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The best track by far is the first one, because it's an instramental and therefore doesn't suffer from the weak voacals and laughably bad lyrics of the other tracks. This guy may make a decent singer for a 'Crowded House' type band but his weak pop voice does not work at all with this type of music. The clique riddled lyrics may make you laugh, but that's no reason to waste your money on this album

Rating: 1 out of 5

The music is solid stuff but it is the artwork on the cover that earns this album its 5 stars. It's daring and edgy without being overtly political.

Rating: 5 out of 5

I say one small fault but it isn't worthy of deducting any stars. This is an amazing album by a band on top of their game. Quite why there is so much indecision on this album I do not know, what I do know is that with all Athlete albums they tend to be slow burning and perseverance plays a big part in whether you actually are going to like it or not. Believe me if you give it a few listens you will be hooked. It's an immense piece of work that deserves better than some of the nasty reviews posted not only on this page, but also in the "respected" music journals.

I'm not going to take the easy route and just list the songs with a mini review beside each of them. This album isn't that simple. It's an album that needs to be played all the way through to really appreciate just what the band are trying to achieve. Do this and you will be rewarded, it's guaranteed.

In Between 2 States opens the album in relatively low key fashion, mixing experimental bits and pieces with a pleasant melody. It's a taste of what is to follow and leads nicely into Hurricane which to me stands out as the only real single on the whole album. Ash may be swaying towards single releases only, but on the evidence of this album Athlete are going the other way. This isn't the small fault by the way.

Tokyo comes and goes in a upbeat kind of way but it is then the album really takes off with the triple salvo of Airport Disco, It's Not Your Fault and The Outsiders. The Outsiders is an outstanding song, vocally perfect with a gorgeous melody, it is testimony to the final song on the album that The Outsiders only manages to be 2nd best song on the album.

Now here comes the small fault. I just find that the track order falls down somewhat from the stunning end to The Outsiders, the quiet and atmospheric Flying Over Bus Stops and the intro to Second Hand Stores. This isn't to say that Flying Over Bus Stops isn't a good song because it is, but I just feel this part of the album is too quiet. Don't ask me for an alternative track running order because I still haven't worked it out, but its a small fault which detracts from the overall album only sightly.

The good thing is that as soon as Second Hand Stores kicks in the album reaches even greater heights, and the final four songs to me are classic Athlete. Both Second Hand Stores and In The Library are gems, leaving the listener feeling justified for sticking with the album during the quieter moments earlier. These two songs along with Hurricane and Tokyo are as "loud" as the album gets, and I suppose at a push both could be potential singles. Personally Second Hand Stores just pips In The Library but its a close run thing.

And so to the final two songs which in my opinion are two of the three best tracks on the album.

It has been well documented that Best Not To Think About It relates to 9/11 and the band handle an obviously difficult subject with respect. It is a great song, starting very quietly before building up to a emotional chorus. It's not a single, but I don't expect anybody thinks it will be.

And finally we hit the pinnacle, the ace up the sleeve, the reason why everybody should own and cherish a copy of this album. This Is What I Sound Like is the best song Athlete have written, it really is that simple. Thats not doing a dis-service to all the other great tracks on this album and on previous releases, but sometimes you just have to sit back and admire greatness. When I first heard the song I had goosebumps. Even now probably about 20 or 30 times of listening to it I still have goosebumps. Initially I thought the album was going to end with just piano and voice, but I was wrong. The melody in this song is absolutely top notch and the vocals just stunning. How on earth the band are ever going to top this I do not know!!!

An outstanding end to an amazing album which will surely go down as one of the best albums of 2007.

S



Rating: 5 out of 5

I loved Athlete's first album, was lukewarm about the second, but think this one is a little beauty! I just can't stop listening to it. The stand out track for me is Second Hand Stores with it's madly passionate intro but all the tracks are wonderful.

Rating: 5 out of 5

The album kicks off (or should I say floats off) with a beautiful instrumental piece, called In Between Two States. This album manages to mix the experimental parts of the first album and on tracks such as Its not your fault and Flying Over Bus Stops the emotion of the second. Definitely feel this is their best album so far, with some great singles such as Hurricane and surely Tokyo which has a great upbeat swagger to it. If the last album was more introspective and melancholy in places, this album is a lot more upbeat and I smile when I hear it.

Rating: 4 out of 5