Hopes And Fears - Keane > Reviews > A great de -stresser

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	easy listening, very relaxing .
Disadvantages:	there are none .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I have to say that i wasn't sure what this album was going to be like when i bought it but im so glad i did!
Before i start writing this review it would be best for me to give a bit of background info on Keane themselves for those who dont really know much about them, then people can understand what im writing about. Sound good to you? Then read on.

Vocals: Tom Chaplin
Piano: Tim Rice-Oxley
Drums: Richard Hughes
Keane formed in 1997 when they were at school together.

Tom Chaplin (vocals), Richard Hughes (drums), and Tim Rice-Oxley (piano) are childhood friends from Battle, East Sussex, England who make up the merry pop sounds of Keane. Formed in 1997 while each were attending college, Keane initially started out as a cover band. They played Oasis, U2 and Beatles songs in and around Sussex with guitarist Dominic Scott. The schtick would only last so long, for Keane got tired of playing everyone else's songs and yearned to do things on their own. When Chaplin left his Art History studies at Edinburgh University behind in 1999 and moved to London to join the rest of his mates, Keane had a chance to really do it. They began writing and recording almost immediately. Call Me What You Like marked their self-released debut single in early 2000 and Wolf At The Door followed a year later, however things were slow to develop. Scott left the band in July 2001 and labels weren't really biting at Keane's rich, piano-driven kind of rock & roll because Coldplay was supposedly doing it. In December 2002, Keane got the break that they'd be waiting for. Fierce Panda's Simon Williams was summoned by a friend to attend a Keane gig in London. He was so impressed by the band's performance, Williams offered to issue the band's next single, Everything's Changing, on the spot. The limited-edition release was such a success on radio, several labels soon swarmed around the indie rock trio, eager to offer them a recording contract. Keane signed to Island UK in fall 2003 and released their fourth single, This Is The Last Time. The band's full-length debut, Hopes and Fears, appeared the following spring.

Ok so now we know a little background info we can start talking about the album. HOPES AND FEARS!
The track listing of this super album is as follows:
1-somewhere only we know
2-bend and break
3-we might as well be strangers
4-everybodys changing
5-your eyes open
6-she has no time
7-cant stop now
8-sunshine
9-this is the last time
10-on a day like today
11-untitled 1
12-bedshaped.

If you watched the brit awards 2004 you will already know that this band won a couple of awards which were well deserved. Im pretty sure it was best british band and best british single for everything changes, but it was a long time ago so i cant remember the exact title. This album shot straight to number 1 after that.

Very rarely does an album come along that forces the listener to stop and simply admire the music in its complete form, from the production and instrumentalism to the actual writing of the tracks, but I am delighted to say that "Hopes and Fears" is one such album. It includes twelve superb songs, all of which, although they follow a similar style, somehow bring something different to the album. The opening track, "Somewhere only we know", sets the sound for the remainder of the album; a bright, mid-tempo number with energetic piano instrumentals and heartfelt vocals from Chaplin. This was an excellent first choice of single for Keane, bettered only by the epic "Everybody's changing" (nominated for "Best British Single" at the 2004 BRIT Awards), which established itself as a classic virtually days after its release in May. Other singles lifted from this album are "This is the last time", arguably the most heartfelt of the whole collection, and the beautiful "Bedshaped", relating to a man's longing to find peace with a loved one and accompanied by a light-hearted but somewhat disturbing video. Unusually for a single, "Bedshaped" is positioned at the end of the album, but I feel that this is a fantastic finale as the keyboard and drumkit instrumental close to the end of the song seems to showcase Rice-Oxley and Hughes really letting rip on their instruments, as though they agree with every word Chaplin is singing and are playing accordingly.

Every remaining track on "Hopes and Fears" is worthy of release as a single; so amazing is the quality of Keane's music, ranging from fantastic uptempo tracks such as "Bend and break", "Your eyes open" and "Can't stop now" to emotional, ballad-inspired soft rock. The latter class is represented by "We might as well be strangers" and "Sunshine", a lovely track painted with soft electric piano instrumentals and, as ever, Chaplin's emotional voice. "She has no time" is also beautiful to listen to, with its positive yet sad melody that perfectly compliments the meaning of the song. Again, the use of the electric piano in numerous stages of the track provides a peaceful, absorbing listening atmosphere.

I listen to this cd all the time and i still love the soothing sounds it gives. I especially like listening to it when im stressed out as it seems to calm me and forget about things. A great one to listen to while you are driving too and i always sing along to it. Despite having bought this album nearly a year ago it is still one of my favourites and i cant wait to see what else they have up their sleeves for the coming year.
You can buy this album from all music shops, supermarkets and online for around £8 which im sure you will agree is a bargain. Definately one for the cd collection and if bought im certain you wouldnt regret it.