Lopez Blogs

Keane are back. I loved Keane. 2004 Keane. When it was gorgeously constructed piano melodies, soaring choruses and truly beautiful songs like Somewhere Only We Know and Everybody's Changing (still - play those in a piano bar and all the gays are fawning over your dexterous fingers). I thought, much like my other 2004 faves (Maroon 5, Scissters, Killers, BWO), that I would love them forever. Then came the clanking carcophony of creative overkill hit in the form of the far too trippy Under The Iron Sea which i bloody detested. Hated. Reviled. I've warmed to it marginally since then but it's not a patch on their debut and inner struggles seemed to defeat the band before they barely started. They were pretty disappointing a couple of summers ago when they spunked all their decent songs (Last Time, Everybody's Changing, Somewhere Only We Know and Crystal Ball) as the first few songs and then everybody pissed off because they had heard what they wanted. Luckily, there were still glimmers of goodness in charity single The Night Sky, and some well chosen cover versions such as Enjoy The Silence, Dirrtylicious, Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore and their frankly perfect cover of Under Pressure (mp3). And now they are back...

Offering up a free single as a way to win back my affection is a good start to getting back on my good side. Offering up a free single which is surprisingly synthy and dancey and actually very good, is a large step forward. Am i "keen" again? (See what I did there?!) I think I might very well be. Spiralling is a delicious summer song that bodes well for their "taste free" new album entitled Perfect Symmetry. Of course, the website crashed but XO hooked me up (and talks about the track here and here) and i've been humming away all day. It has elements of Bowie, a little bit of Bono but ultimately lots of lovely piano and drums, an emminently singable chorus (with a nice "woooo" bit), a middle eight that reminds me of Robbie Williams (Xo of Bono) and a return to jolly decent pop songs by a decent band with a hot pianist and drummer. What more could one want? An album that is equally as good please. Ta everso... Here is some more Keane to remind you of their once and possibly returning aceness...

MP3: Everybody's Changing (gorgeous radio acoustic version)

MP3: Heart To Hold You (A lovely outtake from Jo Wiley's show)

OTHER V QUICK BITS:

Travis are back with their 10" vinyl only EP "J Smith" (mp3) and very raw and rootsy it is too. Harking back to their early days, it's got more of a "live feel" than some of their more recent polished stuff. There is a lovely almost choral bit punctuating some aggressive guitar playing and a more experimental approach to their usual sound. Part of it makes me feel like I'm in the Omen, but i like their gutsy new sound and am looking forward to more of this ode...

And William of Young announced more about his album today! He's written most of the songs himself with his usual team and you should be absolutely sure to keep an ear open for the amazing Disconnected. Uh-May-Zing.