Search - Keane :: Hopes & Fears

The next Coldplay? I think not...

Amanda | 04/30/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"...Because they are in a league of their own. Here's what Keane and Coldplay have in common:

1.They're British

2.They use pianos

The comparisons end there. Keane have caught and conquered many ears in the short time that their music has been played on the radio, and if you own any of the ears that have been caught and are debating as to whether or not to buy this album, do not hesitate any longer, and buy it. I debated with myself when I was at the music store, not sure if I should buy it or not. Now, when I look back on that day, I shake my head and scold myself.



Keane have been targeted by various sources as Coldplay imitations, as well as the next big thing, and thankfully the latter seems to have prevailed. I don't know very many people who listen to Keane (or, I should say, people who listen to Keane and are dying to tell everyone else about them), but since they have opened concerts for huge named like U2, you learn that all of these fans are somewhat hiding undercover. But yes, about the album.



Hopes and Fears is, in my opinion, brilliant. Listening to this, I do not consider my 45 minutes worth of time wasted. I bought this CD after hearing "Somewhere Only We Know" on the radio, once. I wrote down the name and bought it a few weeks later. So, here are my opinions on the songs:

1.Somewhere Only We Know: This is, and will possibly always be, my favorite song out of everything I have ever listened to. When you first play this song, you've got to be careful about what level you've got the volume set at, because it starts with pianist Tim Rice-Oxley pounding mercilessly and beautifully on the piano, accompanied by drummer Richard Hughes bashing on the drums, then calm, as Rice-Oxley calms and vocalist Tom Chaplin starts to sing. Now, I may be a little biased here, seeing as this is the first CD that I've purchased and been able to `understand', but Chaplin's voice is the most amazing thing that I have ever heard. As he first sings, "I walked across an empty land..." you seem to calm, and after this stanza is sung, the drums pick up again and the song regains some strength, discreetly hinting that it will grow quickly. As you reach the "And if you have a minute why don't we go..." part, you can tell that Chaplin seems to be holding himself back, as to the amount of power he's putting into the song, and only until the last 20 seconds or so does he calm again. A song allowed to be played at high volumes.

2.This Is The Last Time: My first listen of this, I wasn't particularly dazzled, and only after many listenings of this song have I truly warmed up to it.

3.Bend and Break: Personally, I seemed to think that Bend and Break sounded a bit too much like TITLT, but have come to discover many small differences. Another play-loudly song.

4.We Might As Well Be Strangers: The first solidly depressing song on the album, Strangers is lovely, despite its bitter message. The song's musical attitude is like a couple on the brink of being finished, starting out as just sad, then gaining a sort of anger at the second playing of the chorus, and then the dam breaks, all of the tears and fury breaking out at once. Then, depleted of power, the song ends as it started, but with a touch of more sorrow.

5.Everybody's Changing: A perfectly placed song after Strangers. I've never really cared all that much for this song, but still enjoy it whenever I hear it.

6.Your Eyes Open: Immediately catchy, and its story is quickly laid out, although its emotions are not easily marked. A great display of Chaplin's vocals. If you've got a connection with the song or just really like it, his vocals will tear almost painfully at your heartstrings. My third favorite song on the album.

7.She Has No Time: The longest song on the album, She Has No Time is the best example of what Chaplin's voice can really do. His high-flying, faultless falsetto laments over love not shown back, in singing "She says she has no time for you now", and it being a personal experience for him, can easily sing his heart out.

8.Can't Stop Now: A terribly good song. When I went to see Keane in concert, they opened with this song, and since then cannot help but smile when I hear the starting drums. It's a catchy, lively song about loving someone, but still want to keep on moving ("Well I know I said I'd wait around till you need me, but I have to go, I hate to let you down"). Yet another play-loud song.

9.Sunshine: Out of all of the songs on Hopes and Fears, Sunshine seems to be the only song that is (mostly) calm as well as optimistic. Starting out, it sounds as if it will be a lullaby-ish song, and it pretty much is, but it gets a little louder as it continues. A very peaceful and calming song.

10.Untitled 1: If any song had to be removed from the album, I'd have to choose this one. I don't dislike it, not at all, but it's the most out of place song on here. It seems to be a testing of what they can do, or rather what they could do as well as how far they were willing to go. The song, in its combination of both music and lyrics is quite mysterious, painted out in darker shades, but stunning nonetheless.

11.Bedshaped: If ever there was a better finale track, I have yet to hear it. Bedshaped, it's sort of difficult to explain, I suppose. Whenever I'm listening to all of my music on shuffle, whenever I hear the start of this song, I pause, let it wash over me. It starts out with this softly rising music effect (I still don't know what it is) until soft piano and drums start up, soon followed by Chaplin's singing, its highest yet. It's like that for about the first half of the song, but it's the choruses that hold the song's power. By the second playing of the first part of the chorus, "Don't laugh at me/ Don't look away...", you can detect the faintest waiver in his voice, as if he had just before broken down into tears but got back up from the ground and started to fight back. The last stretch of music before the last verse is played, if you are listening, really listening to the song and have been pulled into its spell, all of the shivers in the music will just tear at your heart. And if the song has also pulled you into a sorrowful trance, the song ends in the same way that it started, with the music effect fluttering and fading upwards in an optimistic tone. On the right day, this becomes my favorite song.



But, if you are in a music store, threatening to buy it but see another copy of Hopes and Fears with extra tracks, an import, buy it. Here's why:



12.Snowed Under: A track intended to be on the original Hopes and Fears, Snowed Under is a terribly catchy song, telling you to not let anything pile up on top of you and not get snowed under with anything anyone says to you. Fun to listen to on rainy days ("You know sometimes I feel like I'm/ Getting snowed under with the things you say/ When I open my eyes and its a lovely day").

13.Walnut Tree: I first heard a 30 second preview of this song on a fan site and bought it from a free download. Oddly enough, not too soon before I first heard this song, I had written a poem about waiting under a tree and couldn't help but laugh when I found this one. Walnut Tree is another lullaby-ish song, a calm, quiet and steady rhythm, very relaxing.

14.We Might As Well Be Strangers - DJ Shadow Remix: I really dislike this version of the song. It ruins an already great song.

15.Allemande: Another peaceful song, with only vocals and simple piano playing. This isn't the best recording that I've heard though. The live version is much better.

16.To The End Of The Earth: My third favorite Keane song. Before I got this particular copy, I had not yet heard the song, but read its lyrics over and over and could only dwell on those. After hearing the song, I could not stop singing it to myself, no matter how bad I sounded. Despite how obvious the lyrics may seem, I still don't know the song's exact meaning, but I love it all the same.



Before I bought this CD, I knew nothing of music, nothing. I had heard of various band names and such, but I couldn't identify who sung what. I couldn't even identify Coldplay. Now, thankfully, my knowledge has drastically increased, and without Hopes and Fears, I wouldn't be the person I am today. I bought this a little over a year ago, and my CD collection has greatly increased since then, with most of them being similar to Keane. But Hopes and Fears? Absolute brilliance.

"

Thinking outside of the Box

Craig Taylor | 08/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Keane has captured the abilities of the piano, and used them to produce a sound that few come close to. They step outside of the box to bring a new sound into the world. Their lyrics seem to tell a story or paint a picture in your mind. Their music is inspiring and uplifting. Keane will spread like a wildfire to those who enjoy good music!"

Where are the extra tracks?

Patrick | 01/19/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Keane is my most favorite band. I bought this CD thinking that there were extra tracks on it but there aren't any. It's exactly the same as the US release version. This was a disappointment to say the least."