2008 Woodie Awards
Keane mixes genres with second album
Bart Gottula
Issue date: 9/26/06 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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The early 90's saw the entrance of many key players in British music: Oasis, Radiohead, Blur, etc. Listeners will now be reawakened to the revolution with the band Keane's latest album.
Entitled "Under the Iron Sea," the latest set from the English rockers is the follow-up to their Grammy-nominated debut, "Hopes and Fears." Although it was released in June, "Under the Iron Sea" is finally getting the radio play and sponsorship it deserves.
The 11-track album blends soft piano tones, jazzy drum beats and smooth lyrics reminiscent of the bands U2 and Coldplay. Newcomers to the band may find the latest album lacking louder melodies, but will be pleased at the amount of relaxation each track provides. The first song, entitled "Atlantic," is no exception.
The song starts with a simple melody and climaxes into a very stylized compilation of dark piano notes and emphasized drum beats. With the addition of several electronic sounds and emotional lyrics, the song gives proof as to why bands like Keane and Radiohead are so popular. The ability to manifest such emotion in a single song is a skill only found in these types of popular bands.
The second track and popular single, "Is It Any Wonder?" continues the inspirational music, but switches tone slightly. Unlike "Atlantic," the introduction of "Is It Any Wonder?" implements a "wah"-like sound effect that gives the song a louder and quicker melody.
Lead singer Tom Chaplin's lyrics only add to the greatness. He sings, "Is it any wonder I'm tired?/Is it any wonder that I feel uptight?/Is it any wonder I don't know what's right?" Not only are the lyrics catchy for the new listener, but they actually give the song a deep, personal meaning to those listeners experiencing the same emotions found in the track.
"Nothing In My Way," the third track, continues the personal connection with a progressive piano melody and complementary set of lyrics. Although many may find the piano and drum beats rather simplistic, others will find that they emphasize Chaplin's inspirational lyrics "why'd you say/It's just another day, nothing in my way/I don't wanna go, I don't wanna stay."
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