Under the Iron Sea

by

Keane

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Keane’s first album “Hopes and Fears” went eight times platinum in the UK and scored gold in the USA, thanks to huge hit ballads like “Everybody’s Changing”, “Somewhere Only We Know” and “Bend and Break”. This follow up album changes the formula completely, and although a great effort musically and lyrically, it doesn’t have a similar number of radio-friendly pop songs like its predecessor. If this will affect sales will soon be known, but fans of the group will continue to be impressed by their sheer musical genius, the songs this time being heavily infused with electronica for a darker sound than ever before. Sounding more like Enigma in places, with large spoonfuls of U2 and Queen thrown in for good measure, this album isn’t as instantly likeable like the first, but grows on you after a few repeats.

First single and lead off track “Atlantic” has an incredible drum effect running through it and some terrific lyrics – “And if I need anything at all / I need a place that's hidden in the deep / Where lonely angels sing you to your sleep / Though all the world is broken”

Second single and track “Is It Any Wonder” is the song most likely to succeed on radio, especially with its political theme, commenting on the contributions of the British to the conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Pet Shop Boys also have a similar (but more irreverently outspoken) track on their album “Fundamental”, and The Dixie Chicks take on the matter is also well known.

The best track on the album in my opinion is “Nothing In My Way”, a ballad inspired by Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” and composed by Tim Rice-Oxley, the band’s piano man. This track sounds most like the Keane of “Hopes and Fears” vintage, and is the one I’ve been repeat playing. Another wicked ballad is “Leaving So Soon?” which is followed by “A Bad Dream” another war themed track, this time based on a poem by W. B. Yeats. “Hamburg Song” is a rather long acoustic track, and then comes “Put It Behind You” a straight up rock track just for fun.

The group describes their album as “a sinister fairytale-world-gone-wrong” and this theme comes through clearly on the creepy instrumental “Under the Iron Sea” which sounds like a funeral song from a fantasy movie. Not one of my favorite tracks, I’m afraid, but would fit in very nicely in a “Lord of the Rings” type soundtrack.

Another future single is “Crystal Ball” the track which gives us the album title and a very catchy chorus, and this takes us to the last three very long tracks “Try Again”, “Broken Toy” and “The Frog Prince” these three accounting for almost 15 minutes of the album. The first two are for relaxing only, but the last track wakes you up gently for the grand finale.

This album may not beat the commercial success of the debut album, but the excellent and innovative music, crisp clear vocals and intelligent lyrics make it a stand-out anyway.

Rated: 4.5 stars

Amanda Richards, June 20, 2006

Keane's debut album "Hopes and Fears" was a fabulous collection of pop-rock that deserved every grammy nomination that it got. In the vein of mainstream music, there were not a whole lot of bands that came close to the near-perfection that Kean demonstrated in 2004. That being said, "Hopes and Fears" is a tough album to follow, yet it seems as if Keane has done a somewhat admirable job at just that. "Under the Iron Sea" is a much more (as VH1 would put it) eclectic album than their first. Sure, everything you loved about Keane is still there. The haunting piano and sweeping vocals are sill infecting practically every song on the album. However, you'll find a lot more variety on this album than on their previous effort.

The album begins with the steady, yet captivating, drum beat on "Atlantic." Right from the start you'll notice that this is an entirely different album than "Hopes and Fears." Whereas that album began with the strong single "Somewhere Only We Know," "Atlantic" is more of a soft precursor to the rest of the album. "Is It Any Wonder?" is the next song, and first single from the album, and it manages to get the energy going rather nicely. "Nothing In My Way" picks up on this energy and uses it to its fullest extent. As a result, the song manages to be truly breathtaking and also proves to be the best song on the entire album. From there, the album continues its eclectic nature, mostly focusing on more atmospheric beauty than strong pop hooks. "Crystal Ball," of course, is a major exception to this trend as it is arguably the most accessible song on the album and almost sure to become a single in the near future.

Overall, this is a fairly strong album and Keane fans will most likely be happy with what they hear. Though not as strong as "Hopes and Fears" it still manages to captivate its audience from time to time and really draw them into the music. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of songs on here that could compare to their earlier songs like "Bedshaped," "Bend and Break," or "Somewhere Only We Know." As a result, it would be hard for me to listen to this album for more than a few weeks unless something catches my attention further down the line ("Bedshaped" did this and kept me listening for months). If you are a fan of Keane, though, I highly recommend this album! For those unfamiliar with the group, your best bet might be "Hopes and Fears." Whatever you choose, rest assured that Keane has not lost an ounce of talent and is sure to stick around for many years.

Recommended for fans of Keane, Coldplay, and anyone looking for music to accompany their long drives through middle America (as this album is almost a perfect lonesome road trip album).

Key Tracks:

1. "Atlantic"

2. "Is it any Wonder?"

3. "Nothing In My Way"

4. "Put It Behind You"

3 out of 5 Stars