Athlete – Beyond The Neighbourhood
Record Label: Parlophone / Astralwerks Records
Release Date: September 3, 2007 (U.K.) / September 25, 2007 (U.S.)
To have a change of heart is perfectly normal, magnificently human. After Rick put his coat over that puddle, he wasn’t so much of a jerk anymore. Dogs can’t be that bad, just look at the sweater that one has on! These fictional anecdotes will, undoubtedly, end up focusing on music. You saw that coming, I hope. You might have also seen this. I didn’t much take to Athlete’s rehashing of every piano/coffee shop-rock British band. But I’m a forgiving person. And even if I was way more of a, let’s say, bastard, Beyond The Neighbourhood would still be a great album.
It’s as if Athlete personally sat down and took notes on my Tourist review. And really, I’m flattered. The repetitive song structures and reliance on pop-string quartets are gone. Beyond The Neighbourhood is louder than Tourist, and it’s much more pop. Maybe Potts and the boys decided to look for another niche, since their old one was more like an extremely popular religion. The change is evident early, from the catchy, electronic intro (“In Between 2 States”) to the dancey and retro single, “Hurricane.” The guitars swagger and the track makes clear why these guys got popular in the first place: smart accessibility.
“Tokyo” brings even more reliance on big guitars and arena-sized percussion. Whomever gave Athlete a shot in the arm should check his dosage. “Airport Disco” is more proof I know what I’m talking about. Athlete couple a sinister synth pattern with dark riffs to great effect. The song is slow, but it doesn’t drag. The happy medium has been found. Rejoice! “Flying Over Bus Stops” packs the emotion and mood of a post-rock opera into a pop song. The light, electronic whirring and Pott’s vocal harmonizing with a female chorus creates a dreamy sensation.
Sure, I could end this review with details about acoustic croonfest “Best Not To Think About.” Or, I could rave about the near-perfect inclusion of violins and piano into closer, “This Is What I Sound Like.” Those two tracks show just how far this band has come, and just how smart Athlete is. Instead, I chose to leave you all with “Second Hand Stores.” Each segment of Athlete’s sound blends and reacts, forming a completely cohesive rock song. The muddy electronics segue into manly guitar licks and dainty strings. Pott’s scratchy voice has range unlike any of the other tracks, easily going from disheveled to calm. If I spent $15 on Beyond The Neighbourhood and only “Second Hand Stores” was included, I wouldn’t be too mad. Embellishment!
I admitted to being a doofus. In fact, I reveled in it. Like me, hopefully a few of you will change your mind about Coldplay’s little brothers (they’re Travis’ first cousins, too). Beyond The Neighbourhood is thoughtful rock at it’s most luxurious. Athlete have found their place in the sun, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.
Recommended If You Like: Coldplay, Travis, film remakes, Super Furry Animals, Michael Jordan wearing #45
well... 'tourist' was medicore... the best athlete album was, is and will always be "vehicles and animals". that one was VERY good. and somewhat innovative. "neighbourhood" is okay... better than "tourist" at least...
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