'Allo! I'm not contributing to Ciao for the time being but if you are bored / desperate / weird enou...
'Allo! I'm not contributing to Ciao for the time being but if you are bored / desperate / weird enough to wish to continue to read my ramblings, you can find me on Dooyoo under the user name plipplop. See you around! :P
Member since:15.07.2000
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My musical pedigree is very, very common. If I were at musical Crufts, I’d be something tacky, commercial and completely without credibility. So I don’t base this review on a profound understanding of what’s hot and what’s not in the modern music world. One thing I am certain of, however, is that I really like Keane’s music and that’s all I need to know.
Keane have, apparently, been around for a little while now. Keane is, in fact, not the band’s first name but the change from The Lotus Eaters to Keane seems fairly sensible to me, if for no other reason than to keep thing’s simple. My interest in the band started with the release of their last single (Somewhere Only We Know). The quirky video first attracted me (it features a little alien fellow being returned to his friends in the woods) but the song itself is also pretty fabulous and I had a feeling that I was going to fall in love with this band.
If I had to describe Keane’s sound, I would liken it a little to that of Coldplay. Tom Chaplin’s lead vocals often have that same balance of angst and sobriety that we have grown so accustomed to from Coldplay’s Chris Martin. Other tracks on the album remind me a little of U2, albeit in softer tones, and one of them even reminds me of Godley and Cream! Overall
I suppose I would label this record as pop. Interestingly enough, everyone seems to have a different take on Keane, so I suppose there is room for your own personal interpretation.
The sound of the disc is light and generally uplifting, with a mixture of gentle, warming tunes that make you want to jump in a soft-top car and go for a long drive. The whole thing is exceptionally accessible, unpretentious and very radio-friendly too – the popularity of the first two singles Somewhere Only We Go and Everybody’s Changing is testament to this. It has to be said that of the twelve tracks on the album, virtually all would do well as chart singles and there really are no space-fillers on this album.
One of the things that draw me to Keane’s music is the sound of Tom Chaplin’s voice. Generally, I find myself attracted to female vocalists and can think of few male vocalists that really engage me. Chaplin, however, seems to have reversed this trend and I find myself absolutely addicted to the sound of his gorgeous voice. No other tracks seem to lure me more than track number eight on the album (Sunshine), a wistful, melodic summery jaunt that I seem to be playing again and again. Can you think of any singers that you dream of having round to yours for a private concert, so that you can sit there and beg them to sing “that one” over and over again? This is the effect that Tom Chaplin has on me.
The overall pace of the album is fairly consistent. Most of the songs are fairly upbeat with one or two slower numbers to balance things up a bit. For me, the slower songs are probably the least successful of the album. They seem to lessen the mood somewhat, and take things from mellow pop/rock into more chilled out territory – not something that particularly works for me. On A Day Like Today, for example, is probably the longest track on the album, but comes across a little bit like a Keaned Up Everything But The Girl song and I do find myself fast forwarding more often than not. That aside, in the right context, the slow ones are still good songs but they do remind me of that couple on the Scottish Tourist Board adverts, lying in the middle of a field.
Lyrically, I have to say that few of the songs particularly grab me. Even now, having virtually played the disc to death, I can think of few songs that have had a lasting effect on me from this perspective. I would even go as far as to say that some of the songs seem a little, well, contrived. But that doesn’t bother me, because the whole arrangement just works – you appreciate the finished product rather than any technical specifics.
Favourite tune on the album? I probably have two.
Top of the list is Everybody’s Changing, currently due for release as a single. The song bounces from being fairly soft and thoughtful to being powerful and outspoken and by the third verse things I defy anyone not to be completely addicted to the tune. Interestingly enough, Everybody’s Changing strikes me as one of those songs that could easily cross over into the club scene with an appropriately groovy reworking – Lost Witness did very well with Coldplay’s “Trouble” and I’d like to see them have a go here too.
Second up would be track eight, aptly called Sunshine. No other tracks seem to lure me more than this song - a gentle, rather haunting summery outing that I seem to be playing again and again and again. Grab someone you love, go out for a drive in the sun and play this at top volume and it’ll put a smile on both your faces.
The album has thus far only been released for a couple of weeks, and in that time it has become one of my absolute favourites. Tom Chaplin’s lyrics will almost undoubtedly keep me hooked for some time yet and for sheer, uncompromised musical pleasure, Hopes and Fears is a wonderful album. This is without a doubt my top summer recommendation.
But don’t think that I’m going to write an entirely glowing review. Oh no.
I do worry that the effect of Hopes and Fears won’t be a truly long-lasting one. Already, the Keane effect is starting to wear off on me. I think this is partly due to the fact that there is nothing striking or demanding about this album. Pleasant, gentle music is very easy to listen to, but it’s also very easy to grow accustomed to and I’m not sure that the album will become a timeless classic. For many listeners, the album would lack the bite or edge that they look for in music and whilst you might enjoy listening to this on the radio, you probably wouldn’t go and buy the whole album. Dare I say it, I am already a little bit bored with it.
Overall, I like the album a lot and “Hopes and Fears” has been top of my play list for about three weeks. I do, however, acknowledge the limitations that this kind of sound has and will be interested to see how Keane fare over the longer term.
Nonetheless, still recommended.
Full track listing:
1. Somewhere Only We Know 2. Bend and Break 3. We Might As Well Be Strangers 4. Everybody’s Changing 5. Your Eyes Open 6. She Has No Time 7. Can’t Stop Now 8. Sunshine 9. This is The Last Time 10. On A Day Like Today 11. Untitled I 12. Bedshaped
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
I love this album, and you share the same op as me as they are dwindling a bit! Great review, my faves are Somewhere only we know, and Bedshaped. n x
alabony 16.04.2005 00:01
Nice op. I feel exactly the same as you - initially catchy and undemanding, with some slighty-above-average lyrics on some songs. But the novelty's wearing off fast. Shortly to be demoted to Dinner Party Music category for me... Cheers, Andy.
bec55 14.03.2005 20:04
Not really my type of album, althought saying that i do like some of the ones they have released. Great review. Bec xx
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Jun 2nd, 2004
(Jun 7th, 2004)
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