Double

August 2nd 2006 by E..

Keane - Under The Iron Sea
Interscope

When it comes to the dreaded second album, artists have a few choices.  Should they keep their sound the same so that their listeners are presented with something familiar?  Or should they try something new so that they aren’t producing more of the same?  Both can be done well, and both can also suck.  For example, think Joe Jackson’s I’m The Man versus The Pretenders’ Pretenders II.  Both sound just like the artist’s previous release, but I’m The Man is great, whereas Pretenders II is, well, not so great.  This conundrum could be made even more tricky if the band in question isn’t doing something that’s entirely original.  Now, when I say that, I don’t mean something like Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, which is a gimmick and each album is supposed to sound the same.  What I mean is when a band sounds so much like another band, even the critics have a hard time telling them apart.  Keane’s debut, Hopes And Fears was essentially a Coldplay record.  Try as you might, there is simply no denying that “Somewhere Only We Know” could easily fit on A Rush Of Blood To The Head or Parachutes.  When Keane’s second effort, Under The Iron Sea came out, I was pleasantly surprised that they didn’t sound like Coldplay anymore.  I was also not-so-pleasantly surprised that the sound like U2.  The single, “Is It Any Wonder?”, is a jangly, pure pop tune, and I feel that this country needs more of those.  However, the rest of the album’s dreamy and moody soundscapes are enough to make me want to go cry in a corner.  At least “Is It Any Wonder?” hides it bleak lyrics behind a wall of distorted guitars.  In reality, I feel bad for Keane.  I’m waiting for them to release something truly original, rather than just echo bands who have proven to be successful.  If nothing else, they have really improved on the artwork of their CD jacket.  that may have to be my favorite part about this record, and that’s sad.  If you want to hear a band sound like Coldplay, go buy a Coldplay record, and if you want to hear U2…well, reconsider.  While you’re at it, you should probably reconsider buying Under The Iron Sea and instead, pick up Gary Numan’s latest.  It’ll scare the crap out of your parents.

2 out of 5 (for some nice jacket art)

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