Athlete — Tourist

Sharing a label with Coldplay isn’t the only thing Athlete’s got in common with the U.K. wuss-rock band. Starting with "Chances," Athlete prance through a routine of slow ballads built with slow melodies and hard guitar choruses. Like their debut album, Tourist continues to use generous pop hooks to power its songs to dramatic crescendos. Although Athlete’s songwriting abilities are unquestionably strong and polished, they have not equaled Coldplay’s mastery of the melancholy. Without this edge — lyrically and musically — Athlete’s performance hits the bar instead of raising it.

Get it from