Arts and Culture
Looking For Arts & Culture Exclusives? Get Your Cheeky Card!An 80’s throwback with electro pops beats, synthetic cords and catchy, happy hooks. Wait—this is a Keane album? Last I heard (figuratively), lead singer Tim Rice-Oxley went to rehab and the last I had heard (literally), Keane’s albums were full of slow-rock, deep-lyric-laden alternative hits and brooding themes. Don’t get me wrong – Hopes and Fears and Under the Iron Sea are two of the best albums I own, and if you don’t own them yourself, go to www.itunes.com right now and make a purchase. I’ll wait.
Now that you understand the true foundation of this amazing rock trio, some fans may feel confused when they first hear Perfect Symmetry. Not me. I am a huge proponent of upbeat, feel-good, dance music and I welcome Keane’s junior effort with open ears. This is definitely a step in a new light, but I guess getting clean means getting creative and Keane’s choice to pump up the volume was a four-star choice. The opening track “Spiraling” (also their debut single) is a kicking jam calling on inspirations from Erasure, INXS and even a bit of Gwen Stefani. As does “Again and Again” and “You Haven’t Told Me Anything”, both mix up-tempo electronic backgrounds with rich vocals. But never fear, my avid Keane fans, not every song is happy go-dance-with-me. “Black Burning Heart” and “Love is the End” are true throwbacks to Keane’s earlier, emotional work and in the killer track “The Lovers are Losing,” Rice-Oxley wails “You take the pieces of the dreams that you had/ ‘cause you don’t like the way they seem to be going/ You cut them up and spread them out on the floor/ You’re full of hope as you begin rearranging/ You put it all back together/ But any way you look at it/ It looks like the lovers are losing.” Ouch.
Perfect Symmetry is Keane’s first self- produced album! It is also the first time the band uses a musical saw, a saxophone and vocals recorded through a drum. Recorded in Berlin, Paris and London with help from various, esteemed producers such as Kanye West’s Jon Brion and Stuart Price who has produced, um, Madonna – this album is one of Keane’s finest moments.
One of the most admirable traits in any artist is the courage to take risks and the ability to transform their entire style, while still remaining so true to their music. I am glad to hear that Keane knows how to have some fun along the way.
