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album review
Keane bids adieu to uplifting ballads and ushers in a different style -- '80s-influenced pop -- with Perfect Symmetry. While the album isn't solely devoted to exploring that new genre, it's certainly the focus, and "Spiralling" appropriately kickstarts the set with whooping vocals and retro synthesizers. "When we fall in love," sings Tom Chaplin in his Wembley-geared voice, "we're just falling in love with ourselves." Coming from the same mouth that once crooned the over-earnest strains of "Somewhere Only We Know," those lyrics are wholly different -- a sign that four years spent in the shadow of U2, Coldplay, and other like-minded bands have convinced Keane to make their own Achtung Baby. Of course, that album saw U2 turning sonic experimentation into something entirely inventive, which Perfect Symmetry doesn't quite accomplish with its own mixture. This isn't quite art, after all; it's mostly just fun, shot through with a self-consciously cheesy approach that's engineered to sound little like the department-store rock of 2004's Hopes and Fears. "Fun" seems to be at the top of the band's agenda, though, and Perfect Symmetry accordingly succeeds in doing away with most of the pre-conceived notions that accompany Keane records. The "old" sound doesn't even surface until midway through the album, when the album's title track offers up a combination of sparse piano notes (later giving way to dense, double-fisted arpeggios) and a meteoric melody in the chorus. But that's the exception, not the rule, and Perfect Symmetry sounds more comfortable during its truly unexpected moments: the spacy blips and bleeps of "You Haven't Told Me Anything," the synthesized anthem "Again and Again," and the energetic "Wooooooh!" that opens the entire album. The band's underlying strength remains Chaplin's ability to turn a melodic phrase with grace and dexterity, which fails to lose its vitality no matter the musical context, but Keane's willingness to take these left-hand turns deserves its own share of accolades. ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide
more albums by this artist
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- Hopes And Fears
- Released 2004
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- Under The Iron Sea
- Released 2006
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- Somewhere Only We Know
- Released 2004
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- Perfect Symmetry (Bonus Tracks)
- Released 2008
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listener reviews
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F#$@ing GREAT album!!!
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- By gsweater
- 10/22/2008 04:22:38
- The first time I heard "Spiralling," I was thinking this album would blow. I was so used to the sound we heard in the first two albums that I was really expecting the same on this album. But then, I heard the complete album and immediately was hooked. Completely blown away by the influences and genre shuffles in this album. Absolutely brilliant.
- 5 out of 5 people
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Agreed!!!
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- By JAMESS99
- 10/21/2008 00:41:00
- Cheif CL you said it! I love this record and haven't been really excited for a new record in a long time. I can't help but listen to the whole record in a loop. Every listen reveals something new. The Lovers are losing is a favorite track. I just love the imagery of the chorus. Better than This invokes David Bowie Ashes to Ashes for me and that is why I love it. That and the lyrics of course. You Haven't Told Me Anything is another great one. Nice melody and lyrics. Perfect Symmerty - "I dream in emails" goes the lyric. How great is that! You Don't see me is classic Keane. Again and Again - "I'm just shaping the sound, just turning the syllables around" Good stuff! Playing along - A protest song? Pretend You're Alone - Such a cheerful song about monkeys in a tree.... Black Burning Heart - "If we could turn back you could paper over the crack but it will return now and your heart will burn black." Nuff said. Love is the end - Classic Keane. Makes you want to hug and kiss the one you love the most. This album is close to Perfect (Symmetry). :P
- 5 out of 5 people
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Keane is unstopable!
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- By CHIEF CL
- 10/17/2008 15:17:27
- I must admit... Keane continues to impress me. Although i still believe that their first album, "Hopes and Fears" is their best, i cant help but be impressed with their last 2 releases. Lead singer Tom Chaplin is absolutely brilliant. His ability to create incredible lyrics, is a talent that is really confined to a few bands like Radiohead. It is also incredible how smooth and flawless his voice is. Keane is a band that has stayed completely original... Even as times progress and music changes, they have been able to change their music, but not loose that "Keane" touch. This Album is a MUST! Listen to Track 10, "Black Burning Heart" and you will be sold.
- 7 out of 7 people
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