Under the Iron Sea - Keane

...represented by a dark place under an impenetrable iron sea.

And so we fast forward to the 6th of July 2006 with me frantically driving to HMV before I have to go to work, hoping that the album is in stock. Most shops were taking pre-orders for the album, as they do when expecting a huge sales figures, but no, there on the shelves was a full display of Keane's new album; 'bad sign?' I thought to myself?

And so after ...
...I buried it too deep/ Under the iron sea".

3/5

# Try again #

And so I am forced to reach for more fags as, yes you guessed it, another slow and depressing track. to be fair, the lyrics are a lot better on this track and the track does some how keep going and the chorus clearly shows Chaplins vocal ability. But even that is short lived and before you know it I am flicking to the next track.
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For those of you who have read my reviews before, you will be well aware that I am a huge Keane fan. My love affair with the band from 'Battle' started way back in May 2004 when I first saw them playing at Bristol Uni. By this time they had only ever released 'Somewhere only we know' and although that was my single of the year, I really didn't know what else to expect from this little known band; but sure enough they blew me away with their powerfull lyrics, Tom Chaplin's characteristic voice and the bands individual sound.

Ever since that day I have followed everything that Keane has done, bought their singles, DVD's, artwork, autographs (no I don't do things by halves!) and of course their hugely succesfull debut album 'Hopes and Fears'. Hopes and Fears sold over five million copies worldwide, gaining them two Brit awards (Best breakthrough Act and Best Album) Q magazines Best Album award and they were nominated for a Grammy.

Hopes and Fears was the biggest selling album by a British band in 2005, with only Scissor Sisters beating record sales. The band continued to tour with the album, taking them all over the world and touring with some musical Legends, including U2 when they performed at the london 'Live 8' show.

And so with the year drawing to a close and the festival season over, Keane started to write and record their long awaited album 'Under the iron sea'. The album was recorded in different studios all over the world, including The Magic shop in Soho, New York and the Helioscentric Studios near their home town, Battle.

The band are said to have felt an incredibly intense atmosphere during the writing and recording of the album, they feel that they have created a kind of sinister fairy-tail gone wrong with a feeling of confusion and numbness represented by a dark place under an impenetrable iron sea.

And so we fast forward to the 6th of July 2006 with me frantically driving to HMV before I have to go to work, hoping that the album is in stock. Most shops were taking pre-orders for the album, as they do when expecting a huge sales figures, but no, there on the shelves was a full display of Keane's new album; 'bad sign?' I thought to myself?

And so after a killer 12 hour shift just itching to listen to the album, I finally arrived home and with an ash-tray and can of beer at the ready, I peacefully sat back and listened.....

# Atlantic #

And so the first track on the album- the most important in my view, starts very slowly and sure enough there is a very creapy and distressed sound about this track. There is a strong sound to this track, with lead singer Tom Chaplin sounding enraged and Drums played by Richard Hughes playing a leading role throughout. The song slowly becomes more light but far from bouncy and happy.

"I don't want to be old and sleep alone/ An empty house is not a home/ I don't want to be old and feel afraid".

2/5

# Is It Any Wonder? #

The first track released from the album. The opening is powerfull and you could easily mistake this for a U2 track. I really didn't like this song when it was first released. The sound is flat with no buzz like in previous Keane tracks. However the track picks the pace up slightly in the chorus and bridge near the end. Not a brilliant song to represent a new album.

"Be living in the kingdom of the good and true and so on/ But now I think I was wrong/ And you were laughing along/ And now I look a fool for thinking you were on my side"

3/5

# Nothing In My Way #

This track starts with a slow but steady beat, and will have you thinking that this is yet another snoozing song, but looks can be deceiving and this song slowly picks up with the chorus being very catchy. Although this is not a high tempo song, it has a very pleasent feel to it and once again Tom Chaplin shines with his brilliant voice, which just captures the emotional feel of the song instantly.

"And why did you lie?/ When you want to die/ When you hurt inside?/ Don't know what you lie for anyway/ Now there is nothing left to say".

4/5

# Leaving So Soon #

Unlike the other tracks, this one starts quickly but at the chorus picks up even more. The bass plays very quietly throughout this track, with the attention really on Tom's voice, and he doesn't disapoint. Althought the words are a bit crap throughtout the begining of the song, the chorus is brilliant with the bass and Tom's vocals taking off. I really love this track and think it could so easily do well in the singles charts.

"Your leaving so soon?/ Never had a chance to bloom/ But you were so quick to change your tune/ Don't look back if i'm a weight around your neck/ Because if you dont need me I dont need you."

4/5

# A Bad Dream #

What a real disapointment, after such a brilliant song I would expect them to keep the spirit going, but no, once again we are back to a slow depressing song which just has no intention of going anywhere. Unfortunately this song was not a bad dream. A pure Album filler.

"Why do I have to fly over every town and up and down the line?/ I'll die in the clouds above and you that I defend I do not love."

2/5

# Hamburg Song #

When this track first starts it sounds like church music- and that is an instant turn off for me. The first minute or so of the song is just Chaplin singing solo with little music in the background. And that is basically the whole song over and done with. The words are just too much mix and match- trying to be deep but it just hasn't worked on this track. Although Chaplin's voice is beautiful on this track, it just isn't enough. The best part is when it ends.

"I dont want to be adored/ Dont want to be first in line/ Or make myself heard/ I'd like to shine a little light/ To shine a little light on your life/ To make you feel loved".

1/5

# Put It Behind You #

OK just when I thought I could have a little nap, the tempo is once again up and we have vocals, bass and drums going everywhere. This song just sounds way too mashed up with too much going on at once. It literally sounds like they are racing to get to the end of this track. DIRE.

"Time goes by at such a pace/ It's funny how it's easy to forget your face/ You hide the cracks the facts will find you/ Turn your back and leave the lonely days behind you now".

2/5

# The Iron Sea #

Ok so it has been going over 3 minutes now and all I can make out is a sound track that would fit better in war of the worlds. The point of this track...umm...umm...there isn't one.

0/5

# Crystal Ball #

YAY a bouncy and light hearted track, about time, I feel so depressed at this stage and am taking it out on a pack of Lambert and Butler's finest; my poor lungs. Right so back to this dire album, as I said this track has a brilliant start and although this track is not the making of a number one single, it is a good track with a catchy chorus. I heard the other week that this is to be the next single. It may do well as 90% of people who still buy CD singles are a fickle bunch.

"Who is the man I see/ Where I'm supposed to be?/ I lost my heart/ I buried it too deep/ Under the iron sea".

3/5

# Try again #

And so I am forced to reach for more fags as, yes you guessed it, another slow and depressing track. to be fair, the lyrics are a lot better on this track and the track does some how keep going and the chorus clearly shows Chaplins vocal ability. But even that is short lived and before you know it I am flicking to the next track.

"I fall asleep on a late night train/ I missed my stop and went round again/ why would I want to see you now?/ To fix it up somehow".

3/5

# Broken Toy #

This track starts unlike anything I have heard from Keane before- think Jamie Cullum. But as soon as the jazz is over, we go back to the slow moving tempo, which I have become used to during this album. Once again the sound is very spacey (is that a word?) and easy going but not something that I think Keane fans will like.

"I think you know because it's old news/ The people you love are heard to find/ So I think if I were in your shoes/ I would be kind".

2/5

# The Frog Princess #

I actually like this song (SHOCK HORROR!). Yeah the song is slow but it works and the lyrics are great. The chorus is brilliant; a real summer song and a real real good song. Thank god they got the ending track right..Pitty it's a little late.

"An old fairytale told me/ The simple heart will be prized again/ A toad will be our king/ and ugly ogres our heroes".

3/5

And so thank god thats over. Its really hard as a huge Keane fan to be so critical of their work, but in my honest opinion this album isn't a patch on Hopes and Fears. I know that this is very common in second albums, but I really did expect more from Keane when you think that they have had two years to write and record this album.

Another thing that bugs me about this album is the lyrics. They are very mix and match and many of the tracks don't seem to have a meaning to them, as I had come to expect from their first album. And the words 'Under the Iron Sea' seem to pop up i every song- as did 'On the other side' on their previous album.

Such a pitty that this is all Keane could offer and I really hope that their fan base stays strong and their next attempt is a lot better then this dire collection.

For those of you interested in the cover/ art work etc, It has a fantastic cover of some type of sea creature moving from the waves and all art inside follows the same theme.

I would recomend that you buy Keane's first album, but just borrow/ steal/ download this album as otherwise you may feel very out of pocket.

I have found this on Amazon for £5.98 used and £8.99 new.

Brat 

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