Not As "Keane" As They Used To Be.

Being comprised of only a lead singer, a pianist, and a drummer, originality was always a factor in the success of the popular "piano-rock" band Keane. Vocalist Tom Chaplin's extraordinary use of high, sometimes falsetto pitches over the steady-driven beats of drummer Richard Hughes and the relentlessly energetic riffs exerted by pianist Tim Rice-Oxley gave the band an amazingly unique sound that set them apart from your average, run-of-the-mill rock group.

I first came across the band by word of mouth, and at the time I wasn't impressed. But after hearing the songs "Somewhere Only We Know" and "Everybody's Changing" (both hits from the band's debut album, Hopes and Fears), there was a spark of curiosity I couldn't seem to ignore. Sure enough, not long after buying the CD for myself, I was hooked.

Yet, with the recent release of the band's second studio album, Under the Iron Sea, I couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed after hearing it. The opening track "Atlantic", in my opinion, could have been eliminated from the album entirely (or at least have been placed differently), leaving it to the significantly more upbeat track "Is It Any Wonder?" to ensnare the listener. Granted, this still wouldn't have been quite enough to save the album, as most of the songs seem to be lacking in one way or another. A prime example would be the song "A Bad Dream", featuring a fairly decent melody paired with repetitive, seemingly half-hearted lyrics ("I wake up, it's a bad dream, no one on my side; I was fighting, but I just feel too tired to be fighting, guess I'm not the fighting kind."). Overuse of the word "fighting" aside, the song in itself just seems to drag on, and doesn't really keep the listener interested.

There are a few select tracks, however, that I find to be up to par with the creativity shown on the HAF album. "Is It Any Wonder?", the first hit to emerge from UTIS, opens with a majorly distorted synth-riff that at first leads you to believe that you're listening to a different band entirely, only to shift into the familiar croon of Chaplin's delicate vocals, almost assuring the listener that this is, in fact, the Keane they know. Other songs, such as the fast-paced "Leaving So Soon?" and the somewhat ambient "Crystal Ball" recall certain elements from HAF that, in turn, give them a sense of distinction and personality, which is what I believe the rest of the album lacks. Still, if you're one of the die hard Keane fans out there, Under the Iron Sea isn't a bad album to have. As for those new to their music, though, I would strongly recommend Hopes and Fears as an introduction.
Keane - "Is It Any Wonder?"
Keane - "A Bad Dream" (short excerpt)
Keane - "Leaving So Soon?" (short excerpt)

Keane - "Crystal Ball"