Under the Iron Sea

Lovely, honest sentiment and darned good music.

Artist: Keane
Genre: Rock Label: Interscope Records Parental Advisory: No Edited Version Available: No Release Date: 07/20/2006

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that there are no offensive lyrics here -– just bittersweet, poetic longing perfect for teens.

Families listening together can talk about how it can feel better to write honestly about your deepest feelings, whether for others or just for yourself. Also -- there are no guitars used on this album. Do you miss them? How does the lack of guitar tracks change the sound on a rock CD?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Kathi Kamen Goldmark

Keane's second album is beautifully constructed, intense, and poetic, without ever becoming overly sentimental or relying on questionable content of any kind. The British trio has succeeded in producing 11 lovely, moody tracks perfectly appropriate for most soul-searching teen rockers.

Tom Chapin's lead vocals are expressive and confident, exploring a broad range of both pitch and emotion. Backed up by Tim Rice-Oxley (piano, bass, backup vocals) and Richard Hughes (drums), he pulls off one haunting, memorable performance after another. The trio manages to sound full and fully present without resorting to bloated overkill at any point.

The lyrics explore a wide landscape, dealing mostly with love and desire, delusion and identity, but ultimately leaving the listener with a feeling of hope.

Gentle understatement gets the point across in songs like "Is It Any Wonder?" ("I always thought that I knew/I'd always have the right to/be living in the kingdom of the good and true and so on/but now I think I was wrong/and you were laughing along/and now I look a fool for thinking you were on my side") and "Crystal Ball" ("Who is the man I see/where I'm supposed to be/I lost my heart/I buried it too deep/under the iron sea").

Instrumentally strong (and notable for its lack of guitars), UNDER THE IRON SEA delivers strong, satisfying sentiment while exploring the rough terrain of the teenage heart and soul.

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