Keane- Perfect Symmetry

Keane, a piano-rock band from Battle, East Sussex, UK have finally come out with their third album, “Perfect Symmetry” and, as much as I really want to like every song on the album, some of them leave me wishing there was more effort put into it. The first four songs lack the amazing quality that I know Keane has, but the rest of the album more than makes up for it.

The album starts with their first single, “Spiralling” which I’m told sounds like “Electric Feel” by MGMT. Not a big fan of MGMT, I beg to differ. Keane have clearly branched into a new era, using more computer songs to add to their piano and drum sound. The songs have more oomph than previous albums, “Under the Iron Sea” and “Hopes and Fears” but when Tom Chaplin goes off on a tangent asking…
Did you wanna be a winner?
Did you wanna be an icon?
Did you wanna be famous?
Did you wanna be the president?
Did you wanna start a war?
Did you wanna have a family?
Did you wanna be in love?
Did you wanna be in love?
…I got a little irked at the uselessness of the part of the song. The questions don’t even really make much sense to begin with. He seems to have just thrown them in because there was open space to sing it.

The second single, “Lovers are Losing” is up next. The song has a bit of an 80s feel, which can be said about a majority of the album but the lyrics are so good that it makes up for the annoying ABBA quality the song has.

“Better Than This” make me want me to applaud Tom for his vocals but “Better Than This” seems so out of place in the album. The Moog usage is very hard to get over and it detracts from the music.

“You Haven’t Told Me Anything” reminds me so much of “Under the Iron Sea.” I’m very glad they decided to add it to the album. It definitely compliments it and allows long-time fans to remember the way they were.

“Perfect Symmetry” is quite possibly the most amazingly heart-wrenching song I’ve heard in a long time, and that includes “Bedshaped” from “Hopes and Fears.” “Who are you, what are you fighting for/ Holy truth, brother I chose this mortal life/lived in perfect symmetry” and “I dream in emails, worn out phrases/ mile after mile of empty pages” resonate through the perfectly chosen vocals and piano and can make anyone fall in love with the song.

“You Don’t See Me” reminds me of something one would hear on a Disney movie, “Again & Again” takes us back to the 80s but then takes previous fans back to Hopes and Fears. “Playing Along” takes the album for a dive and “Pretend that You’re Alone” and “Black Burning Heart” don’t really help to save it. If they dropped the 80s techno licks, the songs would have much more power. All the extra noise detracts from Tom’s voice, Tim Rice-Oxley’s piano and Richard Hughes’ drums. “Black Burning Heart” makes up for it with amazing lyrics but Keane are known for amazingly pithy and deep lyrics.

The album ends with “Love is the End,” a slow song with just the three guys, no extra stuff added. It’s simple and ends the album with a sweet note.