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ATHLETE
TOURIST
ASTRALWERKS
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Either imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery among British bands or the proliferation of artists eager to jump on whatever musical trend hits Top of the Pops and then break through in the US is a reflection of how small England is. In any case, this year’s model are Coldplay, and Athlete are among a bevy of new/newish Britpoppers (Snow Patrol, Keane, Embrace) eager to flatter by embracing the plaintive anthemic crescendi and earnest delivery of Chris Martin and company. Athlete were on a post-Bends bender when they emerged with last year’s Vehicles and Animals, an eccentric pop outing that drew its own melodic conclusions from Radiohead’s electro-organic experiments. This time, singer/guitarist Joel Pott streamlines Athlete’s approach. (His reward: a #1 album in GB.) He doesn’t have Martin’s falsetto, but he does have Coldplay’s knack for mixing and matching simple guitar hooks with sullen piano chordings and yearning lyrics delivered with equal parts hope and despair. Over a stark backdrop of piano chords, Pott offers obvious bits of wisdom ("Take all your chances while you can/You never know when they’ll pass you by") before strings and massed guitars arrive like a welcome rush of blood to the head on "Chances." It’s entirely expected, and entirely effective. Athlete | T.T. the Bear’s Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge | Sept 15 | 617.492.BEAR
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