Keane – Perfect Symmetry

Island 2008

Rating: 5/10

It’s hard to determine whether producers Jon Brion and Stuart Price’s obvious influence on Keane’s newest release is a positive one or not. Both are eclectic, fairly big-name producers who bring a lot to the table, and Keane definitely needed to differentiate themselves from the horde of piano-rock bands out there at this stage of their career. And with that they assuredly succeed; opener and first single “Spiralling” bursts out of the gate with some truly ridiculous ‘80s synths and an epic drum sound that sounds like the soundtrack to a John Hughes movie.

“Spiralling” succeeds on being so wildly different from what Keane have become known for (Coldplay/Snow Patrol soft-piano rock, for those unfamiliar with their work), but the continuation of this ‘80s infatuation leads to a record that sounds cheesier and faker the more you listen to it. “Lovers Are Losing” is a handclap-happy pop song that makes the wise choice to keep singer Tom Chaplin’s talented voice on top of things, but the ridiculous pogo-funk on “Better Than This” and the electronica beats on “You Haven’t Told Me Anything” place the emphasis on how Keane is trying to reposition themselves instead of on the song. The synths are so blatant, the beats are so processed, it’s almost as if Keane is practically screaming, “we’re not just a boring piano band!”

The title track is Keane at their best, sweeping piano pop that builds up around itself for a fittingly epic climax, and Chaplin is in top form both vocally and lyrically, but any momentum is killed by the boring, effects-laden “You Don’t See Me” that follows it. “Again & Again” is Keane wishing they could be the Killers, a style that has absolutely no bite coming from this particular outfit.

The remainder of the record is fairly solid, with some surprisingly funky guitar riffs on “Pretend That You’re Alone,” while the mandatory majestic closer “Love Is The End” is uplifted by Chaplin’s typically earnest delivery. While Keane have definitely held up their end of the bargain to deliver a record that challenges previously held expectations of their sound, it doesn’t quite have the style or punch of Under The Iron Sea to make Perfect Symmetry anything more than an interesting experiment.