|
Jubilee Offer: Patriotic Classics for £2.50 |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Track Listings
| 1. Spiralling |
| 2. The Lovers Are Losing |
| 3. Better Than This |
| 4. You Haven't Told Me Anything |
| 5. Perfect Symmetry |
| 6. You Don't See Me |
| 7. Again & Again |
| 8. Playing Along |
| 9. Pretend That You're Alone |
| 10. Black Burning Heart |
| 11. Love Is The End |
| 12. SPLASH SCREEN |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Would it be outlandish to suggest that wholesome rugby-shouldered ruddy-faced English piano-pop boys Keane have spent the best part of their two-album career fanning the impression that they exist somewhere between an easy Mothers’ Day gift and the album it’s ok to give your girlfriend back when you split up, just in order to blow everyone out of the water like 80s neon-pop commandos with the boldness of their third? You know, utilising the element of surprise? Probably, but even though their debut (Hopes & Fears) and its follow up (Under the Iron Sea) may have been broader creative successes than many care to admit, it is true that Perfect Symmetry is a synth-brandishing Tyrannosaurus Rex next to those trundlingly melodic Trojan horses. From the moment "Spiralling", the single that made a nation choke on its Yakult, erupts like a Top of the Pops volcano with flashes of David Bowie, Talking Heads, Erasure, Prefab Sprout and James, amongst others--with the "WHOOOO!" interjections impacting like lava hitting an LA swimming pool and sending cocktails flying--the album is generally as taut, bulky and bronzed as a teen Arnold Schwarzenegger. Old habits die hard and there is still much in the way mid-paced melancholy, but they are sung with clarity and the songwriting stays tight with some deep lyrics and turns of phrase to balance out the vague and which presumably reflect Tom Chaplin’s documented decent into addiction. "Playing Along", a beautifully arranged set of textures and gathering emotional bursts, is a particular high. --James Berry
Review
Keane - are they the piano-pumping bearers of glad tidings, or the band you want to throw things at when they appear on your Sunday morning TV? Chances are it's one or the other, there's no in-between with Keane. Their brand of uplifting guitar-free cleverness (and they are clever) says nothing to many people about their lives. Yet Perfect Symmetry, their third album, confirms them as just being bloody amazing at what they know. And unashamed of it.
Their piano-led schtick is possibly the antithesis of this month's other huge release, Oasis' Dig Out Your Soul, but take even half a minute to observe the architecture of Tim Rice-Oxley's music, and there's artistry aplenty going on here. Like the other heroes/pariahs of our age, Coldplay, they deal in grand gestures: songs that will have you holding your partner's hand in shared fuzziness. But maybe such things are necessary in this age? The Radiohead-lite closer, Love Is The End, may make a hardcore indie kid's stomach turn with its choirs, strings and life-affirming message, but why is this worse than REM's Everybody Hurts? It's still a mighty, mighty song that makes the heart swell.
Being more specific; Perfect Symmetry is slightly more adventurous than previous albums, yet the band never over stretch themselves disastrously. There's no message other than the power of love and the weight of modern existence. And, while Tom Chaplin's problems may not be fully alluded to, the past year's trials and tribulations do seem to echo throughout. There's a little lack of variation and the increased use of the synthesizer to colour their limited arsenal tips occasionally into the cheese zone; especially on the by-numbers, Again And Again, or the 80s-inflected Black Burning Heart. In fact it's clear that Keane have been listening to a lot of 80s pop. The intro to handclappy Better Than This is from Bowie's Ashes To Ashes. Yes, there are guitars in here (or maybe they're samples), but it's still the piano arpeggios that lift it all up. And Chaplin's voice may never rank with a Yorke, a Stipe or even a Martin, but his tremulous throat is still perfectly pitched on tracks like You Don't See Me.
Perfect Symmetry won't make converts, and it will never be listed as a classic. But somewhere, in the darkest of nights, someone will find comfort and a spark of something worth holding onto here. Such banal power may be trivial in the scheme of modern culture, but somehow that matters not. It's still a force for good.
Keane: they might just save someone's life. Just remember that the next time you feel like throwing something at your telly. --Chris Jones
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Perfect Symmetry moves Keane firmly out of the background and into the foreground.
A perfect blend of the few high tempo hits from `Under the Iron Sea' and the more relaxing ballad's of `Hopes and Fears'.
Almost a perfect album starting with the potential hits (Spiralling, Lovers are Losing and Better Than This.) followed by a string of complementary tracks; ending with a run of three very different, but wonderful tracks.
The title track `Perfect Symmetry' demonstrates perfectly how each element of the Band has evolved from the last album. Much has been made of the inclusion of the guitar, but its Tom's vocals that define the Music of Keane. If you are in doubt, listen to the demo tracks on the 2-disc edition.
The album has the overall feel of being `Very 80's' in tempo and while the music is still based around the piano, there is more integration between the drums, guitar and computerised samples.
The only thing preventing me giving this album 5 star is the slightly disjointed middle section.
`Again and Again' lifts the mood after the nice heart-felt ballad `You Don't See Me'. But the flow is again broken by the only disappointing track on the album `Playing Along' which, should have been replaced by the Bands other new slow tempo b-side/bonus track called 'My Shadow' or maybe a studio version of Early Winter.
But don't worry, the final three tracks provides the perfect ending, culminating with `Love Is the End'.
It must also be noted that the single version of `Spiralling' differs very slightly to the album version.
It's not Keane as we know them, but yet distinct and different enough to fill another gap in the market.
Anyone who enjoyed 'All the Lost Souls' by James Blunt should consider this,
as should any followers of The Killers, who are discontented by 'Day and Age'.
A perfect blend of the few high tempo hits from `Under the Iron Sea' and the more relaxing ballad's of `Hopes and Fears'.
Almost a perfect album starting with the potential hits (Spiralling, Lovers are Losing and Better Than This.) followed by a string of complementary tracks; ending with a run of three very different, but wonderful tracks.
The title track `Perfect Symmetry' demonstrates perfectly how each element of the Band has evolved from the last album. Much has been made of the inclusion of the guitar, but its Tom's vocals that define the Music of Keane. If you are in doubt, listen to the demo tracks on the 2-disc edition.
The album has the overall feel of being `Very 80's' in tempo and while the music is still based around the piano, there is more integration between the drums, guitar and computerised samples.
The only thing preventing me giving this album 5 star is the slightly disjointed middle section.
`Again and Again' lifts the mood after the nice heart-felt ballad `You Don't See Me'. But the flow is again broken by the only disappointing track on the album `Playing Along' which, should have been replaced by the Bands other new slow tempo b-side/bonus track called 'My Shadow' or maybe a studio version of Early Winter.
But don't worry, the final three tracks provides the perfect ending, culminating with `Love Is the End'.
It must also be noted that the single version of `Spiralling' differs very slightly to the album version.
It's not Keane as we know them, but yet distinct and different enough to fill another gap in the market.
Anyone who enjoyed 'All the Lost Souls' by James Blunt should consider this,
as should any followers of The Killers, who are discontented by 'Day and Age'.
24 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Keane have once again proven their ability to make song writing seem easy. Their songs are crafted in such a manner that seems effortless. Tom's voice soars as ever and Richard's drumming is crisp and exciting. Tim has cemented his position for me as one of the best songwriters of our generation.
This album is packed full of melodies, and while it deals with serious issues it's in many ways a more fun album than 'Under the Iron Sea'. The songs are very much about war and social problems and our failing as a human race, whereas the last album was more about their troubled friendships.
'Hopes and Fears' had an intimate feel about it with the songs predominantly about love and friendship. For me it was an almost perfect album, with a continuity of sound that they have not matched on the following albums. This is not a criticism, as bands must progress musically. If they served up more of the same each time they would get stale, and probably get criticised for it.
But one of the things I loved about 'Hopes and Fears' is the fact that whilst being quite 'retro' in instrumentation, it was incredible unique. I could barely find any musical influences anywhere on the album (except the keyboard riff in 'Untitled 1' is uncannily like Abba's 'SOS'!) This originality of sound largely applies to 'Under the Iron Sea'.
But 'Perfect Symmetry' yields obvious influences, not least some strong 80's and Bowie influences. 'Lovers are Losing' has flavours of Bowie's 'Heroes' and 'Better than This' bears a striking resemblance to 'Ashes to Ashes'. And of course the '80's' feel of 'Spiralling' has been well documented. 'You haven't Told me Anything' is an unusual but still very melodic song, and continues with the '80's' feel.
These songs steer the album in a new direction, and yet we return to what I would say is a more traditional Keane sound with 'Perfect Symmetry'. This is an awesome epic of a song which I can see becoming a live classic. I agree with Tom Chaplin that it's one of the best songs they have ever written.
This typical Keane sound is reflected in songs such as 'Again and Again'.
So with this harking back to a traditional sound in many songs, as was the case with 'Under the Iron Sea' I would say it's not as complete an album as 'Hopes and Fears'. But the experimentation with new sounds and instruments that would not usually be associated with Keane (not least the funky guitar and sax on 'Pretend that Your Alone' and the excellent guitar rock out section in 'Playing Along') makes this a fresh and exciting album. 'Love is the End' has a lilting, almost jazzy feel to it, almost like a piano in a cocktail bar. It's quite similar in feel to 'Allemande', an early unreleased track.
'Black Burning Heart' has an incredible catchy melody that grabs you after only one listening. This applies pretty much to all the songs, and for this reason they get another 5 stars from me. The fact that they have overcome their problems as a band shines through in this album, as it certainly sounds like they are enjoying being a band again. Well done boys!
This album is packed full of melodies, and while it deals with serious issues it's in many ways a more fun album than 'Under the Iron Sea'. The songs are very much about war and social problems and our failing as a human race, whereas the last album was more about their troubled friendships.
'Hopes and Fears' had an intimate feel about it with the songs predominantly about love and friendship. For me it was an almost perfect album, with a continuity of sound that they have not matched on the following albums. This is not a criticism, as bands must progress musically. If they served up more of the same each time they would get stale, and probably get criticised for it.
But one of the things I loved about 'Hopes and Fears' is the fact that whilst being quite 'retro' in instrumentation, it was incredible unique. I could barely find any musical influences anywhere on the album (except the keyboard riff in 'Untitled 1' is uncannily like Abba's 'SOS'!) This originality of sound largely applies to 'Under the Iron Sea'.
But 'Perfect Symmetry' yields obvious influences, not least some strong 80's and Bowie influences. 'Lovers are Losing' has flavours of Bowie's 'Heroes' and 'Better than This' bears a striking resemblance to 'Ashes to Ashes'. And of course the '80's' feel of 'Spiralling' has been well documented. 'You haven't Told me Anything' is an unusual but still very melodic song, and continues with the '80's' feel.
These songs steer the album in a new direction, and yet we return to what I would say is a more traditional Keane sound with 'Perfect Symmetry'. This is an awesome epic of a song which I can see becoming a live classic. I agree with Tom Chaplin that it's one of the best songs they have ever written.
This typical Keane sound is reflected in songs such as 'Again and Again'.
So with this harking back to a traditional sound in many songs, as was the case with 'Under the Iron Sea' I would say it's not as complete an album as 'Hopes and Fears'. But the experimentation with new sounds and instruments that would not usually be associated with Keane (not least the funky guitar and sax on 'Pretend that Your Alone' and the excellent guitar rock out section in 'Playing Along') makes this a fresh and exciting album. 'Love is the End' has a lilting, almost jazzy feel to it, almost like a piano in a cocktail bar. It's quite similar in feel to 'Allemande', an early unreleased track.
'Black Burning Heart' has an incredible catchy melody that grabs you after only one listening. This applies pretty much to all the songs, and for this reason they get another 5 stars from me. The fact that they have overcome their problems as a band shines through in this album, as it certainly sounds like they are enjoying being a band again. Well done boys!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Contrary to the ads on TV and the comments of some critics, this album is not a "stunning reinvention"...
I have always held a certain fondness for the music of Keane. They have been mocked for their looks, and for being upper class, and the singer's spell in rehab was scorned by many (the comment that he was in there for an addiction to port was a sick joke) but their music has almost always been solid and enjoyable, and when they play live they are surprisingly good as I found out earlier this year.
For some reason, Keane changed their sound with this album. Some of the tracks hark back to the 1980s, and one appears to sample David Bowie, and for me it doesn't really seem to work that well. Don't get me wrong - there are some great tracks here, such as "Spiralling", "The Lovers Are Losing", "Perfect Symmetry" and "Again and Again" really seem to work - but then others have jarring sounds and elements that are almost a step too far from a successful formula. As an album it's alright, but not the masterwork some have made it out to be.
I have always held a certain fondness for the music of Keane. They have been mocked for their looks, and for being upper class, and the singer's spell in rehab was scorned by many (the comment that he was in there for an addiction to port was a sick joke) but their music has almost always been solid and enjoyable, and when they play live they are surprisingly good as I found out earlier this year.
For some reason, Keane changed their sound with this album. Some of the tracks hark back to the 1980s, and one appears to sample David Bowie, and for me it doesn't really seem to work that well. Don't get me wrong - there are some great tracks here, such as "Spiralling", "The Lovers Are Losing", "Perfect Symmetry" and "Again and Again" really seem to work - but then others have jarring sounds and elements that are almost a step too far from a successful formula. As an album it's alright, but not the masterwork some have made it out to be.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
keane
I didn't have to wait too long for it to arrive , top quality cd, sounds brilliant though I may be biased, would recommend this site to my friends.
Published 1 month ago by debs
A different Keane, but still Keane
I'm a late comer to Perfect Symmetry having only just purchasing it. To be honest I feel like I've missed out on 3-4 years of quality Keane time, if you understand what I mean. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Dan
Getting worse
Sometimes it's hard to know whether bands get worse or else the band is not any worse but the freshness and the newness in their sound as no longer present. Read more
Published 4 months ago by D. Lawry
possibly one my favourite albums, ever
I hated Keane from the first and second albums, generic wishy washy music. This couldn't be further from that sound. Perfect pop tunes, bouncy uplifting and fun. Read more
Published 22 months ago by mje
My favorite Keane album!!
I have all three Keane albums and obviously i agree with the majority that Hopes & Fears is a very good album and got the band where they are today. Read more
Published on 29 Mar 2010 by Roger Ware
The difficult third album ... worth buying.
After 'Hopes and Fears' and 'Under The Iron Sea', Keane ostensibly only had one direction to go - a new one. Read more
Published on 2 Mar 2010 by Dave Stewart
keane album
thi album is ok. Title track and two or three others are very good.not as good as keanes first album, sadly.
Published on 23 Feb 2010 by Mr. ian dolwin
They don't want you to know
I think it's testament to the continuing power of tastemakers in the music press, even in an age of greatly democratised media, that Keane are still perceived as 'boring'. Read more
Published on 18 Aug 2009 by J. Jenkins
Am I 'Keane' on this?
Yes, I am keen on this album but it still cannot match up to Hopes & Fears. The change of direction is brave and there are some great tracks on here; the strength of Keane's... Read more
Published on 19 July 2009 by D. Storm
Music
Wow!!I'm impressed.
This my third CD of the Keane and
I don't get tired of hearing always.
The best band.
This my third CD of the Keane and
I don't get tired of hearing always.
The best band.
Published on 11 Jun 2009 by A. Benge
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
