Under The Iron Sea

As its foreboding name might suggest, Under The Iron Sea finds Sussex balladeers Keane setting sail for somewhat darker waters. Prompted by their involvement in Live8 and Make Poverty History, continuing conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan, and personal strife that saw the band’s friendship stretched to breaking point, tracks like ”Is It Any Wonder?” and ”A Bad Dream” find choirboy-voiced vocalist Tom Chaplin giving voice to a generation distrustful of its leaders, upset by war and discord, but unsure of all the answers. Songwriter Tim Rice-Oxley matches this bleaker spirit with a darker sound, swapping his trademarked piano for synthesiser that, on mid-album instrumental interlude ”The Iron Sea”, achieves a cold experimentalism reminiscent of Brian Eno. Fans of the inclusive balladry showcased on Keane’s debut album, 2004’s Hopes And Fears, will not be disappointed, however. ”Crystal Ball” is the band’s finest moment to date, a soaring number with an optimistic hook (”Crystal ball/Save us all/Tell me life is beautiful”) that’s a immediately catchy and characteristically unshakable, while the closing ”The Frog Prince” revives fairytale’s ability to satirize, amid a backdrop of flourishing piano and glittering effects. --Louis Pattison
Product Description
UK CD pressing of the second album by these Britpop wonderboys whose debut album, Hopes & Fears, made them worldwide superstars. 12 tracks including the single ’Is It Any Wonder’ and bonus track, ’Iron Sea’. Universal. 2006.

Track Listings

1 Atlantic
2 Is It Any Wonder?
3 Nothing in My Way
4 Leaving So Soon?
5 A Bad Dream
6 Hamburg Song
7 Put It Behind You
8 The Iron Sea
9 Crystal Ball
10 Try Again
11 Broken Toy
12 The Frog Prince

Keane

2006

50

602498782279

United Kingdom

CD

CID8167/9878227

3.5

Helioscentric Studios, England; The Magic Shop, NYC

12

Album

N/A

1

Yes

2018-06-28 16:19:41

Jewel Case

~£2.48

2025-08-12

2018-06-28 16:19:41