Keane - Perfect Symmetry
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Free Music Notes for Perfect Symmetry
Free Music Review: Different but the Same
Hit: 5 Stars
When I bought this album and started playing it the car on the way home, I was initially a little disappointed. I couldn't really get into the Eighties thing going on at first, with the silly "whoop"'s of Spiralling grating in my ears. I was about to give up on it when, a few days later, I got the idea to listen to the album starting with cut #4, You Haven't Told Me Anything. Voila! Try it if you're having misgivings. It's the only way I'll listen to it now, but I love what I'm hearing. Tom's voice is maturing and I am hearing bits of Freddie in the mix now where there was once only a choir boy (turn up the volume - please!). And the subtle Bowie influences are a delight. Listen to the opening synth on Bowie's Ashes to Ashes and you'll see what I mean. But, these are compliments, not criticisms. If I have any criticisms, they're not for the band. My jury is still out for a verdict on the production, not the music. Although the members of Keane refer to themselves as just average players, nothing special, their collective genius deserves an equally capable producer. Or one who, at the very least, appears to understand their music. I get the impression that the producer came in with a game plan for the album that didn't necessarily resonate with the band. I feel like, this time around, I've gotten someone's interpretation of Keane, rather than a masterful facilitation that allows them to shine through as they really are. I look forward to their next album with great anticipation.Free Music Review: Not for the Traditionalist
Hit: 5 Stars
When I was in my mid-to-early teens, I was first treated to the No Doubt hit, "spiderwebs." When first I heard it, I was kind of disappointed. (A part of me thought it was all about Gwen Stefani's looks.) The same sort of thing went for Creed's first record, My Own Prison. However, as I went through my early twenties, both groups' music became something special to me, and they became my main pics for (what had been) the best "current" groups (before they both disbanded). That same kind of "It grew on me" accolade can be given to Keane's third album release, Perfect Symmetry.
I first got into Keane's music as a twenty-five-year-old during the popular period surrounding their first US release, Hopes and Fears. I enjoyed it far more than most other material that came out in 2004-5. Their second release, Under the Iron Sea was obviously different, but I enjoyed it just as much as Hopes and Fears. When this record, Perfect Symmetry was new, I was glad just to purchase a new Keane release, no matter what was on it. I've got to admit, I was a bit "blindsided" by how different it was. For one thing, the "Treacherous Threesome" of Tim Rice-Oxley, Tom Chaplin and Richard Hughes were supplemented by a fourth "member," bass guitarist Jesse Quinn. (They also employed the outside assistance of additional musicians/vocalists for the first time.)
But, the biggest change was obviously in the music, itself. This record was produced by the members of Keane themselves, with the assistance of Stuart Price and Jon Brion. (Their first two offerings were co-produced by Andy Green.) Aside from being a self-produced album, one key change is evident from the lads in the group: guitars. There were no guitars present on Hopes and Fears or Iron Sea; all the guitars were simulated by pianos and synthesizers plugged into amplifiers and amp simulators. In this case, Tom, Tim and Jesse decided to break out their guitars and integrate them into the fold. This would be the first instance of electric or acoustic guitars turning up on Keane recordings since the 2001 departure of founding member Dominic Scott. And, They endeavor to explore plenty of other stylistic changes beyond their "formula." While songs like the title track and the lead-off single, "Spiraling" perpetuate the Keane sound, they also branch into classic R&B with "Pretend that You're Alone," ska with "Better than This" and hard rock with "Again and Again."
The mix here is the sort that may not immediately sit well with longtime Keane fans, because it doesn't sound exactly like the old sound. But, it's still played by Tim, Tom & Richard, and it's still written as well as ever. And, it's played as well as ever. They definitely know how to put a record together, no matter what the finished product sounds like. And, I understood that as soon as I played the record the first time. It just took me a while to fully enjoy it. Perfect Symmetry may not have been a hit right out of the box, but it's definitely a worthy record to give another listen.
My first copy was damaged, but I was instantly willing to get another one. If I identified with some of the other reviews on Amazon, I may not have been interested in getting it again. But, I believe it was more than worth it to buy it again.
Free Music Review: KEEN on this bein' all up in your earhole? YES!
Hit: 5 Stars
If you are like me you are thinking of taking a gamble and buying this album with little to no real previous Keane vibes...Well what are you waiting for??? BUY IT...What an amazingly choice purchase you have stumbled across here! HOOZAH!!! If you love music, you will love this album. If you want a record you can put on and play all the way through, you will love this album. If you want great music to live life and have fun with, you will love this album. It is unfortunate that some people have been bashing this album as of late, just because it is such a radical departure from their hit debut smash record, Hopes and Fears. Yes, we all know Hopes and Fears is an amazing. Just as the Iron Sea record has its finer moments, Perfect Symmetry succeeds on new horizons just as the groups previous releases have made it proper to unabashedly tread into fresh new musical meadows of lushness. Here with PS they just as seamlessly enslave you aurally with their atmospheric and fresh and inspired songwriting paired with the high level of musicianship that is present is markedly comparable to other overseas mega acts such as Coldplay and surprisingly enough to both present day and the younger, more energetic early U2 and that is by far one ultimately buff compliment to this artist. PS represents a more modernized, piano driven, synthesizer buzzing, vocally infused musical orgy that starts all up in your ear hole then it works its way into your soul and bones with the ease of a warm bath infused with the mindlessly soothing musical essences of these uber-talented gents from Battle, England.
THE HOT TRACKS - AGAIN & AGAIN, SPIRALLING
THE CHILL TRACKS - PERFECT SYMMETRY, PLAYING ALONG, YOU DON'T SEE ME
THE YOU CANT STOP LISTENING TO IT TRACK - SPIRALLING
5 OF 5.
BUY ME!
Free Music Review: Teases But Rarely Pleases
Hit: 2 Stars
Perfect Symmetry is the latest CD from British pop rock artists Keane. I bought this CD based on hearing the clips available on the product page, but unfortunately this is not a CD where the samples were a good indicator of how I would like the CD. By the time I had gotten to the third track "Better Than This", it was about ready to roll down my window and throw the CD out of the car.
The opener "Spiralling" starts off with annoying synth and shouts of "Ooo!" make for a grating start to both the song and the CD. It gets better, but only marginally so. "The Lovers Are Losing" is better, but it only makes its way up to OK. It is unoffensive but bland. However, "Better Than This" takes things back down in a hurry. The opening sounds like something out of a spaceship - yuck! The next track "You Haven't Told Me Anything" brings things back to mediocre, but nothing more. Not until the fifth song "Perfect Symmetry" is there anything worth listening to. The vocal hooks on this song are incredible, but that only makes the opening tracks that much more frustrating. It shows that when Keane plays it closer to the vest that they are actually a very capable piano driven pop rock band. Other worthwhile songs include the mid-tempo "Again And Again" and the slower "Playing Along" and "Black Burning Heart".
Overall, Perfect Symmetry is a disappointment that just bombs. Keane teases us with the title track, but otherwise leave the listener unfulfilled. This is definitely a CD where you are better off finding the few song with potential and downloading the mp3s.
Download this: Perfect Symmetry
Free Music Review: Heartbreakingly Bad
Hit: 2 Stars
I have adored Keane since they came to prominence five years ago with the beautiful and brilliant 'Hopes And Fears'; but this album shows that most of what they were is not here. This is the sort of tripe that gets cranked out to pay for rehab, and it's a genuine tragedy to hear what's happened to them. For their sakes, I hope Keane will return to the lush and amazing sound that made them famous.