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Perfect Symmetry

Keane - Perfect Symmetry Audio CD

A fair review of the Keane "Perfect Symmetry" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Keane reviews here, or go back to the Keane tabs.

Band: Keane
Title: Perfect Symmetry
Rating:

Release Date: 2008-10-14
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 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 and Again 8: Playing Along 9: Pretend That You're Alone 10: Black Burning Heart 11: Love Is the End

Hearty dance
Easily listenable but simply a logical progression from their previously-becoming-bland sophomore. This is far too developed to be their pop-induced write-off as its been claimed, but the songwriting's emotional heft does tend to take a beating when more in this uptempo frame.

Not Perfect, But Close!
These bands are intent on revising, updating, or sometimes completely reinventing their sound with every album release. An anxiety common among many bands (especially in pop/rock music) is the fear of releasing a succession of albums that sound the same. This determination to keep their music sounding fresh is what often sets great bands apart from the rest. Such modification, however, can be dangerous. For these bands, the risk of alienating their old fans is always there. Many fans may feel betrayed by the band's divergence from their earlier sound(s). Bands willing to make musical transitions, though, are often the ones that leave the most memorable musical legacy, the Beatles being the most well-known example.
That being said, I first listened to Perfect Symmetry fully expecting a Keane sound distinct from their first two albums, Hopes and Fears, and Under The Iron Sea. Just as the first two albums are markedly different from each other, so too is Perfect Symmetry distinct from them. Each album has a distinct mood: Hopes and Fears seems to me to be their "Spring" album. On the surface, the songs appear to be light pop, but closer listening reveals a darker sense of trying to remain stable in an unstable world. Under The Iron Sea was their "Winter" album, containing songs with dark themes/undercurrents that reflected the hardships the band was going through at the time the album was recorded. This mood was reflected in both the lyrics and music. Perfect Symmetry, I feel, is their "Summer" album; their most fun, vibrant CD. Though it does contain downbeat lyrics, it pairs those serious messages with contrasting, upbeat music and rhythms, with 1980s-style synthesizer sounds scattered throughout. The songs often offer commentary on the state of the world today, particularly in the title track and "Playing Along", both of which contain lyrics about coping with the painful realities of living in a world of violence and war.
After purchasing Perfect Symmetry, I found myself listening to it compulsively, even though after my first listen I deemed it to be inferior to both of Keane's previous CDs. After three or four listens, however, I came to appreciate its sense of fun, and its powerful, emotional messages. I feel it is their most powerful album. This CD is full of great hooks and melodies, which I feel is Tim Rice-Oxley's strong point as a songwriter. It could take a few listens for one to gain a full appreciation of this CD's excellence.
In reading some other reviews written by people who purchased this CD (particularly reviews on another site) I noticed some criticism of singer Tom Chaplin's voice. I could hear a bit of strain in Chaplin's vocals on a couple songs. "Spiralling", the opening track, is the most evident example, but upon listening to the songs more, I feel Chaplin was just singing differently than we are accustomed to hearing him because the songs require it. These songs have a kind of intensity not found on Hopes and Fears or Under The Iron Sea. One of his most impressive vocal performances is on "Better Than This", a song a singer with an inferior voice could not handle. I even hear shades of Freddy Mercury in his delivery on this song (specifically when he sings the "Get a grip on yourself" section towards the end). The clarity, range, and power of his voice on this song are impressive indeed. Other vocal highlights on Perfect Symmetry include the title track (apparently inspired by the terrorist attacks in London a few years ago, and which may be the best track on the album) and "You Don't See Me", one of only two ballads on the CD. Chaplin's falsetto on the bridge of "You Don't See Me" is truly breathtaking. He is undoubtedly one of the best singers in music today. His passionate delivery is incredibly affecting and appealing, and it adds so much feeling to these already emotionally-charged songs, making them that much more powerful.
Keane are my favorite band and have never failed to impress me, even on this most drastic of departures from their "signature style". The first half of Perfect Symmetry is quite bouncy and energetic, then the second half tones things down and features some songs with the more intimate messages and delivery their fans have grown accustomed to (e. g. the final song "Love Is The End", which is one of their very best). Keane's willingness to expand their sound with such impressive results makes them all the more remarkable to me. This is their most fun CD so far and my favorite to listen to. Perfect Symmetry was easily one of the best albums of 2008 and a triumph for Keane, one of the most outstanding bands in music. I can't wait to hear what they come up with next.

Very different but great all the same.
I badly needed to hear more from this band so I duly purchased "Perfect Symmetry", not realising how very different it would be. I hadn't heard anything from Keane since I left England for the US four years ago, armed with the much loved "Hopes and fears. So different, in fact, that it had me checking the band members on the "Hopes and Fears" album to make sure it was the same guys and not some other group with the same name! Very unlikely I know but I was just so perplexed!

Well, of course, it was one and the same band. So I listened to the rest of the album, marveling at the total departure from the piano playing lyricism of their first work. LOTS more music in the compositions and Tom's voice in competition with it. It was interesting but just so different from what I identified with them before.

The following day I listened to it again. This time I was prepared for it and ended up intrigued. Next day on I played it again and now I can say I love it. Tom's beautiful voice still effortlessly soars.

Please do as I did and don't write it off on the first listen. It grows on you in an amazingly quick way. .

This band better return with a better album
The only worthwhile track is the title track "Perfect Symmetry. Excellent band that I love with a horrible album. " Totally disappointed, this new direction they've taken is just terrible, I was expecting to hear Tom's vocals, not a cheap Brandon Flowers knockoff done with studio trickery. The next album better have genuine vocals and top-notch production; this album is just embarrassing. .

Different Sound for the Same Great Group
The CD offers a different sound to Keane. . and I loved it! Truly a talented group. We got back from their concert last night and they are just as good, if not even better live!.

You can see a complete list of all Keane discography, or go back to the Keane tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.