Recess with: Keane

Many of my late nights have been spent doing homework listening to Keane. Their a somewhat old band, whose only album came out in late 2004. But Lately I've been listening to a lot of their stuff, and after Pitchforkmedia.com gave their album "Hopes and Fears" 2.8/10- I thought it was a little unjust. And so I write my own review...

Artists for years have been trying to define their music, to find an individual sound that speaks for their band. Most musicians now are adding more and more instruments to their songs. Violins, trombones, horns, more guitars, etc etc etc. Sometimes it really works, think Broken Social Scene, Stars, etc etc etc. Sometimes it really doesn't, think of that violin in Yellowcard (useless!). Keane's instrument lineup includes, drums, keyboards, and vocals...thats it, no guitar. Keane not only has a sound of their own, they do it with less. Their single "Somewhere Only We Know" is a powerful and catchy tune that opens up the album. "Hopes and Fears" contains eleven tracks of uplifting music; each song is listenable and catchy. Pitchfork pointed out that the songs have a resemblance to one another, that it all sounded the same. I will admit, the songs do follow a somewhat similar rhythm and pattern, you can say that it all sound the same. But trust me it’s a good rhythm and the sound is fantastic. And no matter what "Hopes and Fears" has way more diversity in its songs then lets say, Coldplays "X&Y". And people will compare their music to Coldplay a lot, but really every band coming out of Britain is compared by critics to either Coldplay or Radiohead. Keane's music is very uplifting, mostly due to the incredible vocals found in each song, and besides caffeine what better thing do you need on a late night of depressing homework then to be uplifted? I'd give Keane a listen to. I find them worth it.

Essential Keane: "Somewhere Only We Know", "Bend And Break", "Bedshaped"
Currently Craving: Lasagna.
What I should be doing intead of writing this: Studying for Psych midterm. Ouche.