"Maybe we'll go one more" (Perfect Symmetry - Keane)

Member Name: Midrange

Product:	Perfect Symmetry - Keane
Date:	27/12/08 (30 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Strong, electric and distinctly 80s sounding Brit pop rock with ace vocals.

Disadvantages: Lyrically depressing and no sweet, epic ballads

Keane's third album "Perfect Symmetry" sees something of a change of tone for the English piano-led indie rockers. Gone are the gentle ballads of "Hopes and Fears" (debut album) to be replaced with a distinctly 80s electric sound. Several tracks feature small amounts of guitar work too - can this really be Keane!?

Lead single "Spiralling" is far removed from anything they've done before.If you check the comments on the Spiralling YouTube video you'll see how the song has divided the listeners. Some people, especially Keane's longstanding fans, feel that Spiralling is a mess of a track, with none of the classic Keane beauty or sensitivity. Others see it as an excellent change in direction. Personally, I enjoy the track for it's shapr guitar lead riff and wide variety of sonic textures and, of course, Tom Chaplin's excellent vocals.

Other stand out tracks on the album include the Killers-esque "The Lovers Are Losing" (where Chaplin really throws his vocals around), "Better Than This" (with it's delightful children's choir subtlely layered into the later choruses) and "Perfect Symmtery" (again featuring a choir and a slightly unconventional song structure). I also enjoy "Again and Again" (which is shamelessly 80s sounding, with it's heavy saw wave lead keyboard riff) and "Love is the End" (which is an emotive ballad piece to finish off the album). Fans of Keane will be disappointed with the album if they were hoping for another "Bedshaped", "She Has No Time" or "Hamburger Song" - three wonderful and sensitive ballads. "Love is the End" on Perfect Symmetry is a lttle to "busy" musicallyfor me - cello, piano, electric drum loops, musical saw (!) and multi-layered vocals once more.

The tracks I tend to skip include "Turn up the Volume" (which I find overly repetitive) and "Pretend That You're Alone" (the lyrics of which I find difficult to come to terms with). And it's the lyrics of this album that I am most critical of. There are numerous lyrics which I find depressing. Some examples include:
"The principles of love won't save this world"
"When we fall in love we're just falling in love with ourselves"
"Love is just our way of looking out for ourselves when we don't want to live alone"
"Forget about religion, forget about the law... no right and no wrong"

It seems there's an over-riding theme of love being unable to offer hope for the failings of humanity... and idea that leaves me feeling saddened. Musically, the album is great - lots of clever keyboard and synth work (not so much piano as their first two ablums!), excellent vocals, and great melodies. Lyrically depressing.

Summary: Good melodies, great vocals and a slightly new direction for English pop/rock band