Keane - Under The Iron Sea (CD 2006)

I was expecting to be dissapointed with this album, as I didn't see how Keane could possibly top Hopes and Fears. However, they have equalled,and possibly even bettered the first album. This has been achieved by a slight change of focus from the band. The songs range from great ballads, through 'pop' tunes to slightly rockier songs. The keyboard sounds are more apparent on this album, and have been developed - reminded me a bit of ELP/Yes/Alan Parsons! There are a couple of 'not so good' tracks, but the majority are 'really, really good'. One of the best things, and the most consistent, is om's beautiful voice. When he sings a ballad he sounds like an angel, and when he does a rockier song he belts it out. His voice has incredible range and power.
Well done Keane for coming back with a vengeance, can't wait to see what they do next!

Felt compelled to write a review after some of the 'music snobs' slating Keane. This album is excellent with great songs like 'Bad Dream' and 'Is it any wonder'

Buy it and give it a try.... You never know, you might like it!

Loved it. It took a while to grow on me, but so did the first album. They have a distinctive style, which comes through on this album in many different guises. Buy it, listen to it, and grow to love it!! I can't stop listening to it!!

I loved their first album so i had to have their latest offering and i wasnt dissapointed. The album is a lot like the first in terms of the music and quality Im sure they will have hit after hit with these songs.
gavin7895

Excellent album and yes, very different from Hopes and Fears. Much deeper and a bit heavy in places but still a fantastic 2nd album.

Keane - Under The Iron Sea has to be one of the albums of the year!

they get better and better.i didnt think they could beat their last album but they managed to somehow.every track is excellent and all are different.they have worked hard for their success and they deserve it.

I loved this album. I found it a lot more rocky than their first album but they still managed to keep their individual and unique sound throughout the album.
I found the songs a lot more mature than their first album even though that was of the highest class.
This album could not deliver more for a follow up to such a quality debut album. Very impressive!

I decided to buy this album on the strength of the first album, and I am glad to say I was not disappointed.
Extremely good album from my local boys, and glad to see them progressing and going from strength to strength.

great albumn however some trcks poor and lack the umph of theier first ground breaking first albumn . is however agood addition to cd collection

i bought this album with high expectations thinking it would be better than hopes and fears which was very good.i wasnt exactly mad about it.the first few tracks are good,but then it gets boring not very keen on it.

If you like the latest single, 'Is it any wonder', you will love Keane's second album. 'Under the Iron Sea' reaches down into new depths, with darker lyrics and rougher textures, while at the same time maintaining the melodies that you remember so well from their debut. As a fan, I may well be biased, but I have to say that this is a must-buy!

Keane's first album "Hopes and Fears" went eight times platinum in the UK and scored gold in the USA, thanks to huge hit ballads like "Everybody's Changing", "Somewhere Only We Know" and "Bend and Break". This follow up album changes the formula completely, and although a great effort musically and lyrically, it doesn't have a similar number of radio-friendly pop songs like its predecessor. If this will affect sales will soon be known, but fans of the group will continue to be impressed by their sheer musical genius, the songs this time being heavily infused with electronica for a darker sound than ever before. Sounding more like Enigma in places, with large spoonfuls of U2 and Queen thrown in for good measure, this album isn't as instantly likeable like the first, but grows on you after a few repeats.

First single and lead off track "Atlantic" has an incredible drum effect running through it and some terrific lyrics - "And if I need anything at all / I need a place that's hidden in the deep / Where lonely angels sing you to your sleep / Though all the world is broken"

Second single and track "Is It Any Wonder" is the song most likely to succeed on radio, especially with its political theme, commenting on the contributions of the British to the conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Pet Shop Boys also have a similar (but more irreverently outspoken) track on their album "Fundamental", and The Dixie Chicks take on the matter is also well known.

The best track on the album in my opinion is "Nothing In My Way", a ballad inspired by Eminem's "Lose Yourself" and composed by Tim Rice-Oxley, the band's piano man. This track sounds most like the Keane of "Hopes and Fears" vintage, and is the one I've been repeat playing. Another wicked ballad is "Leaving So Soon?" which is followed by "A Bad Dream" another war themed track, this time based on a poem by W. B. Yeats. "Hamburg Song" is a rather long acoustic track, and then comes "Put It Behind You" a straight up rock track just for fun.

The group describes their album as "a sinister fairytale-world-gone-wrong" and this theme comes through clearly on the creepy instrumental "Under the Iron Sea" which sounds like a funeral song from a fantasy movie. Not one of my favorite tracks, I'm afraid, but would fit in very nicely in a "Lord of the Rings" type soundtrack.

Another future single is "Crystal Ball" the track which gives us the album title and a very catchy chorus, and this takes us to the last three very long tracks "Try Again", "Broken Toy" and "The Frog Prince" these three accounting for almost 15 minutes of the album. The first two are for relaxing only, but the last track wakes you up gently for the grand finale.

This album may not beat the commercial success of the debut album, but the excellent and innovative music, crisp clear vocals and intelligent lyrics make it a stand-out anyway.
Rated: 4.5 stars

This latest album bears similarities to 'Hopes and Fears' but with a harder and more eerie edge. Among the best tracks for me are the simply excellent heart rendering 'Hamburg',the Lennon and McCartney influenced'Bad Dream'and the haunting 'Atlantic'.All round a great album from Tim and Tom !A must for Keane fans.

Like the first album? Ignore the musical writings that this is darker and a lot lot different to Hopes & Fears - it's not. Yes, it's slightly different but not a million miles from what you know and love.

The "second album" problem that effects some bands is not apparent here. Great piano, great vocals, a real classic of the year.

“Is It Any Wonder”, “Hamburg Song” and “Crystal Ball” were my initial personnel favs but over time I've grown to love just about every track.

You'll have many favourites too as the album from start to finish is a winner.

I was a little apprehensive on my first listen as i wasnt sure what to expect, what with their new single being quite a leap away from what i came to expect from Hope & Fears singles. But ive gotta hand it to them the more i play te record the more drawn in and excited i am by it. Absolutly fantastic - a must buy for fans and new comers to Keane.

This has to be one of the greatest CD album's of all time, and to be written and sung by the legendary Keane as well, this is truly an amazing new style incorporated by the artist. Overall I would recommend this completely (10/10).

If you like Keane you will like this.....
I happen to like the slightly over emotional brand of pop and this has slightly less good tunes than Hopes and Fears but it is made up by slightly better arrangements that keep things moving along nicely.

It's not their best effort but is still better than a lot of other pop music out their.

Every song is different but good in their own way - an excellent album of songs by an excellent band

Really good album but not quite up to the brilliance of the first. 'Nothing in my way' is probably keane's best ever song though imho. 'Bad dream', 'Broken Toy' and 'Hamburg Song' are other highlights. Album is good for relaxing to and is also very emotional :).

Fantastic album, well better than their first album (Hopes and Fears).

Definately a good buy for fans of soft rock.

i bought hope and fears and have been a fan since, they brought something new to music at the time focusing on piano rather than guitar and was a refreshing change. when i first listened to this album i liked it after a couple of listens i loved it. The lyrics are genuine and heartfelt and are believeable. Theres music for all moods pacy pop tracks like is isw any wonder and crystal ball and ballards like hamburg song. overall i'd say this is actually a more consistant album than hope and fears which had a couple of not so good tracks, this really only has one, the iron sea which is a bit of a pointless track apart from that it's an excellent album and well worth a listen

I loved a couple of songs on the album, and after listening to the rest i love them too! Great album and for a great price!

I bought the cd because I liked their first album and I wasn,t let down with it it was good from start to finish .