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Rating:
THE REVIEW
The first time I listened to a track from this album was during the launch of the video for the first single "Somewhere Only We Know" and I thought to myself: 'these guys know what they're doing.' At the end of the video, I read Keane and, never having heard that name before, I immediately set out to find more information.
It was an English group from East Sussex that had not released any album or single before that track and was working on their first album. In eager anticipation, a month passed and there it was, "Hopes and Fears" was released, reflecting those emotions that can be felt by a young person and, more generally, by an entire band at the start of an important journey.
Listening to "This is the Last Time" on the radio convinced me: I have to listen to this album. As soon as I had 15 euros to spare, I rushed to a shop in Frascati and bought it. I won't regret it. The album is beautiful and distinctive, characterized by a sweet and evocative sound and very original lyrics that describe almost enchanted places ("I walked across an empty land..." so begins the beautiful "Somewhere Only We Know") and very mature feelings for guys just over twenty. Through the 11 tracks, one can discern musical influences from early U2, Procol Harum, and Waterboys, making this album almost an encyclopedia of the "infinite-sound."
Noteworthy is "Everybody's Changing," which was brought to success also thanks to the Vodafone TV commercial, and the closing track, the splendid "Bedshaped," a true gem. In short, this Hopes and Fears is an album that makes itself loved and, above all, listened to from start to finish, a flawless work characterized by the absence of guitars, with great arrangements enhanced by Tom Chaplin's epic voice. I am sure this group can write important pages in music, and the real test will be their next album due out in 2006. We'll see, in the meantime, let's enjoy this little masterpiece capable of making us dream while staying awake.
KEY TRACKS: "Somewhere Only We Know," "This is the Last Time," "Bend and Break," "Bedshaped"
Track-list:
"Somewhere Only We Know"
"This is the Last Time"
"Bend and Break"
"We Might As Well Be Strangers"
"Everybody's Changing"-
"Your eyes open"
"She Has No Time"
"Can't Stop Now"
"Sunshine"
"Untitled I"
"Bedshaped"
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Summary by Bot
The review praises Keane's debut album Hopes and Fears for its evocative sound and mature lyrics, highlighting key tracks like 'Somewhere Only We Know' and 'Bedshaped.' The author anticipates the band's promising future. The album is described as a flawless work with a unique absence of guitars and a memorable voice by Tom Chaplin.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Keane
Keane are an English rock band known for piano-led pop/rock, especially on their early releases where guitars were largely absent.14 Reviews
Other reviews
By charles
"Keane's debut single, 'Somewhere Only We Know,' is a perfect mix between the vocal part of Travis and the instrumental part of Coldplay."
"It is a very simple album, which sounds very, very calm and light, an 'easy-listening' certainly not innovative but always pleasant to listen to."
By Iccini
When listening to the CD, you absolutely don’t miss [the guitar], as it’s brilliantly covered by the excellent use of the piano.
'Everybody’s Changing'... is astonishing in both lyrics and music, making it the best song on the CD.
By ocipuk
"Somewhere only we know is a piece of great class, it relaxes but at the same time does not slip away without leaving its melody on you."
"Keane hits the mark with their debut, offering something original without wanting to disrupt the rules of music."
