Track Listing

1. Chances
2. Half Light
3. Tourist
4. Trading Air
5. Wires (Album Version)
6. If I Found Out
7. Yesterday Threw Everything At Me
8. Street Map
9. Modern Mafia
10. Twenty Four Hours
11. I Love

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3434 in Music
• Released on: 2005-01-31
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced

Amazon.co.uk Review
After their first album brought Athlete both commercial and critical success (including a Mercury Prize nomination), it was always going to be a tough act to follow. But on Tourist, the London four-piece have ditched the quirky pop of their debut and instead created an album that rivals Coldplay with its sweeping guitars, soaring melodies and emotive lyrics. Sonically, there's much going on here: from strings to electronic beats and squelchy, synthesized bleeps. As a result, Tourist manages to sound both epic and personal at the same time--a change reminiscent of Radiohead's move from the Britpop of Pablo Honey to the inspired songwriting of The Bends. Best of all, singer Joel Pott has managed to ditch the Mockney accent that marred their debut, making Athlete sound like a more serious proposition. And with songs like hit single "Wires", grandiose opener "Chances" and the bouncy, strutting "Modern Mafia", Tourist looks set to elevate Athlete to a whole new level. --Robert Burrow

Album Description
Athlete, the South London fourpiece comprised of childhood friends, return from the massive success of Vehicles & Animals with another album of catchy well-written indie-pop tunes on Tourist. This brand-new collection of Britpop-scented good-natured songs includes the brilliant single, "Wires".

CD Description
'Tourist' is the second album from Athlete, and the follow up to their Mercury Prize-nominated debut 'Vehicles And Animals'. The band's trademark mixture of electro beats with chirpy guitars is still present, but this time around the songshave more of an epic and mature feel to them. Features the single 'Wires'.

Customer Reviews

Better with every listen...
The standard thing to think before purchasing any album is assuming it will all be similar to it's first single, although in many respects it is, Athlete have conjured up a handful of bright and breezy numbers to add to the slower styles portrayed magnificently in 'Wires'.
Chock-a-block with engaging piano riffs to accompany any emotion or feeling - be it downheartedness, love-sickness or optimism - 'Tourist' is sure to remain at the top of your CD pile for a lengthy amount of time.
All of the songs lay claim to expertly controlled use of guitar, piano and the odd sound affect combined with sincere, honest and true-to-life lyrics which can easily be related to, which forms the structures of a wonderfully produced indie-pop creation and potentially the album of the year so far.
The pick of the bunch include the second release 'Half Light' - possessing portions of sunny and cheerful melodies and clever lyrics accurately sung by lead vocalist Joel Pott. Other stand-out tracks include 'If I Found Out', again jovial aided by the inclusion of a gospel choir providing brilliant atmosphere, 'Modern Mafia' a catchy tune based around electric guitars forming the loudest of the lot and 'I Love', a gentle album finale carefully performed to great effect.
All in all this album could push Athlete into the league of other indie sensations such as Coldplay, Radiohead and Travis and I feel they could fair well up there with the best of them...

Don't pigeonhole
It seems to me that every guitar-based indie/pop group that happen to release a ballad immediately get dismissed as a "Coldplay wannabe". Don't misunderstand, I'm not knocking Coldplay; those of us who've grown past the 'fashion victim' stage find it intensely ironic that Coldplay, who were Britain's Brightest Hope a few short years ago, are now looked upon as the Antichrist - and all because they committed the cardinal sin of becoming POPULAR (how dare they). Keane have already joined them, Franz Ferdinand are on the verge of a backlash and in time Bloc Party (and anyone else who catapluts to mainstream attention this year) will surely face the same fate. No, I'm not knocking them, or Keane, or any of the others. I just find the critics' (and some Amazon reviewers') lack of imagination depressing.

To me, 'Tourist' shows a touchingly straightforward, down-to-earth honesty that makes it more affecting than many of the albums it's been lumped together with. It's quite a different prospect to 'Vehicles and Animals', more solemn and serious, more earnest. However, I can't imagine anyone who enjoyed Athlete's debut not liking this - even if their immediate reaction is mingled surprise and disappointment at the lack of uptempo songs. The heartfelt single 'Wires' is a good indication of what to expect and also the album's finest track, but there are plenty of other gems here such as 'Chances', 'Tourist' and 'Twenty Four Hours'. Look beyond the meaningless labels so beloved of the critics, and you won't regret it.

Amazing second album in a slightly new direction
I have had this album for a couple of days now and have not stopped listening to it. Athlete have really pushed their music forward and produced a fantastic second album.

Fans of the debut album 'Vehicles and Animals' will not be disappointed as Athlete's trademark catchy hooks are here in abundance but 'Tourist' is just generally a more serious album with less up-beat tracks. Lyrically it is more mature and the sound is richer.

If you liked the beautiful recent single, 'Wires', I think that you will love this album as it is a good reflection of what this album is all about.

There is not a single bad track on the album but my favourites are tracks 2,3,5 and 7; the future singles 'Half Light' and 'Tourist', 'Wires' and 'Yesterday Threw Everything At Me' respectively. The album ending is it's only weak point for me; 'I love' is a tender, slow track but a bit too repetitive lyrically.

This is already a definite for one of the albums of the year 2005 and will open Athlete up to many more fans. I'd recommend buying this album and, as a great live band, getting down to see them live in relatively small venues while you can.