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Old 07-17-2006, 04:42 PM  
adidasss
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Default Keane - Under the iron sea



Track listing:
1. Atlantic
2. Is It Any Wonder?
3. Nothing in My Way
4. Leaving So Soon
5. Bad Dream
6. Hamburg Song
7. Put It Behind You
8. Crystal Ball
9. Try Again
10. Broken Toy
11. Frog Prince

I hesitated downloading this album for a while, mainly because i've heard the singles and thought they were dreadfully bland. Also, in my opinion, a debut album is a pretty good indication of a bands creative power. Hopes and fears was good, it had two incredible singles, Somewhere only we know and Everybody's changing, but apart from those two fantastic songs you had to really search for a good tune in the rest of the album. Sure the piano parts were beautiful, but they have a really hard time recording a song that will blow you away in it's entirety. And it's the same story with UTIS. On the first listen one or two standout tracks, Crystal ball and Nothing in my way. The problem is that in order to make a standout track, the chorus has to be pretty special. Apart from those two songs, they do just the opposite, the write pretty preludes and bland choruses. The effect they produce? A song you'll soon forget, or will learn to tolerate upon multiple listens as a decent interlude to the standout tracks.

It seems to me that they have the creative process all wrong, like the piano dude ( who is incredibly talented by the way, he seems to splurt out beautiful melodies with the most painful of ease ) fiddles about with some tunes and the lead singer just sings randomly, tries to fish for some catchy tune but fails miserably...well, most of the time anyways...

Unlike Coldplay, who i consider their closest contemporaries and whose albums keep getting better and the sound ever evolving, Keane unfortunately seems to be on a downward spiral as far as their creativity goes...or if i'm to be generous, they're stuck on the same level for a while now ( which is essentially the same thing ). Unfortunate indeed...
However, they have done something pretty special with this album, most of the melodies really do give out an incredible sensation of standing on some deserted english beach in the middle of winter. A wonderful visual effect if nothing else.

Don't get me wrong, i think it's a decent album, a good listen, with some outstanding moments, I'll probably even buy it.But i expect more from them, if only because i refuse to admit that a band that has written Somewhere only we know and Everybody's changing has in doing so tapped out all the musical magic they had. I suppose i'll just have to wait for that 5 star album a while longer....if it ever comes .

3.5/5
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Old 07-17-2006, 07:11 PM  
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Great review adidasss, that was an enjoyable easy read.
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Old 07-18-2006, 02:42 AM  
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thanks man, i was bored last night..some people overdo it...i hate reading much on the internet...i figured this was plenty.
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Old 07-19-2006, 10:54 AM  
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Nice review.

Don't rate the album then...not worth chasing up?

Edit:
Quote:
Originally Posted by adidasss
Unlike Coldplay, who i consider their closest contemporaries and whose albums keep getting better and the sound ever evolving,
Sure I heard somewhere that Coldplay are splitting.
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Old 07-19-2006, 11:12 AM  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by right-track
Nice review.

Don't rate the album then...not worth chasing up?

Edit:
Sure I heard somewhere that Coldplay are splitting.
unless you're already a fan, like i am, no...it's not worth the trouble...download hopes and fears though...

and sir, do not throw such things at me so lightly...coldplay will NEVER split...NEVARRR!! *diehardfan*
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Old 07-19-2006, 11:30 AM  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by adidasss
coldplay will NEVER split...NEVARRR!! *diehardfan*
It`s only a matter of time before his wife starts whispering into his ear.

"you don`t need those other three , you`re the only one people know anyway. Ditch them & go solo"
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Old 07-19-2006, 12:06 PM  
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^ hehe.


Sorry adidasss mate, but... http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/celebrity/86182004.htm

It's an old page, but rumours are out again lately.
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Choose Liverpool. Choose the dole queue. Choose to scam disability benefit. Choose mind-numbing, grinding efficiency over flair. Choose Torben Piechnik, Istvan Kozma and Paul Stewart. Choose not to win a single league title since the backpass rule was implemented. Choose penalties. Choose car stereos, hubcaps and stanley knives. Choose to trade on your proud sense of tradition and then not lift a finger in protest when two American billionaires who don't even know the name of your club decide to buy it. Choose to win the European Cup whilst only having to play seven matches. Choose to bask in a perpetual, sickening, media love-in. Choose celebrities who **** off out of your city as soon as they have earned the money to do so and then spend the rest of their lives harping on about how wonderful it is. Choose to sing about Munich until confronted with your own tragedy. Choose to end it all in an orgy of self pity, just another excuse to perpetuate the grief culture spawned by your selfish, insular ****ed-up excuse for a city. Choose your future. Choose Scouse.
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Old 08-07-2006, 07:07 AM  
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Not heard this yet, but hes got a sound voice, but not such a looker. better than radiohead, music side very good if you like that sort of thing!
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Old 12-12-2006, 12:28 AM  
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Keane: Interview
From the island that brought us the Anglican Church and the Sex Pistols, Keane crosses the pond with their sophomore effort, Under the Iron Sea. Keyboardist Tim Rice-Oxley filled us in.
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