Tom Chaplin ~ Vocals
Richard Hughes ~ Percussion
Tim Rice-Oxley ~ Piano
Who ever thought that three childhood friends from Britain could transform from a cover band to a Rock & Roll band without any guitarist. Unspeakable is such a thing, but it wasn't always this way. Keane was originally a quartette consisting of Dominic Scott, a guitarist. Keane got tired of doing covers near and around their hometown and left their respective studies in college to release their first release. Underground music listeners picked up on Keane but they weren't blown up to become what they are now. Scott left the band in July of '01. Major labels weren't interested in picking up piano driven rock from England claiming that Coldplay already had those bases covered. Keane got their break when Fierce Panda's Simon Williams attended a Keane show via a friend’s inquiry. He was so impressed by "Everytbody's Changing" that it became a hit single and radio phenomena. Labels swarmed all over this so-called Coldplay sound-alike when in reality anyone who can hear would be able to tell definite differences in every aspect of their band/songs/sound. "Hopes and Fears" is their first full-length release and hopefully not their last.
Somewhere Only We Know ~ The song opens into what I have come to know as Keane's signature sound. The lyrics are incredibly deep. The metaphors used are so easily spotted and fit so well together. The chorus is awesome and Chaplin's vocals are surprisingly pleasant, but not to pop-like. The drums are fitting for the song and the piano really does drive the song. Who knew that simple chords like that could build such a wonderful song?
8.5/10
This Is the Last Time ~ The verse is awesome and the snare drum is stick tapped, but in the rest of the song it is regularly beat, I guess that’s sort of disappointing that he didn't revert back to keep the song a little mellower. The chorus really shows off Chaplin’s vocal skills in the upper register. The bridge sort of thing that the piano creates is an appropriate climax to the song.
8.5/10
Bend and Break ~ The piano lines seem so upbeat, upon closer examination the lyrics are dark and sorrowful. "I'll meet you on the other side, I'll meet you in the light" awesome lyrics and they make for a great set of lyrics for a chorus. The piano solo-type thing was quite cool seeing as I am new to that sort of thing.
9/10
We Might as Well Be Strangers ~ The drums faded across the bias sounds awesome on the final mix. The chorus that is played on keyboards accents the calm lyrical delivery that Chaplin uses. The drums come to a stand still. Strings come in complicating the music nicely. At the highest point of the song the lyrics are almost screamed in agony. Drums return to their faded ways. Piano is simple and appropriate throughout.
8.5/10
Everybody's Changing ~ Lyrics are almost dragged on this song and piano once again carries the whole band. Pre-Chorus brightens the mood a bit and is a good lead into the few lines that I guess are the choruses. Drums are almost unimportant in this song and I think could have played a more important role.
8/10
Your Eyes Open ~ Another soft spoken intro leading into a more aggressive verse/chorus section. At this point becomes a little repetitive and boring. Thank God that the drums are interesting. NOT. Come on do something cool. Sound effects are a pleasant Pink Floyd like surprise. The whole theme of the song is a perfect fit for what the mood of the album thus far has given off.
8/10
She Has No Time ~ Spooky beginning. This is definitely my favorite song on the album. Bass drum echo and less in your face piano/keyboards are a nice change to most of the rest of the album. The tape echo effects on vocals give a hint of Stairway to Heaven. The drums pick up the pace on this song and piano brightens, but the sound effects are still audible in the background.
Lyrical Bridge is quite cool if you ask me. Some new piano riffs come in that don't really follow the song, but that’s okay I'll just consider them the outro.
9.5/10
Can't Stop Now ~ Drums and Piano are cool again because they are blending well together and are both interesting. This is the most rock-like song on the whole album. The chorus is a little less like any other on the album. The piano and drums underscore the lyrics. The last few lines are a weird way to end a song, but I'll accept it its just different.
9/10
Sunshine ~ Vocal reverb is a changeup from the straightforward lyrical delivery I'm used to and the instruments are so much differently presented it's almost as if this was written by a different band members focus(infact the song was co-written by James Snager). The vocals are very good and the note jumping is impeccable and very musical which is a change for most rock groups.
8.5/10
Untitled 1 ~ Finally a very cool drum intro that leads into strings, keyboards, and bass. The vocal echo and effect is very wicked awesome. The lyric "I'll see you on the other side" can be found in this song, but this time more as a hateful statement rather than a looking forward to. The song is very slow and dark in comparison to the more pop-like brighter happier songs. The instrumental section of the song is rather boring.
8/10
Bedshaped ~ the intro is not appealing to the ears as a rather drone, but then piano and drums come in. The piano is once again original. This is sort of a goodbye song. Perhaps this is a song to Scott. It's their nostalgic look back at what they used to be and what they want to re-become. The instrumentals are pretty plain and uninteresting after a while. Some of the keyboards almost seem as if they were recorded backwards. I wouldn't say they particularly go out with a bang, but it was appropriate
8/10
In conconclusion, the album was a great first full length release. The piano and drums were almost always original. The lyrical strucure was a basic intro/chorus/verse/chorus, but people should learn how to follow the rules of traditional songwriting before they learn to break them. Chaplin's vocals are very impressive pop quality, even though the band is a more bright n slow rock. Lyrics were very deep and riddled with metaphors. Overall this album was excellent. I'm looking forward to a second full length.
=fair trade=
