Night train reviewed

                Keane has dropped yet another excellent album. It makes me wonder “How does a band get so good, so consistently?” I’ve been a fan of Keane’s for quite some time now, so when I saw they had new single on ITunes, I was defiantly inclined to buy it. I was never planning to complete the album, you would think 28 songs by Keane was enough. However this was a clear oversight on my part. You can never have enough music from these dudes. The final straw was when I realized the awesomeness of Amazon. I spent just over three dollars to get the album shipped and paid for. Three dollars for this mind-blowing piece of Brit-Rock plastic, shipped to my house. In a nice white box. I’m never buying music from anywhere else again.

                So now that I’m done drooling other the awesomeness I get to the actually review, starting with House Lights, the first track. Much like “Atlantic” from Under the Iron Sea, we have a sick instrumental to start things off. This very busy track gives the feel a train station, ironically depicted by the album’s artwork. Concluding with the predictable affect of all the sounds smearing together and fading away we hope right into “Back in Time”.

                Back in Time has a truly epic quality to it. The vocals come out loud and strong talking about whatever ethical social dilemma addressed by the song, as typical with Keane. If you like socially aware music, Perfect Symmetry as well as Night Train are excellent albums for you folks. The sick modulated guitar rift continues throughout this song, as well as the catchy vocals making this song very addicting. There is a somewhat haunted back feel in all these songs, which is strange considering how hipity-hopity the songs overall feel seems.

                Stop for a Minute is this albums single. Featuring hip-hop artist K’naan rapping and singing for this track, it will probably blow your mind. Flicking back and forth between dominate vocals, this song goes place, very quickly in fact. This song moves so quickly. It’s a note to wonder, considering that this song was able to combine both Rap, and brit-pop together is quite unique. 5 stars for this number.

                Speaking of 5 stars, this next song deserves six. “Clear skies” is my favorite song in the world right now. We start of this sick track with a mellow clapping in the background before mixing up the percussion, and hitting the chorus. This song is all about the dreams of the young. Their main chorus listens as “I’ve never see such beauty, I’ve never see such clear skies, I’ve never see such high hopes, I’ve never seen such tired eyes”. I really feel this represents young folk, big dreamers standing in front of a big mountain. The vocals on this albums convey such joy as you listen, utterly beautiful.

                I was quite confused when I heard “Ishin Denshin”, which on the same note as “Stop for a Minute” this song tries to combine both Britpop-and another genre. In this case, it is anime. I don’t listen to anime at all, mostly because I don’t like it, so I’m going to have a hard time telling you if this song is quality and of value. Considering that I don’t skip this song when it comes up I’m inclinded to think it on the good side of anime but it is an utter guess. Other then take part it is another fun treasure to listen to however I feel the album would be better with a different song instead.

                “Your Love” is a clear example of the haunted feel to the songs on this album, while still maintaining a fun side. Like a haunted house? It’s creepy but still a good time.  This song is all about how a ruined romance can really screw things up.

                “Looking Back” kicks off with some old school brass giving an unique feel. I’m starting feel like the track by track analysis is an inappropriate method of doing an album review. I can write positive or negative bits about each songs but it feels rather that discussing the album as a whole gives you a better idea of the album. Single songs don’t always have a lot of content to discuss. I’ll do my next review in this method.

                The final song on this eight track party is “My Shadow”, a wonderful slow song harkening back to their first album’s feel so drifting along, primarily “bedshaped”. Personally I think this song is excellent. Ambient noise and piano generate a background to highlight the sweet vocals. I feel penetrated by this song’s ways, if that makes any sense. After laying dazed for 3 minutes this songs brings up an epic motivational conclusion to this album.