Hopes & Fears

Hopes & Fears
Category: Music


Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
EAN: 8808678229080
ASIN: B000A2WPD8


Release Date: 2005-04-26

Hopes & Fears


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Album Description

Yet another limited edition version of their debut album. This Asian pressing features five bonus tracks, 'Snowed Under', 'Walnut Tree', 'We Might as Well Be Strangers' (DJ Shadow Remix), 'Allemande' and 'To the End of the Earth'. Universal. 2005.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Hopes for "Fears".......2005-09-20

British mope-rock is alive and well, as Brit-pop trio Keane makes their debut with "Hopes and Fears." Strong, soaring vocals from Tom Chaplin are backed up by some solid piano-based pop and rock. Despite constant comparisons to Radiohead, Travis and Coldplay, Keane shows plenty of promise as a unique new band.

It starts off with a strong piano solo in the quiet "Somewhere Only We Know," followed by a stream of catchy pop like the thoughtful "Everybody's Changing" and the shimmery "Bend And Break," and gossamer ballads like the melancholy "We Might As Well Be Strangers" and soaring "She Has No Time." It wraps up on a strong note with the plaintive "Bedshaped."

If any British band breaks the rock mold, it seems to be labelled as a Radiohead/Coldplay wannabe. On some superficial levels, Keane sounds rather like those bands. But it manages to remain a bit apart, rocking a bit harder and sounding a bit more straightforward and simple. It's hard to truly classify Keane as really being pop -- the lack of guitar and the prevailing piano seem to edge its catchy melodies closer to classical pop.

The first thing to know about Keane is: No guitarist. At all. Ever. Don't let it scare you -- the mix of rippling piano and gentle percussion are enough to make their melodies catchy without electric riffs. At the same time, they take some musical risks. Psychedelic piano-pop? Believe it or not, Keane does that.

Tom Chaplin's vocals are the strongest point of Keane's lineup; his solid, high soars along with the shimmery music. At times his vocals get a bit TOO high, like when he sings the title line of "She Has No Time," but most of the time he manages to sound like a heartbroken guy exorcising his breakup demons.

The songs themselves aren't terribly complex or insightful, but they can be quite poignant: "And if you have a minute why don't we go/talk about it somewhere only we know?/This could be the end of everything/so why don't we go/somewhere only we know?" Their simplicity is just enchanting.

Music Album:

  1. Outside of Me (It's Not Fair) ~ Killing Heidi
  2. Breakfast in New Orleans Dinner in Timbuktu ~ Bruce Cockburn
  3. Paul Revere and Raiders/Gary Puckett ~ Paul Revere & the Raiders , and Gary Puckett
  4. Dedication
  5. Diamonds & Debris ~ Cry of Love
  6. Hogyssey ~ Spacehog
  7. Third ~ Soft Machine
  8. Mock Orange ~ Mock Orange
  9. Rubberneck ~ Toadies
  10. Viva Bomma ~ Cos

Music Album

Music Album

Music

The Oscar Peterson Trio at the Stratford Shakespearean Festival ~ Oscar Peterson Trio

David Blue ~ David Blue

Doomsday for the Deceiver ~ Flotsam & Jetsam

Unspeakable Cults ~ Deviser

Faryad ~ Masters of Persian Music

Satsang ~ OS Arun

Lambadas - Ritmo Alucinante ~ Guitarradas

Tomorrow ~ Mayo Okamoto

New Brazilian Sound ~ Various Artists

Die Stars Der Trucker Szene ~ Various Artists