There is nothing such as too much good Brit pop. Athlete, a newish band on the scene, is the perfect example of what good still exists in pop outside of the United States. I hate to sound like a prig, but truth be told pop in the US by and large sucks. There are some notable examples, but if people would take a cue from what happens in the UK and elsewhere society would be all the better for it.

Of course if something as miraculous as that did indeed occur there would be no need for a nice gal like myself to enlighten the masses about the music they don’t yet know.

Athlete hails from South London and was formed in 2000 by a group of childhood friends—Joel Pott (vocals, guitar), Carey Willetts (guitar), Tim Wanstall (bass), and Steve Roberts (drums). The band makes a cool, easy brand of appealing slacker-pop. It’s not the kind of thing that will get you out of your seat and dancing but it is lovely and enjoyable nonetheless. Athlete doesn’t do anything new with pop music but that doesn’t mean it’s worthless. Fact is I really do like what they have to say on their 2003 debut Vehicles & Animals (released on Astralwerks stateside).

Vehicles & Animals makes me smile. It doesn’t make me think or get all weepy (which is a good thing) and therefore is perfectly suitable fodder for my stereo on a lax summer day. Athlete is like a cross between the Eels and Beck. Just enough irreverent to catch and hold my attention but just enough appealing to want to share with folks not usually interested in my “kind” of music.

There are moments that smack of yummy pop effervescence throughout the album. Nothing is brilliant (as mentioned earlier) but there is so much good about Vehicles & Animals that any slight creative issues are easily and quickly forgotten. This is the mark of good pop music in my humblest of opinions. If you are willing to set aside the idea that music should be heavy or serious, Athlete is for you.

My favorite moments are spread out across the twelve songs on Vehicles & Animals. Opening song El Salvador is one of those. The languid pace melds wonderfully with Pott’s lovely voice and the beautiful melody. It is the epitome of great pop music. It makes me smile and makes me forget the stresses of daily life. Plus, the lyrics are catchy—another hallmark of great pop music. As the album progresses I must admit that my interest waxes and wanes, but with that said I am patient and always rewarded with something shimmering around every corner.

Shake Those Windows is the next moment that really strikes me. More mid-tempo sparklers, the song is round yet sparse. Athlete doesn’t attempt to fill every hole with unnecessary noise instead relying almost entirely on melody—and fortunately it is good melody. New Project reminds me of the Eels in that it tells a story in a unique, strange, and almost sing-song manner. Obviously I like it (why else would I compare it to my dear Eels?).

As for which song is the best of the album, it’s a tie between You Got the Style and Vehicles and Animals. The former is a quirky uptempo lounge-pop sort of piece. But even more important are the fantastically memorable lyrics:

oh it's getting hot in here
there must be something in the atmosphere
oh i could be laughing about it
and making the most of the true british climate
oh it's getting hot in here
there must be something in the atmosphere
oh oh-oh oh oh

Vehicles and Animals is the polar opposite of You Got the Style. It’s an acoustic ballad with a gorgeous melody, lovely vocals not to mention a perfect arrangement. It is, I think, probably the most widely appealing of the album. I suppose that’s why the disc was named after the song.

As things come to a close there are other moments worth mentioning. Out of Nowhere is a funky little pop track with a focus on beat not found elsewhere on the album. It’s fun and bubbly and definitely worth checking out. You Know stomps along with a child-like freedom which never gets old. The whole album wraps up on a high note thanks to Le Casio.

Like I said earlier, I can’t say I’m impressed by the band’s originality. With that said however, I am incredibly impressed with their ability to put together a fantastic pop song. Athlete’s debut, Vehicles & Animals, is impressive. I can’t wait to see what they put together next.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Track Listing:
01. El Salvador
02. Westside
03. One Million
04. Shake Those Windows
05. Beautiful
06. New Project
07. You Got the Style
08. Vehicles and Animals
09. Out of Nowhere
10. Dungeness
11. You Know
12. Le Casio

*The British and American versions of Vehicles & Animals are slightly different. The American version also includes two bonus tracks--A Few Differences and a multimedia version of You Got the Style.

Recommended: Yes