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CD Tracklisting
1. Spiralling
2. Lovers Are Losing
3. Better Than This
4. You Haven’t Told Me Anything
5. Perfect Symmetry
6. You Don’t See Me
7. Again & Again
8. Playing Along
9. Pretend That You’re Alone
10. Black Burning Heart
11. Love Is The End
Right from the opening notes of “Spiralling,” the first track from English piano rock trio Keane’s third album, it is clear that the band are at least attempting to head in a new direction. The song is peppy, energetic, and shockingly enough, danceable. It’s a far cry from the band’s slower singles on previous records such as “Somewhere Only We Know” and “Everybody’s Changing.” While the sudden change in style is surprising, “Spiralling” is incredibly fun and enjoyable.
In the song “Playing Along,” vocalist Tom Chaplin sings, “I’m gonna turn up the volume ‘til I can’t even think,” and maybe that’s what Perfect Symmetry is all about: turning up the volume, rocking out and just having a good time enjoying the music. This is the band’s time to have fun, particularly after Chaplin’s stint in rehab for drug and alcohol addiction in 2006.
However, not all of the other songs are quite as outrageous and shocking as “Spiralling.” The rest of the CD is not nearly as dramatic of a departure from Keane’s previous works, although the tracks are still subtly experimental and for the most part, still enjoyable. It’s clearly the same old band, just slightly different. The songs sound fuller and more vibrant compared to previous efforts.
Perfect Symmetry is more adventurous than anything Keane has done before, yet it does not stray very far out of the band’s comfort level. In other words, it sounds different, but not that different.
The band seem to have been studying 80s pop music, adding more synths and even a little guitar. In fact, “Better Than This” has a keyboard hook lifted from David Bowie's “Ashes to Ashes.” Yet there are a handful of songs, such as “Lovers Are Losing” and “You Don’t See Me” that still feel awfully similar to classic Keane, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. The soaring piano melodies that can make your heart overflow are still there, thankfully.
While the new experimental direction works for many of the songs, a few fall flat, such as “Better Than This” and “You Haven’t Told Me Anything,” both of which are quite frankly, a little boring. Old, familiar Keane songs are definitely preferable to those new and uninteresting tunes, but thankfully, the boring songs on this CD are few and far between.
It remains to be seen if the next Keane album will continue in this unexpected direction, but it clear that we can expect great things from the band in the future. Overall, Perfect Symmetry is definitely not Keane’s best album, but there are definitely quite a few tracks worth listening to and loving, so check out the CD and turn up the volume.
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