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Rating:
THE REVIEW
Two years after the unanimous acclaim from critics and the public received from their debut "Hopes And Fears," the English trio originally from East Sussex returns to the spotlight.
The decision to completely forgo guitars, at least until this second episode of their short career, has not prevented the group led by keyboardist Tim Rice-Oxley from achieving success. The almost dreamlike theme of an inner journey "under an iron sea" only partially convinces; by the admission of Keane themselves, "Under The Iron Sea" has the structure or, at least, the ambitions of a real "concept album," thanks to the common thread running through its twelve tracks. Rice-Oxley's brilliant compositions appear more sophisticated in this second work, and unlike the previous one, lack tracks with immediate impact.
The first single "Is It Any Wonder," despite some baffling guitar effects used by Rice-Oxley, struggles to take off, and by the end, the feeling that something is missing is very strong. Some of the more upbeat tracks ("Nothing In My Way," "Leaving So Soon," and "Crystal Ball"), even though they add nothing to the precious Pop gems of "Hopes And Fears," flow by without much praise or blame, while surprisingly, it is the romantic ballads like "Hamburg Song" or the concluding "The Frog Prince" that disappoint expectations. The beginning of the penultimate track "Broken Toy," teetering between Jazz and Electronics, echoes too much the oriental atmospheres of Radiohead's "Pyramid Song."
As unpleasant and perhaps hasty as it may seem to make such drastic judgments, "Under The Iron Sea" does not seem to go beyond a skimpy pass.
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Summary by Bot
Keane's second album 'Under The Iron Sea' strives to be a concept album with more sophisticated compositions than their debut. However, it lacks the immediate appeal and memorable tracks found in 'Hopes And Fears.' Upbeat songs pass without much excitement, and ballads disappoint expectations. The album shows ambition but ultimately doesn't fully succeed.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 Waldo
Keane is a great band that has placed a debut album among the best of recent years, with all the tracks in the right place, sticking to you like pitch.
Tom Chaplin doesn’t have the same physique du role as Chris Martin, but in terms of stage presence, he is certainly not the last to arrive.
By GrantNicholas
The first release from the latest album, 'Is It Any Wonder,' showcases an enviable freshness that Bono and company can only dream of now.
'Under The Iron Sea' is a mature effort that attempts a greater variety of styles compared to the somewhat monotonous 'Hopes And Fears.'
