Keane - Under The Iron Sea [2006]

Artist: Keane
Album: Under The Iron Sea
Producer: Andy Green
Album Length: 50m31s
Release Date: 16 June 2006 Worldwide
Country: Battle, United Kingdom

Band Members:
Thomas Chaplin (vocals)
Tim Rice-Oxley (piano, keyboards, bass),
Richard Hughes (drums)
Dominic Scott (guitar, 1997-2002)

After two years and over 5 million copies of Hopes and Fears sold world wide, Keane is back with their sophomore release, Under The Iron Sea, which unfortunately suffered the "Second Album Syndrome". Keane said, “we were writing, singing and performing with a drive, intensity and fury that is almost unrecognisable from our previous music”, which is not entirely true. Under The Iron Sea is a close and improved replica of Hopes and Fears, in which that Keane is more confident, more assuring in what they're doing.

"Atlantic" opens the record in dark and dramatic fashion, painted in moody electronic hues, wants to be bitter, wants to be mysterious, wants to be dark and brooding. I don't think so. It is painfully blatant and failed as an introduction to Under The Iron Sea, however it does convey what they are trying to do with the record, dark and mysterious, like the deep iron sea. Second track, "Is It Any Wonder" is lashed with guitar that sounds like U2 to a certain degree, with a rather infectious chorus.

The almost exact sound from Hopes and Fears is fairly obvious in "Nothing In My Way", heavy with piano and infectious chorus, guarantee to sweep you like a tidal wave. "Leaving So Soon" and "Crystal Ball" is probably the catchiest, the popest singles throughout the whole album with catchy and energetic chorus that makes you go toe-tapping and sing along. Worth mentioning as well is the vesratility of Tom Chaplin's vocal when handling the song "Leaving So Soon". "Hamburg Song" is mellow and beautiful and mesmerizing, a hidden gem in the album. In general, the arrangement and the choice of songs are pretty consistent without any surprise, but yet each track is enjoyable.

Having said all these, Under The Iron Sea is neither good or bad, in fact it is impossible for anyone to hate this album because it is surprisingly pleasant. The album is sophisticatedly arranged and produced with lots of piano, lots of measured drumming, lots of portentous clichés and earnest singing. Nothing ground-breaking as being speculated before the album was released, neither it is bad because they have more or less improved in their comfort zone. 

Beaker's Verdict: B+