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Keane: Somewhere Only We Know
by Adie Nunn
If there’s only one thing you know about Keane, it’s that they don’t have a guitarist. No, Keane! Bad, Keane! This breaks chapter one in the Indie Book Of Rules! The other thing you’ll know is that they have a cherub-faced singer with a soaring, pitch-perfect voice. If, however, you’ve already heard this song, you’ll have made your mind up about them already.
Truth is, there’s not a massive amount of depth to Keane’s music. The comparisons to Coldplay and Travis have only come about due to them making music which appeals to a wide age-range; music that’s it’s easy to like… and easy to hate. Your mum probably thinks they look like nice boys. Your dad is probably wondering where their guitarist is.
‘Somewhere Only We Know’ is the piano ballad version of Pet Shop Boys being stared at moodily by Puressence (without guitars, remember), in a you-nicked-our-record-deal-you-utter-bastards kind of way. One hopes the lyrics are about wanting to go for a shag in the bushes, but one suspects they edge more toward themes of solitude, being alone with a loved one, and that sort of shtick. It doesn’t have the simple pop suss of (debut single) ‘Everybody’s Changing’ but does have the anthemic, special quality which normally launches such bands happily into the Top 10.
Did we mention they don’t even have a guitarist? Bonkers.
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Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
The last time there was an article on Keane, it was full of responses from people who didn't like them. So I thought I'd get the pre-emptive strike in this time and say how much I love this band. Seeing them on Friday and can't wait...-
Re: Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
Although having said that, I've noticed that they don't have a guitarist. -
Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
I saw them on Friday too, and they were absolutely great, as usual :) -
Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
Saw them live on Friday and they were tremendous. Vocals are sensational - not a duff note all evening. And this thing about no guitars. PLEASE! Get over it, just appreciate Keane for what they are, great musicians writing excellent music!-
Re: Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
calm down... the review's taking the piss.-
Re: Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
They could use the guitarist from Hope Of The States.
Doh.-
Re: Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
Why would Ant Theaker want to join Keane? -
Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
Keane+no guitars = Ben Folds Five in a bit of a sullen mood?
They sound alright though. -
Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
the songs about having a secret place to smoke canabis and do buckets whilst hidden in the woods. -
Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
i think keane are shit,and the press bums them.-
Re: Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
cunt -
Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
Sorry, but they're just dull. There's so much dull indie around at the moment and Keane are just one part of it. They really need a 'The' in their name, that's how much they blend in with the surroundings. The only MOR indie band that seem to be sounding slightly different at the moment are The Delays but there are probably others. It's just all this hype about guitar music being back and being so great, it's not, it's all dull.-
Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
I have to agree with that. They're just dull dull dull. It might be nice stuff to fall asleep to, but it doesn't make it fun to listen to. -
Re: Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
yup They are mind numbingly crap, the new coldplay give me a break who cares???
They remind me of embrace ...
but what do i know they will prolly be picking up a shit award next year....and sitting next to beyonce's arse. -
Re: Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
>It's just all this hype about guitar music being back
Class, in the context of this review!
>and being so great, it's not, it's all dull
(checks poster's profile) ... hey cheer up - you love The Wildhearts as much as I do! They may not be a new band but they're certainly a guitar band. The state of music for me is defined by good new music, not good new bands (because the latter implies the former anyway).
But I do still like Keane a lot. No apologies. It's like what happened with 'Britpop' (what a terrible word). Adding a name to something (even if that's just 'guitar' in this instance) allows people to damn a whole raft of good bands as well as bad ones. There were great bands then (Blur, another favourite of yours I see) and bad ones (just a matter of personal opinion, but Sleeper for me). Same now. There's some dull 'indie' and some good stuff.-
Re: Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
Yeah, I appreciate the irony of the 'guitar' comment and thought about not saying it but Keane'll be lumped in that category regardless.
And yes, there'll always be good music and bad music and it always comes down to personal opinion which makes any debate about music largely reduntant. So I wouldn't expect you to apologise for liking Keane and for me there's nothing really bad about them, nothing wrong, nothing offensive, there's just.... nothing.
And I know what you mean about 'new music', it seems most of the stuff I've really liked over the last year or two has been bands like Foo Fighters. But I'm sure there *must* be decent new British bands around now who would excite me, but I'm just not hearing them. What I am hearing is a whole bunch of stuff which all sounds the same. And a lot of the new music I'm hearing that stands out for me seems to be coming from abroad, which is fine, but since there's supposed to be this whole new generation of British kids starting bands and putting out music it's a little disappointing.
Personally I think I may just be a little disillusioned with "new guitar music" in general, my most recent purchases were Moloko, Lamb, Sigur Ros and a K7 compilation...
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Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
i actually really like this song-although quite dull i guess,i think that its v nice to wake up 2 and very chilled!!
i wouldnt dance to it though!!!!!
the singer looks like a troll!!!!!!!!! -
Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
I also make no apologies for liking them. They write good songs. I don't care if music makes you "want to go to sleep" because hey, not everything has to beinteresting to pass muster. 3 guys in a room every now and then works, and on this occasion it works well.-
Re: Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
I made no apologies before, and having finally seen them live tonight, I'll make even less now. I've been to a lot of gigs (over 500) and that was one of the best.-
Re: Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
Oh, so you were at the Bristol gig then. I suppose it was good- sounded good, and they've been better than that at previous gigs as well- but I couldn't see a fucking thing, or move. Bad choice of venue at this stage in their career. I would've been at the front had I not been stuck on the merchandise stall until five seconds before they came on, which I am pretty bitter about. Not the band's fault, the Street Team leader's fault. I had to stomp away from the table and throw the money at them before they noticed I'd been sat there all night. And that guy at the bottom of the stairs, inspecting tickets or whatever- early 20s, basic indie outfit, smug look- I have never met a bigger cunt in my life. Fucking fuck.-
Re: Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
Gotta say - I love The Louisiana. In fairness, I don't think the band knew how big things were going to get at the time that it was booked. And you're right about the guy on the stairs... that has been a new thing for the last couple of gigs I've seen there. Normally I haven't got a bad thing to say about anything there - the venue, the beer, the staff, anything, but the stairs guy needs to learn some manners.
I guess it's hard to help it if there are a lot of tall people at the gig, but you could have stood somewhere near the front right (even once they were on) for a decent view. There were a few idiots in the middle doing their best to ruin it for my friend as well, but that's another story.
I want to re-emphasise something though - don't let it put you off Louisiana gigs in general. It's a nice little venue.-
Re: Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
That's the thing, my first impression was that it looked like a good venue. I'm sure lots of fun can be had there generally. Maybe I'll see someone tiny there sometime, but possibly not, as I'm a Cardiff resident anyway.
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Re: Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
'I've been to a lot of gigs (over 500) and that was one of the best.'
are you one of the people that says that after every gig you've been to? cos i know a few people like that, they say it almost everytime i see them at a gig
'yeh man this is the best gig ever,' even if in my opinion it wasnt a very good gig. it sort've gets annoying if people you hang out say that time after time...
any way i like keane i think they make nice soulful easy lsitening music. perfect to have in the background or to sit and listen really attentively to.-
Re: Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
i do something similar with bands. "have you heard of....?" ".... are the best band in the world" "this is the best single i've ever heard" etc etc
on a few occasions i even manage ".... are my new favourite band"
it's worse when someones alone with me and they've not seen me in ages. i force them to loads of songs. to which the response, by a minute into the track, is always "yeah, that's okay", at which point i nod enthusiastically, and put on another of my new favourite bands.
shit. it used that phrase again...-
Re: Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
i force them to LISTEN to loads of songs.
i really have to stop leaving words of sentences. it can severely change the meaning.
to repeat. i dont force people to the sound of new music. well, not for a while anyway.
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Re: Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
The singer looks like my brother with indie hair, and thus like Simon Cowell and Martin from Eastenders with indie hair. He also does shit things with his fists and sounds like Fran Healy.
Annoyingly, despite all this, I find myself humming this fucking song everywhere I go. I hate them. Grr. Etc. -
Re: Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
Songs do have to be interesting to pass muster.
The definition of interesting is a but trickier.
I like Keane and I think they are interesting, was impressed with them at Reading last year at any rate. -
Re: Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
>'I've been to a lot of gigs (over 500) and that was one of the best.'
>are you one of the people that says that after every gig you've been to?
Um, no.
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Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
I like this song but I am a bit bummed out by the fact that its not about sneaking off for a quickie in the bushes. nevermind -
Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
Argh help. I'm being sucked in... I'm getting to like them. Oh dear. Still think the music's boring, but I kind of like it. Eek. -
Re: Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
QUOTE:
"i think keane are shit,and the press bums them."
enough of the wishful thinking, mate.
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