Here's my official thoughts on Keane's fourth album, "Strangeland"
Although I really enjoyed this album, it was not, in my opinion, near as deep and thought full as their previous albums (even "Perfect Symmetry") and I feel quite as connected to a few of these songs. "Silenced By the Night", for instance, was not really that amazing, but is quite fitting for a long car ride, and is rather fun to hear live. "Disconnected" is one I could never really connect to either. I like it far more than "Silenced By the Night", but it in mo way compares to songs from "Hopes and Fears" or "Under the Iron Sea". I think "You Are Young" was a perfect song to start this album with, and it's a nice song, but does not stand out as anything special. "Watch How You go" almost captured that connection I was looking for, but there was still something missing. Then we get to "Sovereign Light Cafe". This song brings back all the memories of a little cafe that I would go to with my friends, and all those special times I had with them before being "torn" from them. The first song on the album that really tugged at something within me. "On the Road" is an up beat song that took me a few listens to decide that I really do love it. It's just a fun song that cheers me up after a gloomy day. When it comes to songs that I instantly fell in live with "The Starting Line" is up on that list. Something in it just struck me. I really felt like it had knocked the air out of me. Yes, there are lots of songs that are about pressing on, but this was much more than that to me. I can't really put it into words, but it really is my favourite song from this album. "Black Rain" is not a very memorable one for me. It's a lovely song, but I kind of forget about it. One song that really just stands out in this album is "Neon River". Apart from the fact that I think Tom Chaplin's voice sounds a little strange in this song, I think it's really great. It's the perfect example of using elements from all of their previous albums. I always compare "Day Will Come" to "On the Road", and it has is about the same thing as "Silenced By the Night", but quite a bit better, in my opinion. "In Your Own Time" is another forgettable one. I like it a lot, but it gets lost in the sea of songs Tim has written, and hasn't really shined like so many others. Then there is"Sea Fog". Unless you buy the deluxe version, this is the final song on the album. I burst into tears the first time I heard it. It's a beautiful ending. It's a very depressing song, though, so it doesn't leave you feeling jolly.
The deluxe version is worth buying though, because you get the song "Strangeland" with it. I can't understand why this song is only on the deluxe version. It is, in my opinion, a brilliant song. It's a song that really makes me visualise the scene in my head. That alone makes me tear up. I'm still not quite sure what I think of "Run With Me". It's quite a hard one for me to understand, even though it's quote straight forward. "The Boys"...let's just skip that one. "It's not True" is one I sometime feel a connection with, but other times it feels quite dull. Lastly, there is "Myth". This song is worth listen to, only for the last minute or so. The first time I heard it I though "this isn't as great as people are making it seem" until I got to the end. I am a big fan of the end of that song! As a whole this album is pretty great, but will not be as memorable as "Hopes and Fears" or "Under the Iron Sea", but will still have some favourites. The people who were not so keen on the departure of "Perfect Symmetry" seemed to find this a refreshing return, while the ones who loved "Perfect Symmetry" moaned the fact that they took a step backwards. I on the other hand, see it as a fitting album. First they had "Hopes and Fears", which was, as their first album, is about the start of their journey, and looking ahead with all their hopes and fears "Under the Iron Sea" it about all the troubles that came with the sudden fame. "Perfect Symmetry" is about having fun and just trying to enjoy everything. And Strangeland is about looking back at how far they've come. It concerns me in a way, because it feels like an ending, and I'm hoping it's not the last album that Keane make.
Anyways, that's my sum of "Strangeland".