tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750120863647373520.post6331506799649498400..comments2023-08-08T11:48:10.725+01:00Comments on swisslet: what you gonna do to us this time?swisslethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16708248700851998044noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750120863647373520.post-21574058749988133482007-10-03T19:26:00.000+01:002007-10-03T19:26:00.000+01:00Interesting review, and I'm glad that you post...Interesting review, and I'm glad that you posted it as, if it hadn't been for Euros Childs at the "Bodega" Social on the same night, I'd have been there myself. The new album does get better over time, and I do like it a lot more after having transcribed Tim Wanstall's interview so closely last week, but this style of music will never really be for me, so all I can do is respect it from a difference. Yes, I miss the bright and bouncy Athlete from 5 years ago too, but <a href="http://troubled-diva.com/2007_09_23_troubled-diva_archive.html#9211054409360379131" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">as the interview suggests</a>, I guess that the passage of time means that we'll never have them back. And I definitely prefer Athlete 3.0 over their overly Coldplay-ish second incarnation...mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08372409823804709682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750120863647373520.post-52817071075327110512007-10-03T10:26:00.000+01:002007-10-03T10:26:00.000+01:00To be fair, I have tried to say that I know I'...To be fair, I have tried to say that I know I'm being a bit previous in my judgement on the album. Actually, last night's gig has made me want to dig it out and give it another go, which is a good sign, I think... and I listened to it a bit last night as I was writing the review. I disagree that "El Salvador" is a novelty record though... it's about going from making music in your basement to signing to a major record label. <br><br>All I was trying to say about Snow Patrol was that I think Athlete have their own style, with the plinky-plonky bits (like the keyboard noise on "wires") that makes them a bit different. I just don't think they do the wide eyed emotional thing as well as some other bands, and that some of their songs... in my opinion... drag a bit as a result. What I like about Snow Patrol is the wonder you sometimes hear in gary lightbody's voice. I don't get that from Athlete, but I agree that they're much better at other things, and in lots of ways they're a lot more interesting as a band. I think though that as the production values of their albums have increased - perhaps as the record label has tried to push them as a coldplay or as a snow patrol - they have lost a bit of their distinctness, or have at least allowed it to become muffled.<br><br>I still think they're a good band, I'm trying to be constructively critical.<br><br>I enjoyed most of the gig, just not all of it. hence the mark.<br><br>STswisslethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16708248700851998044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750120863647373520.post-46030898080194366102007-10-03T09:53:00.000+01:002007-10-03T09:53:00.000+01:00I think that's a bit harsh. The new album nee...I think that's a bit harsh. The new album need some listens, and whilst I don't think it measures up to the almost-perfect "Tourist", it is, I think, a lot better than people seem to think it is.<br><br>And I'll take issue with your other assessment - Athlete are easily as good as Snow Patrol in so many ways (to many, that will equate to saying that bird poo is as good as cat poo) but their songs are more heartfelt, lush and certainly melodic.<br><br>And they should get an extra half mark for not playing the silly novelty "El Salvador" record,I reckon.LBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06234702470107953581noreply@blogger.com