Under the Iron Sea
It’s hard to fathom that Keane is a guitar-less trio. Their drums-bass-keyboards approach is so ornate, lush, and atmospheric that their every tune turns into a pocket symphony rife with melodrama. That they could approach this grand mastery without the usual six-string culprit is a singular achievement. This East Sussex, UK trio have never met a special effect they couldn’t twist to their advantage and their second studio album, *Under the Iron Sea*, utilizes their sonic expertise to massive effect. In the tradition of early Radiohead (before they became an art project), Coldplay, and U2 (for whom they opened on tour), Keane combine this profound love for ambient atmospherics with song emphasizing fancy melodies that push singer Tom Chaplin’s voice all over the scale. The unexpected success of their debut album – two Brit awards, a Grammy nomination, actual record sales – stressed the band to the near breaking-up point and that tension, along with a deteriorating world situation, fuels the melancholic strains of “Leaving So Soon?,” “A Bad Dream” and “Hamburg Song.”
Adult Alternative faves follow their surprise hit debut with another album of portentous clichés and earnest singing.
Radiohead and Coldplay both followed up modest introductory records with albums that beefed up their sound, substance, and intent, and Keane obviously intends its sophomore album, Under The Iron Sea, to play in that league. The band recently re-introduced itself with the blistering, guitar-washed, ridiculously catchy…
In the two years that followed the release of their debut album, Keane established themselves as a promising part of the mainstream rock canon.
Keane - Under The Iron Sea review: Keane’s sophomore effort is one that will not soon be forgotten