(Music) Keane: "Under the Iron Sea"

Keane's debut album "Hopes and Fears" was a fabulous collection of pop-rock that deserved every grammy nomination that it got. In the vein of mainstream music, there were not a whole lot of bands that came close to the near-perfection that Kean demonstrated in 2004. That being said, "Hopes and Fears" is a tough album to follow, yet it seems as if Keane has done a somewhat admirable job at just that. "Under the Iron Sea" is a much more (as VH1 would put it) eclectic album than their first. Sure, everything you loved about Keane is still there. The haunting piano and sweeping vocals are sill infecting practically every song on the album. However, you'll find a lot more variety on this album than on their previous effort.

The album begins with the steady, yet captivating, drum beat on "Atlantic." Right from the start you'll notice that this is an entirely different album than "Hopes and Fears." Whereas that album began with the strong single "Somewhere Only We Know," "Atlantic" is more of a soft precursor to the rest of the album. "Is It Any Wonder?" is the next song, and first single from the album, and it manages to get the energy going rather nicely. "Nothing In My Way" picks up on this energy and uses it to its fullest extent. As a result, the song manages to be truly breathtaking and also proves to be the best song on the entire album. From there, the album continues its eclectic nature, mostly focusing on more atmospheric beauty than strong pop hooks. "Crystal Ball," of course, is a major exception to this trend as it is arguably the most accessible song on the album and almost sure to become a single in the near future.

Overall, this is a fairly strong album and Keane fans will most likely be happy with what they hear. Though not as strong as "Hopes and Fears" it still manages to captivate its audience from time to time and really draw them into the music. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of songs on here that could compare to their earlier songs like "Bedshaped," "Bend and Break," or "Somewhere Only We Know." As a result, it would be hard for me to listen to this album for more than a few weeks unless something catches my attention further down the line ("Bedshaped" did this and kept me listening for months). If you are a fan of Keane, though, I highly recommend this album! For those unfamiliar with the group, your best bet might be "Hopes and Fears." Whatever you choose, rest assured that Keane has not lost an ounce of talent and is sure to stick around for many years.

Recommended for fans of Keane, Coldplay, and anyone looking for music to accompany their long drives through middle America (as this album is almost a perfect lonesome road trip album).

Key Tracks:
1. "Atlantic"
2. "Is it any Wonder?"
3. "Nothing In My Way"
4. "Put It Behind You"

3 out of 5 Stars

Buy It!