Vehicles & Animals
by Athlete
Metascore
63

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. PopMatters
    60
    Manages both annoyance and perfection.
  2. AllMusic
    60
    Perfectly, almost aggressively pleasant.
  3. No Ripcord
    60
    In their insistence on trying to mix quirky, quiet electronica with beer-swilling pop, without the two informing each other, Athlete too often fall into a formulaic and predictable model.
  5. Under The Radar
    60
    Overall, it's refreshing to hear an album so disarmingly free of pretense... but those who like their rock with a little more edge are advised to look elsewhere. [#7]
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  6. Stylus Magazine
    51
    Athlete’s sound is a wondrous discovery for young teens just getting into “chart indie” or jocks who feel open minded for listening to something a little more complicated than Oasis. For anyone else really, Vehicles & Animals only offers up a smorgasboard of odd, inventive pop music that’s only odd and inventive enough to try and sound less like everything else.
  7. Splendid
    50
    For a band that regularly draws comparisons to Beta Band and Pavement, Vehicles & Animals is all too pedestrian.
  8. Urb
    50
    You've heard it before and frankly, you've heard it better. [Jun 2004, p.90]
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  9. New Musical Express (NME)
    40
    Athlete's lyrical content is shockingly mundane.
  10. Uncut
    40
    A wearyingly one-dimensional 45 minutes. [May 2003, p.89]
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User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 8 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 1 out of 8
  1. Seamuss
    Aug 21, 2005
    10
    A Complete difference from their stunning sophmore effort. This is one of the most accesable and original pop albums I've heard in A Complete difference from their stunning sophmore effort. This is one of the most accesable and original pop albums I've heard in years. Theres nothing forced about this album. It flows with the ease of a seasoned band and is one of the best Debuts i've ever heard. Brilliant.… Full Review »
  2. OliverP
    Jun 20, 2005
    4
    This album flatters to decieve for me. They are sometimes mildly witty, but the songs are on the whole very dull and bland, almost This album flatters to decieve for me. They are sometimes mildly witty, but the songs are on the whole very dull and bland, almost sleep-inducing at times.… Full Review »
  3. zeifgeist
    Jun 13, 2005
    8
    An amazingly listenable and easy-going cd. I found myself singing along from the first listen. Songs flow one into the next, almost An amazingly listenable and easy-going cd. I found myself singing along from the first listen. Songs flow one into the next, almost repetitve, but then break of into wholely original entities. This album occupies some strange place between indie and mainsteam pop; slacker-like vocal and musical styles meld beautifully with anthemic waves, but neither ever completely takes over the other. Great stuff!… Full Review »
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