Athletics, Who You Are Is Not Enough, 2012

Busy Sunday When I Didn't Run Bandcamp Discovery Album Review

Busy, busy weekend.  Friday night saw CoolMom and me heading into NYC for WoodyFest.  Then I was up at 5 on Saturday to take CoolDaughter #1 to the first day of her two-day swim meet at Princeton University.  Saturday night:  roller derby in Asbury Park.  Sunday morning:  more meet, during which I had the heartbreaking experience of consoling CD #1 after she missed her first chance to go to the NJ Junior Olympics by 0.7 seconds.  I think I also assembled some knock-down patio furniture in there somewhere.

All of this is meant as an excuse for my not going for a run at all this weekend.  Add to that that I really didn't know what to review -- I mean, really, am I going to add anything to the conversation around Dirty Projectors or Frank Ocean? -- and I was in a bind.  Then I had an idea that I think could grow into a semi-regular feature here.  You can do this, too.

I went over to Bandcamp and clicked on the "New Jersey" tag.  The first album (I think I sorted on "popularity") listed was Who You Are Is Not Enough by Athletics.  The tag list for the album reads: "alternative rock alternative ambient indie post-rock rock Asbury Park."  Sold!

Athletics are a five-piece band based, you guessed it, in Asbury Park.  Who You Are Is Not Enough consists of five songs, titled with Roman numerals I-V, spanning about thirty minutes.  The five tracks chronicle the experience of losing a loved one to illness and, likely, correspond to the five stages of grief.  Lead singer Garrett Yaeger takes listeners through each of those stages, noting hopefully on "I" that, "You're breathing softly, but so much stronger on your own," blaming himself on "II," wishing he had more to give on "III," hitting bottom on "IV," and finally admitting, "I would have died for you," on "V."

Thematically and musically, Who You Are Is Not Enough had me thinking of The Antlers' Hospice -- Hospice if it were, maybe, performed by Meadowlands-era Wrens.  The first four tracks contain lots of swirling, cresting, dream poppy guitars.  "V," the "Acceptance" track, is quieter, mostly piano and vocals.  John Cannon's drum work holds everything together nicely.

Who You Are Is Not Enough isn't what I would go to first to pick myself up out of the doldrums, but it features some excellent musicianship.  CoolMom just left for a business trip, and I think this album will go nicely with my just-put-the-kids-to-bed-and-the-house-is-quiet glass of whiskey.

This was fun.  I think I'll do it again soon.  You can still come here to get my take on all the music that Pitchfork, Stereogum, and BrooklynVegan are saying is worth hearing, but I'm going to make more of an effort to branch out and give some of these hard-working, local bands a listen.

You can check out Who You Are Is Not Enough for free and then "name your price" to download it from Bandcamp.