When I think of Keane, my first thoughts aren’t ones of innovation and experimentation. I suppose it was quite fresh to do away with their guitarist and rely on vocals, keyboards, and drums to provide the music that has touched so many of us. But since their first album in 2004, it’s been business as usual, with little deviation from the expected except Tom Chaplin’s dalliances with drink and drugs. I don’t think anyone expected that.

What I do associate Keane with is pop music of the highest order; easy-listening, uplifting, and joyful. Hopes and Fears has that in droves, Under …read more

No, is the simple answer, but you wouldn’t fathom that from the headlines in the newspapers and on certain Web sites. Keane may have complained about being stigmatized in the UK but at no point did they say they’d be quitting Britain and heading across the Atlantic.

Keane have lost some of their shine recently. Their first album, Hopes and Fears, was a stunning collection of songs which I could listen to time and time again. Then came Under The Iron Sea, a good album overshadowed by lead singer Tom Chaplin’s spell in rehab.
Then came Perfect Symmetry, which I’m really not …read more

Keane may not be the band they once were (maybe Tom Chaplin should get back on the sauce) but they have just made history. Their gig at the Abbey Road Studios on Thursday evening became the first event to be broadcast domestically in 3D.

3D has been with us for years – who can forget going to watch a movie and having to wear those stupid cardboard glasses – but it’s only now starting to be done properly. Many movies are now being made in 3D and the technology is on its way to television.
Sky is a British-based satellite television service …read more

There was I thinking Keane were one of the most loved British bands of the moment, but it seems, at least according to the readers of Brit Music Scene, that is far from the case. In fact, most people who answered the recent poll about the band though the band sucked.
To celebrate the release of Keane’s third studio album, Perfect Symmetry, I asked my readers “What is your favorite Keane album so far? The results are as follows:-
None, Keane suck – 30 votes
Hopes and Fears – 22 votes
Under The Iron Sea – 11 votes
Perfect Symmetry – 9 votes
So, it seems …read more

The new Keane album, Perfect Symmetry, is out on Monday October 13th but due to Last.FM streaming the album in full (albeit with added commentary from the band), I’ve been able to review it ahead of time.
I found reviewing the album quite difficult because it’s hard to forget about what has already been. If this was the band’s first album, it would have got a better review, but I cannot help but compare it to their older stuff, and on that score, it just doesn’t cut the mustard.

Spiralling – 8/10
The first track on the album, and the first single …read more

The annual Q Awards was held in London on Tuesday, and Coldplay were the ultimate winners on the day, picking up two massive awards. They won ‘Best Album’ for Viva La Vida, and ‘Best Act In The World Today’.
Duffy picked up an award for ‘Breakthrough Artist’, while ‘Best New Act’ went to The Last Shadow Puppets. Kaiser Chiefs won ‘Best Live Act’ for their spirited and always lively stage presence, while Adam Ant won the ‘Q Icon’ award for being a legend.

The new Keane album, Perfect Symmetry, is due out on October 13th, and this song, Spiralling, is the first single to be released from it. In the absence of any kind of official video (at least from what I’ve found online), I’ve had to make do with a video of the band performing the song on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross instead.
It’s weird seeing the band back after quite an extended period of time out of the limelight but expect to see a lot of them over the next few weeks as they try to sell the new album to …read more

I wrote back in June about how Keane were eagerly finishing work on their new album, the follow up to 2006’s Under The Iron Sea. At the time not much was known about the album, with no name, no track listing, and no real details. But now the band have put some meat on the bones they tempted us with.
The album is to be called Perfect Symmetry, and will be released on October 13th. The band have spent some time away from the limelight, soaked up many influences, and are now ready to make their comeback. It’s well overdue as …read more

Keane are absolutely one of my favourite British bands of the last decade. Their blend of soft rock with pop sensibilities, and the lack of a guitarist, has meant a certain amount of derision from some quarters of the press and public alike, but just put one of their albums on and you are instantly transported to your happy place.
So it is with great delight that I bring news that the band’s third album, as yet unnamed and undated, is nearly done, and could possibly be released before the end of the year. The news also gives me the chance …read more