BEYOND The Neighbourhood is the new album from critically-acclaimed south London band Athlete.
The band's third album lies between their previous offerings, the upbeat Vehicles and Animals and Tourist.
And while that doesn't make it a bad album, it could have been a lot better.
Avoiding the common comparison to bands such as Snow Patrol and Coldplay is hard but where those bands have moments of excitement and even up tempo tracks Athlete do not.
They are masters at creating slow, laid back songs - which there is nothing wrong with - but all the songs on here sound exactly the same.
The only ones that stand out are The Outsiders, Flying Over Bus Stops and current single Hurricane.
Beyond The Neighbourhood has the odd moment when they go back to their first album but just as you get excited they retrace their steps and head down that old comfortable road and it just doesn't work.
It is far from the best album you'll hear this year but if you want something to put on in the background then it's pretty good.
BR
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