Athlete: Joel Pott (vocals, guitar); Tim Wanstall (keyboards); Carey Willets (bass instrument); Stephen Roberts (drums).

Following on the heels of the well-received 2003 release VEHICLES & ANIMALS comes 2005's TOURIST from London-based quartet Athlete. More ambitious and polished than its predecessor, TOURIST is full of the lush, melodic rock that earned Athlete comparisons to Coldplay. Yet the album is marked by a sonic and compositional sophistication that is difficult to ignore. The mixture of electric and acoustic instruments, keyboards and electronic textures, shifting rhythms, and layered vocals is perfectly articulated, creating an overall experience that is dreamy, intricate, and alluring.

As impressive as the sound of TOURIST is the strength of frontman Joel Pott's songwriting. From the ballad-like opener "Chances" (which erupts into an epic, orchestral sweep) to the record's first single, "Wires" (a song written when Pott's daughter was born prematurely), to the lilting melodies of "Street Map," TOURIST is packed with memorable hooks. With the exception of the mid-tempo rock of "Modern Mafia," TOURIST is sedate and atmospheric, yet each track displays such craftsmanship that the album plays almost like a pop symphony.