[.ca] Vehicles & Animals

What a surprise!:
Just when I thought that I'd bever find another enjoyable album of music (as opposed to a track here or there), I accidently stumbled (as it seems everyone has) upon Athlete via a CD from Q magazine grandiously titled "The Best of 2003". Let me say that the only song on this CD that was listenable was "Shake Those Windows" by Athlete. Why? Because they were prepared to leave spaces, happy not to have every instrument playing at the same time, allowed the song to breathe and build up in a bolero style, and included enough quirks to catch my ear. I then progressed to the album and the standard was brilliantly sustained. Good songs, well arrranged, but different. I think there is a nod to Coldplay but I prefer Athlete by far. Good on the Brits! After numerous US indie dirge/clunky/busy/amateurish bands being thrust at me recently, here's a magic album. Buy it.

Sunny, Reggae-fied, Eccentric, Electro-Britpop!:
Happy music from a band of Scots? Whoa!! Athlete's brilliant effort fuses all of the above mentioned elements and comes out with a danceable bliss-out that will make you want to drink many pints and play with your kid's toys. It brings to mind British Ska legends "The Specials." Just another example of the truly awesome alt-music talent coming out of Scotland. Other Scot. necesseties: The Delgados' "The Great Eastern," Belle and Sebastian's "Dear Catastrophe Waitress," and anything by The Beta Band.

Really quite good.:
I stumbled upon Athlete by accident. It was the best mistake I've made all year. They mix Blur, Colplay, XTC with some other element that never seems to have been tapped before, a large part of their sound is just... Athlete. The album is wonderfully hooky. It kicks off with the athemic sing along-y "El Salvador" about simply getting out. It's one of those that makes you want to get out and find a different pace. The album continues with "Westside" another fun number with an original hook and a triumphant finish. "Shake Those Windows" is a heartfelt tune in the Coldplay vein. Athlete's British Rock (...it's not just rock) is simultaneously energetic and heart warming. Their harmonies are fresh, their songs are extremely agile and their choruses are huge. It's not all 100% memorable right away but that's a good thing it grows on you. In short this is a brilliant debut from a band that is quickly finding its sea legs "there's no need for us to go back in time/because we've found our open eyes" Joel sings in the title track; and I predict that soon they will be a force to be reckoned with. Some highlights are "El Salvador" "Shake Those Windows" and "Vehicles and Animals"

Fantastic album...:
I happened upon this album while wondering aimlessly in a record store. After listening to the first few tracks it was an immediate purchase. This album requires little more than a quiet room, sofa, and a decent stereo for maximal enjoyment. Great to simply chill to.

"Just Let Yourself Go":
"Vehicles and Animals" is worth buying for the marvelous "El Salvador" alone, but there is PLENTY of great stuff here. From the swinging "Westside" to the wistful, "Le Casio", there is no filler at all and always a stunning hook waiting just around the corner to knock you off your feet. Tracks like "One Million", "New Project" and "You Know" are just overflowing with pensive, melodic, enrapturing music, and the anthemic numbers "Vehicles & Animals", "You Got The Style" and "Dungeness" are absolutely blissful as well. A sticker on the cover of this album with a quote from Q Magazine calls "Vehicles and Animals", and I quote, "life-affirming...pick any of the songs and there is something to love." That's about as good and succint a description I can come up with. Definitely check this one out, I highly recommend it to all.

• Salvador
• Westside
• One Million
• Shake Those Windows
• Beautiful
• New Project
• You Got the Style
• Vehicles and Animals
• Out of Nowhere
• Dungeness
• You Know
• Casio
• Few Differences
• You Got the Style \oMultimedia Track\c