Tourist | ||||
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Studio album by Athlete | ||||
Released | 31 January 2005 | |||
Recorded | Autumn 2003–Winter 2004/05 | |||
Genre | Indie rock | |||
Length | 46:15 | |||
Label | Parlophone | |||
Producer | Victor Van Vugt, John Cornfield, Athlete | |||
Athlete chronology | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Aggregate scores | |
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 46/100 |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
NME | 6/10 |
Allmusic | |
Entertainment.ie | |
Pitchfork Media | (3.6/10) |
PopMatters | (3/10) |
Rolling Stone |
Tourist was the second album by English rock band Athlete, released in January 2005 (see 2005 in British music). For this album, Athlete demonstrate a more mature musical style, creating a more stripped-down, sombre and reflective album than their first album Vehicles & Animals.
The first single from the album, "Wires", became the biggest hit so far for the band when it entered the UK Singles Chart at #4. The album also fared well in the charts, reaching the top of the UK Albums Chart the week it was released, selling 89,000 copies. Despite this success, Tourist had a mixed critical reception, with some suggesting that Athlete had failed to sustain the unique style of their previous album, while others saw the new album as a logical progression from their old sound. Despite the mainstream breakthrough the band achieved with this album, their fanbase was reduced to a mere cult when follow-up Beyond the Neighbourhood became their smallest-seller.
At the end of 2005, Tourist became the 32nd best-selling album of the year in the UK, and "Wires" was the 89th best-selling single.
This album has been released with the Copy Control protection system in some regions.
In 2010, "Chances" was featured in the Doctor Who Series 5 episode, "Vincent and the Doctor".