Slaggis Posted October 13, 2008 Posted October 13, 2008 They're the definition of average, wishy washy housewife pop who's success is entirely down to being picked up on the passing coat tails of Coldplay. They've done nothing good or noteworthy and their continued popularity is, frankly, astounding. But Coldplay themselves are ridiculously popular for what I can see as no apparent reason. They bug the shite out of me. However much I loathe them, I have to admit they at least have a couple of noteworthy songs. Just like Keane do.
Jon Posted October 13, 2008 Posted October 13, 2008 They're the definition of average, wishy washy housewife pop who's success is entirely down to being picked up on the passing coat tails of Coldplay. They've done nothing good or noteworthy and their continued popularity is, frankly, astounding. And Coldplay picked up on the passing coat tails of Travis who in turn picked up on Oasis...Blah...Blah...Blah. Bought the new Keane album, They're by far not my favourite band (There's only so much diversity a piano can bring) but it's not bad so far, only listened to the first two tracks but the rest can't be that bad.
Dyson Posted October 13, 2008 Posted October 13, 2008 I, for one, love Keane. Shall get the album whenever.
Solo Posted October 13, 2008 Posted October 13, 2008 OK I think we'll just end up going round in circles here. I can say that the music Haggis enjoys I believe to be utter tripe (which I do, sorry) where as I find both Coldplay and Keane produce fantastic music but that won't get us anywhere.
Paj! Posted October 13, 2008 Posted October 13, 2008 I wouldn't say I particularly liked Keane, but I do like Bedshaped as a song. I'm looking forward to the EMA's this year You're looking foward to a music awards ceremony endorsed by MTV? That makes no sense. It's almost an oxymoron.
Oxigen_Waste Posted October 13, 2008 Posted October 13, 2008 OK I think we'll just end up going round in circles here. I can say that the music Haggis enjoys I believe to be utter tripe (which I do, sorry) where as I find both Coldplay and Keane produce fantastic music but that won't get us anywhere. As much as I like Coldplay, they're the definition of average. They define that level below which something becomes "bad". And Keane are well bellow Coldplay. Face it, buddy, they don't make good music, they make pleasent music. Ah-ah, on the subject of Keane, God... I love Pitchfork: "I'll happily admit if I turn out to have been wrong-- and only time will tell-- but Keane sound like they'll be the last in a long line of British bands who've grown tired of miming Radiohead and now simply aim for the much more imitable sound of Coldplay. I say "last" because Keane's debut album, Hopes and Fears, is so miserably and calculatedly maudlin that it almost seems capable of killing the trend started by Travis and passed like a relay baton to Starsailor and, eventually, Snow Patrol. Coldplaya-hatas will loathe Keane; most others will just be insulted. Inexplicably, the band was recently shortlisted for the Mercury Prize. Keane consists of three well-meaning guys from East Sussex: drummer Richard Hughes, pianist Tim Oxley-Rice, and singer Tom Chaplin. With this limited instrumental setup, Keane ought to sound like either some bizarro-world version of Ben Folds Five or that pick-up band that played your cousin's wedding. Whether those options would be better than what they actually sound like is up for debate. Oxley-Rice does attempt to salvage the wreck by channeling U2 circa-"New Year's Day". His piano forms the main melodies, and combines with Hughes' drumwork to form a technically competent rhythm section. The almost minimalist approach of these two could potentially have served as the foundation for a mildly compelling-- or at least passable-- album, one closer in spirit to the chilled-out ambience of this album's only not-horrible track, "Untitled 1". The problem is Chaplin, who sings as though he's trying to talk you down from a ledge (and failing), belting out tunes with all the bombastic earnestness of James Walsh and Fran Healy combined, but no sense of subtlety or melody. Every song on Hopes and Fears soars, as if winging a gossamer wind to scale the heights of heaven and touch the cloudy hand of God. Across the span of 11 tracks, there are maybe 13 triumph-of-the-human-spirit choruses, each trying to out-uplift the previous. "Bend and Break" is particularly egregious: "If only I don't bend and break," Chaplin wails as the chorus swells to bursting, "I'll meet you on the other side/ I'll meet you in the light." Silly as the lyrics are, they might have more impact if every other song on Hopes and Fears didn't work the same melodramatic, soft-verse/loud-chorus template with the predictability of a bad xFC-metal band (or if Chaplin didn't repeat more or less the same sentiment each time). Writing such dramatic melodies undeniably takes talent, but putting so many of them back to back takes not only a penchant for repetitious banality, but a particularly rampant egotism: Not since All That You Can't Leave Behind has a band tried quite so hard to change your life. It's strange, then, that Chaplin puts his own life squarely at the center of these songs-- both vocally and lyrically-- rarely affording consideration to anyone else, even his bandmates. There are other people in these songs, but like Hughes and Oxley-Rice, they're only present as a framework for his projectile vocals, and to reflect his morally superior intentions or ideas about friendship, music and love. In addition to nebulous notions of life and love and hazy references to "change" and "the light," Chaplin peppers his songs with vague pronouns-- she, you, and it-- but I predominates. And when he's not condescending ("I don't know you and I don't want you till the moment your eyes open"), he's engaging in a kind of self-centered therapy ("Everybody's changing and I don't feel the same") that wears increasingly thin from the moment Hopes and Fears begins. That line from "Everybody's Changing" is telling: For all their elitist pomposity, Keane are just bandwagon-jumpers, without an original thought-- or even a trace of charisma-- to save their rep. My hope is that they'll fade unceremoniously into obscurity; my fear is that they'll breed still more Coldplay knockoffs, eventually saturating Stateside department store P.A.s with all their bloodless sobbing. On some level, I'm optimistic that Keane's eighth-wave mimicry could signal the end of this particular brand of copycatting; on another, I know that it simply points to a future in which upstart British bands aim to sound just like Franz Ferdinand instead. - Stephen M. Deusner, August 9, 2004" (2.8/10)
Ramar Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 Anyone else get Funeral for a Friend's new album today? Got it in the post about an hour ago, I haven't had listened to it all yet so I won't comment on the music. But the album case, booklet and cd just feels like one of the best crafted cds i've ever owned. You can tell a lot of effort went into making it, not the standard jewel case and crappy paper thin leaflet. Having now had a good listen, it's a really awesome album, it'll take a few more listens to see if it beats Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation or Hours. Don't think it'll beat those earlier albums, but it is fantastic. 7 or 8/10
Slaggis Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 OK I think we'll just end up going round in circles here. I can say that the music Haggis enjoys I believe to be utter tripe (which I do, sorry) where as I find both Coldplay and Keane produce fantastic music but that won't get us anywhere. Lol, don't apologise, there's no need. Everyone likes different things, I much prefer Keane to Coldplay. I've actually got Keane's first album somewhere in my room.
Dan_Dare Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 that pitchfork review is spot on. Those guys are excellent
Eenuh Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 Don't think this has been posted before, but for anyone interested, here is Björk's new single, Nattura. Thom Yorke is supposed to do some background vocals but I can't say you hear him that much, heh. Anyway, not sure yet what I think of this song.
Paj! Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 *shouts* *listens* EDIT: I love it. This is the sound I wanted more of on Volta.
S.C.G Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 I, for one, love Keane. Shall get the album whenever. Me too ^^ I got the album the other day and it's awesome, some truly great tracks on there.
triforce_keeper Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 Sounds like a mess to me. Although, I could see it as a song in a production of some sort XD
Paj! Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 Sounds like a mess to me. Although, I could see it as a song in a production of some sort XD I'll say nothing. (Although this post serves as me saying something really, doesn't it? ) Not everything is lacquered with a think coating of gloss, before fed through the pop-tart factory. *snidey*
killthenet Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 The drums on it are fantastic. Any idea who produced it?
triforce_keeper Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 I'm just saying it's not my sorta stuff :/ Not saying it's bad (like many people in this thread say certain music is).
killthenet Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 Ahh, "Nattura" was produced by Matthew Herbert, with percussive contributions from Mark Bell of LFO and Brian Chippendale of Lightning Bolt. Yorke didn't record anything new for the track accrding to his management, so it's unclear as to where his contribution came from.
chairdriver Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 Don't think this has been posted before, but for anyone interested, here is Björk's new single, Nattura. Thom Yorke is supposed to do some background vocals but I can't say you hear him that much, heh. Anyway, not sure yet what I think of this song. Doth I protest too much, I adore it. Drums are fantastic! Sounds like a mess to me. Liking Christina Aguilera is vaguely excusable, this statement isn't.
triforce_keeper Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 Meh, I usually don't like songs the first time I hear them anyway. I suppose It just sounded a bit out of place to me? I will give it a few more listens, never really took an interest in Bjork. Although, I listen to "It's oh so quiet" now and again ^_^
Coolness Bears Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 Woah! I love the new Bjork song. It's excellent!
Paj! Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 Sorry, just you said it was a "mess". Although, I listen to "It's oh so quiet" now and again ^_^ Then you won't appreciate what Bjork does 99% of the time.
Slaggis Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 At first, the drums sound fantastic but by the end of the song, I just want them to stop. They over power the song completely, I'd much rather hear more of Bjork than hear what ends up sounding like the same sound over and over.
Raining_again Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 I liked it it was somewhat different. Perhaps not what I would listen to on my own incentive, but a nice track nonetheless. Oh so quiet, while being a good tune, is a bit overplayed for my liking.
Calza Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 I will give it a few more listens, never really took an interest in Bjork. Although, I listen to "It's oh so quiet" now and again ^_^ Oh so quiet, while being a good tune, is a bit overplayed for my liking. For lack of a better word...
Recommended Posts