Keane, Hopes & Fears

Keane is not the new Coldplay. I think Keane is better than Coldplay! I love the music on Hopes & Fears, the piano, the mood of the songs, and the lyrics. They're intelligent and thought-provoking, and then the music is just glorious. Moody at times, uplifting at others, it's always emotional and beautiful.

Keane, Hopes & Fears are a housewife's dream. Beautiful voice with upbeat singalong songs that the rest of the family will enjoy too. Great alternative rock even if they sound a bit like another Coldplay rip-off.

Hmm, Keane, Hopes & Fears? 2004 revitalised British music (Franz Ferdinand, Roots Manuva et al) but Tom Chaplin bursting out "I've been standing here, Dii-Thering around!" is a disappointment. However, Keane certainly have imagination using a piano.

Keane, Hopes & Fears: Keane have gifted us with an expertly crafted album including Tom Chaplins musical genius which is expressed in the clever well written lyrics the fruit of Keane's university educated mind. The amazing contribution Tim Rice-Oxley made with his sensational piano playing and Richard Hughes caps it all off perfectly with his well frankly brilliant piece of drumming excellence.

Keane, Hopes & Fears - Some of the better songs on the album actualy haven't been released. I'm not too keen on the likes of 'Bedshaped' but love other titles:

'She has no time''On a Day like Today''Bend & Break' - One of a few livelier songs on the album.

Should definitely buy it & see if your 'Hopes & Fears' of the album are fulfilled!

Keane, Hopes & Fears - After listening to 'Somewhere Only We Know' I knew I had to get the Keane album and what a great addition to my music collection it is! The title 'Hopes and Fears'(a line from a pre-album song entitled 'Snowed Under') couldn't be more accurate! There is certainly a sense of hope in this piano driven piece as well as fear of things that are supposedly uncertain. In my opinion, this album is one of the top 3 best albums of 2004 with tracks such as the moving 'Somewhere Only We Know' the confident 'Bend & Break' and 'Can't Stop Now' and the soothing 'Bedshaped', not forgetting the sad 'We Might As Well Be Strangers' and the recently released 'This Is The Last Time'. 'Hopes and Fears' will certainly give other Indie bands something to think about!

Keane, Hopes & Fears - I purchased this album due to rave reviews and despite a few issues, I have no regrets! All songs on the album are fantastically put together, have great form and create atmosphere successfully. The album is perfect for listening to after break-ups, when in a chilled mood or just when a little backgroung music is required. I recommend it to study to!

Keane, Hopes & Fears - what an amazing album, by far the best album I have ever owned!! After the first song you just completely fall in love with Keane! Tom Chaplin's voice is so amazing, pasionate and pure. He sends shivers down my spine! I would happily spend the rest of my life listening to nothing but Keane!!!

If you go to their website (www.keanemusic.com) and go to the Manser's Shaw section, there are some amazing vids!! And the most brilliant song called "Snowed Under," which they didn't put on the album, yet it's just wonderful!!

Anyway, love Keane (specially Tom) very much, can't wait til I see them in concert in November.

I recommend this album and any others to come in the future to everyone!!

Keane, Hopes & Fears - 2004 really is panning out to be a great year for music, and especially new music. Debut albums from Franz Ferdinand and Delays have already shone through, and now the keenly (!) anticipated debut album from Keane is upon us. The band have been greatly hyped by the media, so can they live up to the expectations? Well in one word - Yes. Hopes and Fears in an amazing album that really deserves to be in everyone's collection. Already spawning two top 10 singles ("Somewhere Only We Know" and "Everybody's Changing") the remaining 10 tracks really could be singles as well.

Track 2 - "Bend and Break" just has to be the next single. The swirling pianos intertwining with Tom Chaplin's vocals make this an absolute gem. This really is the territory Keane seem to excel at - big extravagant vocals singing hook-laden chorus that get stuck in your mind. There is the standard unrequited love and break up themes here; these themes seem to fit the music perfectly.

"This Is The Last Time" is the other contender for next single - already a single last year on Keane's original label - Fierce Panda - this starts off slowly before building into a huge crescendo of a chorus that must really stretch Chaplin's range.

Keane can also slow things down well - "She Has No Time" is so simple with a basic piano accompaniment but the aching yearning vocals sound all the better for this. "Bedshaped," the closing track, is another great example of brilliant simplicity.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about this album is there are no guitars - just vocals, pianos and synths; very rare in the music world and perhaps one of the reasons this album stands-out from the crowd.

The most surprising track here though has to be "Can't Stop Now" which sounds like a Queen pastiche to me, even down the title. It still works, but is close to Pet Shop Boys doing a Freddie Mercury send-off!!

"Untitled 1" is another that doesn't quite fit the mould of the rest of the album and a more rocky affair than the other 11. This is neat penultimate track that juxtaposes with the closing "Bedshaped" seamlessly.

Comparisons have been made with both Coldplay and Travis and it is easy to see why in places; however, the overall sound is not like either of these great bands, but instead is unique enough. I somehow feel that Keane will soon be in the same league as the aforementioned bands and be multi-platinum sellers.

A must-have album for 2004 (but I think Delays is winning my album of the year at present, although it has had a month of extra play over Keane!!)

Keane, Hopes & Fears is, I suppose, a fairly inoffensive and sincere album. I also suppose they should be applauded for their unusual rock combination of piano, drums and voice. However, this is simply the worst sort of indie-moaning from a trio of bedwetters since Coldplay ruined it for everyone. While "Everybody's Changing" is reasonably catchy and "This is the Last Time" is alright, the ballads are dull, lifeless and cliched.

Music should be exciting and challenging and this album is neither. Keane need to go back to their bedsit, listen to a few albums that aren't by Coldplay, Radiohead or Travis and come up with some ideas of their own.