rhapsody Online 13307408 ply.13307408 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.13307408&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.13288554&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:27:16 -0700 Playlists Featuring Athlete on Rhapsody Online 13288554 ply.13288554 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.13288554&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.13174071&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Fri, 4 Sep 2009 17:16:29 -0700 Playlists Featuring Athlete on Rhapsody Online 13174071 ply.13174071 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.13174071&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.13015302&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:48:31 -0800 Playlists Featuring Athlete on Rhapsody Online 13015302 ply.13015302 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.13015302&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.12581611&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Fri, 4 Sep 2009 10:44:31 -0700 Playlists Featuring Athlete on Rhapsody Online 12581611 ply.12581611 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.12581611&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.11995381&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Fri, 4 Sep 2009 10:44:34 -0700 Playlists Featuring Athlete on Rhapsody Online 11995381 ply.11995381 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.11995381&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.10783809&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:26:42 -0700 Playlists Featuring Athlete on Rhapsody Online 10783809 ply.10783809 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.10783809&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.10585121&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:05:27 -0700 Playlists Featuring Athlete on Rhapsody Online 10585121 ply.10585121 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.10585121&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.10247411&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:37:10 -0800 Playlists Featuring Athlete on Rhapsody Online 10247411 ply.10247411 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.10247411&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.9101077&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:22:29 -0800 Playlists Featuring Athlete on Rhapsody Online 9101077 ply.9101077 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.9101077&variant=play&rws=%2Fathlete%2Fplaylists.rss