Hopes and Fears

Amazon.com
It's perhaps inevitable that Keane's debut album, Hopes and Fears, will draw numerous comparisons to Coldplay. Like them, Keane were discovered by indie label Fierce Panda, who released a single ("Everybody's Changing"). And, like Coldplay, Keane also do a fine trade in catchy and heartfelt indie-pop, all bruised verses and soaring choruses. But though their sound is sure to please fans of Coldplay and Travis, the reality is that Keane manage to sound that little bit more delicate. This could be due to the band's relatively unusual makeup: rather than guitars, the trio uses a piano.

At its best, Hopes and Fears is reminiscent of Bends-era Radiohead, and singer Tom Chaplin's voice is closer to Thom Yorke's falsetto than Chris Martin's cracked whine. On tracks such as the hit single, "Somewhere Only We Know" they manage to squeeze an epic-sounding poignancy from their stripped-down sound (a lot of this is due to the album's superb production). Across 10 tracks, all this slow-burning melancholy skates a bit close to self-indulgence, and you can't help but wish they'd rock out a bit. But Hopes and Fears is still a remarkable and surprisingly mature debut album from a young band with a bright future. --Robert Burrow

Rolling Stone, June 10, 2004
"Keane reconfigures the high-romantic aesthetic introduced by Radiohead and mainstreamed by Coldplay as the launchpad for a serious hookfest"

Hopes and Fears,Keane,Interscope Records,Alternative Pop/Rock,Britpop,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

Hopes and Fears

Average customer rating:

One of the best albums of all time "Something we should all know"
great as an escape
Great singles, great music
Really like it
Keane - LOVE IT

Hopes and Fears
Keane
Manufacturer: Interscope Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000268QB2
Release Date: 2004-05-25

Tracks:

Somewhere Only We Know
This Is The Last Time
Bend And Break
We Might As Well Be Strangers
Everybody's Changing
Your Eyes Open
She Has No Time
Can't Stop Now
Sunshine
Untitled 1
Bedshaped

Amazon.com

It's perhaps inevitable that Keane's debut album, Hopes and Fears, will draw numerous comparisons to Coldplay. Like them, Keane were discovered by indie label Fierce Panda, who released a single ("Everybody's Changing"). And, like Coldplay, Keane also do a fine trade in catchy and heartfelt indie-pop, all bruised verses and soaring choruses. But though their sound is sure to please fans of Coldplay and Travis, the reality is that Keane manage to sound that little bit more delicate. This could be due to the band's relatively unusual makeup: rather than guitars, the trio uses a piano.

At its best, Hopes and Fears is reminiscent of Bends-era Radiohead, and singer Tom Chaplin's voice is closer to Thom Yorke's falsetto than Chris Martin's cracked whine. On tracks such as the hit single, "Somewhere Only We Know" they manage to squeeze an epic-sounding poignancy from their stripped-down sound (a lot of this is due to the album's superb production). Across 10 tracks, all this slow-burning melancholy skates a bit close to self-indulgence, and you can't help but wish they'd rock out a bit. But Hopes and Fears is still a remarkable and surprisingly mature debut album from a young band with a bright future. --Robert Burrow

Customer Reviews:

One of the best albums of all time "Something we should all know".......2007-07-04

The first time I heard "somewhere only we know", I was blown away as never before. Actually, the last time that happened, I think I was a little kid and "Careless whisper" by George Michael came out!

Anyhow, back to Keane and hopes and fears. Such a solid album with out of this world melodies, lyrics and production and a beautiful voice of Tom the lead singer.
Every song on the album is very special and the album is the longest staying CD on my CD player I think I listened to it endlessly and religiously for nearly 8 months. No wonder it won the most prestegious and most coveted award in England "Best album, BRIT awards" in 2005.

"Somewhere only we know": Keane's best song. A painfully beautiful song with touching lyrics and melodies. It still brings tears to my eyes. They will always be remembered for this and I think it will haunt them to the end of their career as the song they wrote and couldn't out do!! One of my favorite songs of all time.....
"And if you have a minute, why don't we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know
This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go
Somewhere only we know......."
Breaks my heart everytime!!

"This is the last time": A tower of glory. The music is amazing and it just takes you! The cressendo in Tom's voice once again makes my hairs stand and I still have goosebumps all over!!

"Everybody's changing" a massive giant, the essence of keane's flawless beautiful work. It was a massive hit all over Europe.

"Bedshaped"....Many's the time I ran with you down
The rainy roads of our old town
Many the lives we lived in each day
and burried altogether....
Doesn't get any better than this ha!?

"Can't stop now" strong beautiful lyrics and melodies. I relate very much to this song and its strong painful lyrics and soring music go straight to the core of me. It reminded me of one of my best friends who is in Seattle at the moment and I'm sure we share the same sentiments about a town we lived in for a good while!!

"She has no time" Don't even get me started on the painful hurt voice of Tom in this. Very honest and tender!

Won't bore you anymore but I promise you, every song on the album is worth listening to. A very mature yet accessable crafty art work. How many acts do this with their first ever debut release?.

Keane are now up there in my mind and heart with the great legends of music and song. All I can say to them is love and respect.

Amre "The King"

great as an escape.......2007-07-03

I got what i wanted and knew what was on it. It's a great escape cd or something to listen to calm down...

Great singles, great music.......2007-06-27

This is a great album for fans of Coldplay. If you only know their singles and you're thinking of buying the album, it's worth the purchase.

Really like it.......2007-06-25

I got this CD mainly for "Somewhere Only We Know" after hearing Blake Lewis sing it. But I like other songs on this cd too. Band is different than anything here in the US, and I like their way of singing and playing music. I have to say, I like the cd that they made after this one, even better.

Keane - LOVE IT.......2007-05-26

I can listen to this CD over and over again and never get tired of it. Every song is GREAT! It's also a great tape for yoga and pilates workouts.

Average customer rating:

Very different from the original
Hopes for fears

Hopes and Fears
Keane
Manufacturer: Interscope Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0006BGXEK
Release Date: 2004-12-07

Tracks:

Somewhere Only We Know
This Is the Last Time
Bend and Break
We Might as Well Be Strangers
Everybody's Changing
Your Eyes Open
She Has No Time
Can't Stop Now
Sunshine
Bedshaped

Customer Reviews:

Very different from the original.......2007-03-24

This was one of the first SACD surround sound CDs that I got after buying an SACD player. I love the album, Keane is a great band playing wonderful music. The surround sound version appears very different, much less 'direct' in favor of being much more immersive. I played the original CD version side-by-side and switched back and forth and the difference is stunning. My partner agreed that you hear much more details that are not apparent in the original CD. Very well remixed, great experience!

Hopes for fears.......2005-02-10

British mope-rock is alive and well, as Brit-pop trio Keane makes their debut with "Hopes and Fears." Strong, soaring vocals from Tom Chaplin are backed up by some solid piano-based pop and rock. Despite constant comparisons to Radiohead, Travis and Coldplay, Keane shows plenty of promise as a unique new band.

It starts off with a strong piano solo in the quiet "Somewhere Only We Know," followed by a stream of catchy pop like the thoughtful "Everybody's Changing" and the shimmery "Bend And Break," and gossamer ballads like the melancholy "We Might As Well Be Strangers" and soaring "She Has No Time." It wraps up on a strong note with the plaintive "Bedshaped."

If any British band breaks the rock mold, it seems to be labelled as a Radiohead/Coldplay wannabe. On some superficial levels, Keane sounds rather like those bands. But it manages to remain a bit apart, rocking a bit harder and sounding a bit more straightforward and simple. It's hard to truly classify Keane as really being pop -- the lack of guitar and the prevailing piano seem to edge its catchy melodies closer to classical pop.

The first thing to know about Keane is: No guitarist. At all. Ever. Don't let it scare you -- the mix of rippling piano and gentle percussion are enough to make their melodies catchy without electric riffs. At the same time, they take some musical risks. Psychedelic piano-pop? Believe it or not, Keane does that.

Tom Chaplin's vocals are the strongest point of Keane's lineup; his solid, high soars along with the shimmery music. At times his vocals get a bit TOO high, like when he sings the title line of "She Has No Time," but most of the time he manages to sound like a heartbroken guy exorcising his breakup demons. The songs themselves aren't terribly complex or insightful, but they can be quite poignant: "And if you have a minute why don't we go/talk about it somewhere only we know?/This could be the end of everything/so why don't we go/somewhere only we know?"

Keane needs to distance itself more from the other Brit-mope-rock bands before it can blossom into true greatness. But in "Hopes And Fears," they have succeeded in the basics: bringing forth some beautiful, sometimes heartrending music.

Average customer rating:

A tuneful album of well-made songs
Where are the extra tracks?
Thinking outside of the Box
The next Coldplay? I think not...
O simple thing, where have you gone...

Hopes and Fears
Keane
Manufacturer: Umvd Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0001Z2RUK
Release Date: 2004-06-15

Tracks:

Somewhere Only We Know
Bend and Break
We Might as Well Be Strangers
Everybody's Changing
Your Eyes Open
She Has No Time
Can't Stop Now
Sunshine
This Is the Last Time
On a Day Like Today
Bedshaped

Amazon.com

It's perhaps inevitable that Keane's debut album, Hopes and Fears, will draw numerous comparisons to Coldplay. Like them, Keane were discovered by indie label Fierce Panda, who released a single ("Everybody's Changing"). And, like Coldplay, Keane also do a fine trade in catchy and heartfelt indie-pop, all bruised verses and soaring choruses. But though their sound is sure to please fans of Coldplay and Travis, the reality is that Keane manage to sound that little bit more delicate. This could be down to the band's relatively unusual make-up: rather than guitars, the trio use a piano.

At its best, Hopes and Fears is reminiscent of Bends-era Radiohead and singer Tom Chaplin's voice is closer to Thom Yorke's falsetto than Chris Martin's cracked whine. On tracks such as the hit single "Somewhere Only We Know," they manage to squeeze an epic-sounding poignancy from their stripped-down sound (a lot of this is due to the album's superb production). Across 12 tracks, all this slow-burning melancholy skates a bit close to self-indulgence and you can't help but wish they'd rock out a bit. But Hopes and Fears is still a remarkable and surprisingly mature debut album from a young band with a bright future. --Robert Burrow

Customer Reviews:

A tuneful album of well-made songs.......2007-02-16

I would like to plug this 2004 CD by British band Keane: Hopes And Fears. It is a tuneful album of well-made songs enlivened by the distictive melodic voice of singer Tom Chaplin, augmented by a very well-produced instrumental sound. The overall effect of these 11 songs is entrancing and enjoyable. I particularly like the song This Is The Last Time, and was moved to buy this CD by lead single Somewhere Only I Know, which I only heard once and immediately liked. Unlike other bands in the 80s and 90s that I discovered by radio, I learned about Keane via DVD footage of them on UK TV and MTV exposure, so I am unsure how successful they are or if they have been out touring. I haven't heard any other records by them as yet.

I'm giving this one 4 stars.
Recommended

Where are the extra tracks?.......2007-01-19

Keane is my most favorite band. I bought this CD thinking that there were extra tracks on it but there aren't any. It's exactly the same as the US release version. This was a disappointment to say the least.

Thinking outside of the Box.......2006-08-16

Keane has captured the abilities of the piano, and used them to produce a sound that few come close to. They step outside of the box to bring a new sound into the world. Their lyrics seem to tell a story or paint a picture in your mind. Their music is inspiring and uplifting. Keane will spread like a wildfire to those who enjoy good music!

The next Coldplay? I think not..........2006-04-30

...Because they are in a league of their own. Here's what Keane and Coldplay have in common:
1.They're British
2.They use pianos
The comparisons end there. Keane have caught and conquered many ears in the short time that their music has been played on the radio, and if you own any of the ears that have been caught and are debating as to whether or not to buy this album, do not hesitate any longer, and buy it. I debated with myself when I was at the music store, not sure if I should buy it or not. Now, when I look back on that day, I shake my head and scold myself.

Keane have been targeted by various sources as Coldplay imitations, as well as the next big thing, and thankfully the latter seems to have prevailed. I don't know very many people who listen to Keane (or, I should say, people who listen to Keane and are dying to tell everyone else about them), but since they have opened concerts for huge named like U2, you learn that all of these fans are somewhat hiding undercover. But yes, about the album.

Hopes and Fears is, in my opinion, brilliant. Listening to this, I do not consider my 45 minutes worth of time wasted. I bought this CD after hearing "Somewhere Only We Know" on the radio, once. I wrote down the name and bought it a few weeks later. So, here are my opinions on the songs:
1.Somewhere Only We Know: This is, and will possibly always be, my favorite song out of everything I have ever listened to. When you first play this song, you've got to be careful about what level you've got the volume set at, because it starts with pianist Tim Rice-Oxley pounding mercilessly and beautifully on the piano, accompanied by drummer Richard Hughes bashing on the drums, then calm, as Rice-Oxley calms and vocalist Tom Chaplin starts to sing. Now, I may be a little biased here, seeing as this is the first CD that I've purchased and been able to `understand', but Chaplin's voice is the most amazing thing that I have ever heard. As he first sings, "I walked across an empty land..." you seem to calm, and after this stanza is sung, the drums pick up again and the song regains some strength, discreetly hinting that it will grow quickly. As you reach the "And if you have a minute why don't we go..." part, you can tell that Chaplin seems to be holding himself back, as to the amount of power he's putting into the song, and only until the last 20 seconds or so does he calm again. A song allowed to be played at high volumes.
2.This Is The Last Time: My first listen of this, I wasn't particularly dazzled, and only after many listenings of this song have I truly warmed up to it.
3.Bend and Break: Personally, I seemed to think that Bend and Break sounded a bit too much like TITLT, but have come to discover many small differences. Another play-loudly song.
4.We Might As Well Be Strangers: The first solidly depressing song on the album, Strangers is lovely, despite its bitter message. The song's musical attitude is like a couple on the brink of being finished, starting out as just sad, then gaining a sort of anger at the second playing of the chorus, and then the dam breaks, all of the tears and fury breaking out at once. Then, depleted of power, the song ends as it started, but with a touch of more sorrow.
5.Everybody's Changing: A perfectly placed song after Strangers. I've never really cared all that much for this song, but still enjoy it whenever I hear it.
6.Your Eyes Open: Immediately catchy, and its story is quickly laid out, although its emotions are not easily marked. A great display of Chaplin's vocals. If you've got a connection with the song or just really like it, his vocals will tear almost painfully at your heartstrings. My third favorite song on the album.
7.She Has No Time: The longest song on the album, She Has No Time is the best example of what Chaplin's voice can really do. His high-flying, faultless falsetto laments over love not shown back, in singing "She says she has no time for you now", and it being a personal experience for him, can easily sing his heart out.
8.Can't Stop Now: A terribly good song. When I went to see Keane in concert, they opened with this song, and since then cannot help but smile when I hear the starting drums. It's a catchy, lively song about loving someone, but still want to keep on moving ("Well I know I said I'd wait around till you need me, but I have to go, I hate to let you down"). Yet another play-loud song.
9.Sunshine: Out of all of the songs on Hopes and Fears, Sunshine seems to be the only song that is (mostly) calm as well as optimistic. Starting out, it sounds as if it will be a lullaby-ish song, and it pretty much is, but it gets a little louder as it continues. A very peaceful and calming song.
10.Untitled 1: If any song had to be removed from the album, I'd have to choose this one. I don't dislike it, not at all, but it's the most out of place song on here. It seems to be a testing of what they can do, or rather what they could do as well as how far they were willing to go. The song, in its combination of both music and lyrics is quite mysterious, painted out in darker shades, but stunning nonetheless.
11.Bedshaped: If ever there was a better finale track, I have yet to hear it. Bedshaped, it's sort of difficult to explain, I suppose. Whenever I'm listening to all of my music on shuffle, whenever I hear the start of this song, I pause, let it wash over me. It starts out with this softly rising music effect (I still don't know what it is) until soft piano and drums start up, soon followed by Chaplin's singing, its highest yet. It's like that for about the first half of the song, but it's the choruses that hold the song's power. By the second playing of the first part of the chorus, "Don't laugh at me/ Don't look away...", you can detect the faintest waiver in his voice, as if he had just before broken down into tears but got back up from the ground and started to fight back. The last stretch of music before the last verse is played, if you are listening, really listening to the song and have been pulled into its spell, all of the shivers in the music will just tear at your heart. And if the song has also pulled you into a sorrowful trance, the song ends in the same way that it started, with the music effect fluttering and fading upwards in an optimistic tone. On the right day, this becomes my favorite song.

But, if you are in a music store, threatening to buy it but see another copy of Hopes and Fears with extra tracks, an import, buy it. Here's why:

12.Snowed Under: A track intended to be on the original Hopes and Fears, Snowed Under is a terribly catchy song, telling you to not let anything pile up on top of you and not get snowed under with anything anyone says to you. Fun to listen to on rainy days ("You know sometimes I feel like I'm/ Getting snowed under with the things you say/ When I open my eyes and its a lovely day").
13.Walnut Tree: I first heard a 30 second preview of this song on a fan site and bought it from a free download. Oddly enough, not too soon before I first heard this song, I had written a poem about waiting under a tree and couldn't help but laugh when I found this one. Walnut Tree is another lullaby-ish song, a calm, quiet and steady rhythm, very relaxing.
14.We Might As Well Be Strangers - DJ Shadow Remix: I really dislike this version of the song. It ruins an already great song.
15.Allemande: Another peaceful song, with only vocals and simple piano playing. This isn't the best recording that I've heard though. The live version is much better.
16.To The End Of The Earth: My third favorite Keane song. Before I got this particular copy, I had not yet heard the song, but read its lyrics over and over and could only dwell on those. After hearing the song, I could not stop singing it to myself, no matter how bad I sounded. Despite how obvious the lyrics may seem, I still don't know the song's exact meaning, but I love it all the same.

Before I bought this CD, I knew nothing of music, nothing. I had heard of various band names and such, but I couldn't identify who sung what. I couldn't even identify Coldplay. Now, thankfully, my knowledge has drastically increased, and without Hopes and Fears, I wouldn't be the person I am today. I bought this a little over a year ago, and my CD collection has greatly increased since then, with most of them being similar to Keane. But Hopes and Fears? Absolute brilliance.

O simple thing, where have you gone..........2006-04-02

Let me introduce myself. I like a large variety of music, but my favourite genres are thrash and progressive metal. I even range as far as melodeath (melodic death metal - and no its not a contradiction in terms). So why am I reviewing a Keane album for 4 stars?! Because I can appreciate things outside of my spectrum.
That Tom fellow has such a gorgeous voice. He casts such heartfelt emotion on the key tracks (1, 2, 4, 7, 12) that it's quite beautiful to hear. If I've been spending a lot of time listening to heavy RAAWWWR metal, and maybe I just want to lay back in bed and be at peace, then I may well listen to some Keane.
I may just say now, I don't care for Coldplay comparisons. I don't like Coldplay, and they are NOTHING like Keane. In my honoured opinion, Keane don't try to be something they're not (rock), and any guitars used would probably ruin the music (unless it was tastefully done and not all written in flats like Coldplay which makes it all sound the same and whiny). Keane isn't whiny at all, it's tranquil. It's not music led, it's voice led, and if you're listening to this for the music primarily than you may be disappointed. If you don't find Tom's voice enchanting then you should probably look elsewhere.
That said, this isn't perfect. The other tracks are a bit too bland to really hold my attention.
But Tom's voice... bless him. The first track is definitely the best. Everything just fits sweetly.
Now all that we need is for Tom to join a thrash metal band! Wahey..

Average customer rating:

Hopes & Fears
The Art Bears
Manufacturer: Rer
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Post-Punk | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Sort of...
Desperate Straights

ASIN: B0006ZILN2
Release Date: 2005-02-08

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On Suicide
The Dividing Line
Joan
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The Tube
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Product Description

The first Art Bears LP, mostly made by the band formerly known as Henry Cow and completed by Fred Frith, Chris Cutler and Dagmar Krause, who went on as Art Bears to investigate this short song format further in the next two years, after Henry Cow ceased to exist. Experimenting with the song form and the productive possibilities of the recording studio, this was hailed in its time (1978) as a landmark recording, and has been constantly in demand ever since. Therefore this new version, re-mastered to current standards and sounding for the first time like the original tapes. Repackaged.

Average customer rating:

ISSUE RESOLVED ON THE EUPHRATES
Enjoiyable, but lacking, too.

Handel: Belshazzar

Manufacturer: Archiv Produktion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Minuets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Handel: Solomon

ASIN: B0001ZWGHY
Release Date: 2004-06-15

Tracks:

Overture
Vain, Fluctuating State Of Human Empire!
Thou, God Most High, And Thou Alone
The Fate Of Babylon, I Fear, Is Nigh
Lament Not Thus, Oh Queen, In Vain!
Behold, By Persia's Hero Made
Well May They Laugh/Oh Memory! Still Bitter To My Soul
Opprest With Never-Ceasing Grief
Dry Thoes Unavailing Tears
Be Comforted: Safe Though The Tyrant Seem/Methought, As On The Bank Of Deep Euphrates
Now, Tell Me, Gobrias
Behold The Monstrous Human Beast
Can You Then Think It Strange
Great God! Who, Yet But Darkly Known
My Friends, Be Confident
All Empires Upon God Depend
Oh Sacred Oracles Of Truth!
Rejoyce, My Countrymen
Sing, Oh Ye Heav'ns!

Tracks:

Let Festal Joy Triumphant Reign!
For You, My Friends
The Leafy Honours Of The Field
It Is The Custom, I May Say, The Law
Recall, Oh King! Thy Rash Command
They Tell You True
Oh Dearer Than My Life, Forebear!
By Slow Degrees The Wrath Of God
See, From His Post Euphrates Flies!
You See, My Friends, A Path
Amaz'd To Find The Foe So Near
To Arms, To Arms! No More Delay!
Ye Tutelar Gods Of Our Empire
Let The Deep Bowl Thy Praise Confess
Where Is The God Of Judah's Boasted Pow'r?
Call All My Wise Men

Tracks:

A Singony (Allegro Postillions)
Ye Sages! Welcome Always To Your King/Alas! Too Hard A Task The King Imposes
Oh Misery! - Oh Terror! - Hopeless Grief!
Oh King, Live For Ever!
No! To Thyself Thy Trifles Be
Yet, To Obey His Dread Command
Oh Sentence To Severe!
Oh God Of Truth! Oh Faithful Guide!
You, Gobrias, Lead Directly To The Palace
Oh Glorious Prince!
Alternate Hopes And Fears
Fain Would I Hope
Can The Black Aethiop Change His Skin?
My Hopes Revive
Bel Boweth Down!
I Thank, Thee, Sesach
A Martial Symphony
To Pow'e Immortal My First Thanks
Be It Thy Care, Good Gobrias
Great Victor, At Your Feet I Bow
Say, Venerable Prophet
Tell It Out Among The Heathen
Yes, I Will Build Thy City
I Will Magnify Thee

Customer Reviews:

ISSUE RESOLVED ON THE EUPHRATES.......2005-06-19

One question I might find among the more difficult in my life would be - which is my favourite Handel oratorio? I suspect that my answer would generally be 'the one I heard most recently', and that, as I write this, is Belshazzar. It is a magnificent thing, a heavenly thing. It has taken me longer than it should have to come to an appreciation of what makes Handel the phenomenon - as a genius, as an artist, as a craftsman - that he is, but I am comforted to reflect that no less a genius than Haydn, at the age of nearly 70 gaining a more thorough knowledge of Handel in performance, was driven to say that he felt a mere apprentice. In his sense of how to pace a dramatic narrative, in his instinct for how to use the human voice in song and above all in chorus, in the matchless flexibility and adroitness he displays at word-setting and in the audacity of his melodic and harmonic effects I can think of nobody who can approach Handel on his own terms.

Belshazzar was not a great success at the box-office, although this may have had more to do with difficulties in the casting than because it was deemed insufficiently biblical for oratorio, which seems to have been the fate of Hercules. It seems to me to be perfectly well described as oratorio in other ways too, with (for one thing) the extensive use of the chorus that we find in, say, Samson but not in Hercules. The one passage that cries out for visual effects is of course the apparition of the moving finger itself. Even here the composer can go a long way with sheer power of suggestion, by the strange unaccompanied violin figure creeping upwards and the frightened brevity of the vocal numbers. Otherwise for me Belshazzar is as much an oratorio as Samson is. It has the same librettist too, the crusty and formidable Jennens, who had also collaborated with Handel on Saul and on Messiah itself. Jennens' full text is not provided, but I think if you read the synopsis first and then follow the work from the headlines to each number you will have no difficulty in catching the words, so clear is the enunciation by soloists and chorus alike. As usual, Handel was driven to make alterations to the score for practical reasons. He had been a little concerned about its length, roughly 2 hours and 50 minutes in this performance, but where he wishes to be expansive he gives us full measure - two arias in Act I scene 4 take well over 7 minutes each. The liner-essay (a good one, by Anthony Hicks) goes into the issue of the version of the score used here, and I personally have no problem with it.

I have no faults to find with the performance in any way. Pinnock is an established specialist, the instruments are period instruments and vocal cadenzas at the end of the arias are kept minimal. Anthony Rolfe Johnson, James Bowman and David Wilson-Johnson are tried and trusted Handel singers and at their best here, and Nicolas Robertson and Richard Wistreich in the smaller parts are every bit as good. The part of Cyrus is a soprano part, taken by Catherine Robbin, and when I thought I heard just one touch of strain in `Destructive War' in the final scene she makes up for it instantly in her superb duet with Arleen Auger in the following number. Auger as Nitocris the mother of Belshazzar has the biggest part, and she covers herself with glory all the way through.

The recording is perfect, and when I saw an aria entitled `Destructive War, thy limits know' near the end I felt a sharp sense of irony in the year 2005. Cyrus, Handel, Jennens, you should all have been living at this hour.

Enjoiyable, but lacking, too........2004-08-16

This 3CD set of George Frederic Handel's (1685-1759) "Belshazzar", from Archiv Production, a division of Universal Music, is proof again that transfer from vinyl to tape to disc brings with it improvements in listening that make the purchase a worthwhile addition to anyone's listening library. Written in 1744, "Belshazzar" is an oratorio in the operatic style that is wonderful oratorio, but lacking the true depth one expects to hear in an opera. London opera audiences of Handel's day agreed, as both "Belshazzar" and Handel's other offering of the period in the same style, "Hercules", were not terribly successful. Instead of the scheduled 24 performances only 16 were given and Handel never offered a full season of oratorio again. The Libretto by Charles Jennens (1700-1773) is, as the production notes say, meant "not only to show the fall of Babylon but to show it as a fulfillment of divine prediction and to confirm the biblical testimony by reference to classical history." There's only one problem, as good a quality as the CDs are, it is not possible to follow the full libretto and the accompanying booklet includes no text, which is a shame. I think the listening experience would have been increased immeasurably if one was able to follow the text of what is being sung. Nonetheless the dramatic narrative is fluid and even, and the English Concert and Choir provide nice balance to the less full vocal passages, as in Disc 3s "Oh Glorious prince", cut 10. There is enough of this throughout to keep one's interest, but disappointing if what one expects is another ""Messiah".

Average customer rating:

This CD is the best. EVERYONE who likes ska should buy it!

Club of Hopes & Fears
Bradford O'Sullivan
Manufacturer: Ska Satellite
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Ska General | Ska | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Family Fun Night
Tasty Bits & Spicy Flicks
Record of Convictions
Transitions
Second Hand

ASIN: B000006NXY
Release Date: 1999-05-18

Tracks:

Neighborhood Song
Whatcha Hear About That?
Hey Officer
Running On
I Know What I'm Gonna Do
Club of Hopes and Fears
When My Heart Was New
I Gotta Do It (Someday)
Night Sky's Turning Blue
When the Snake Gets His Way
Decade Revival Song
Winter Storm Warning

Customer Reviews:

This CD is the best. EVERYONE who likes ska should buy it!.......1999-06-17

this is a grand old cd and Buford O'sullivan is one of the coolest people I ever met.So buy the cd!

Average customer rating:

Hopes for "Fears"

Hopes and Fears
Keane
Manufacturer: Universal/Island
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Britpop | British Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00029CWRS
Release Date: 2004-06-07

Tracks:

Somewhere Only We Know
Bend and Break
We Might as Well Be Strangers
Everybody's Changing
Your Eyes Open
She Has No Time
Can't Stop Now
Sunshine
This Is the Last Time
On a Day Like Today
Bedshaped

Album Details

Keane Are the Sussex 3-piece that have Got Everyone Talking. Their First Single for Island Records 'somewhere Only We Know' Turned Many Heads. The Follow-up Single 'everybody's Changing' Turned Even More. And Famously, They have No Guitars. "Keane Make Gorgeous, Melodic, Melancholic Music that is Stuffed with Catchy, Soaring Choruses. Chaplin Has a Powerful, Passionate Voice and He Has Indie Pin-up Potential" ---the Times. Just Listen!

Customer Reviews:

Hopes for "Fears".......2005-02-23

Average customer rating:

Hopes for "Fears"

Hopes and Fears
Keane
Manufacturer: Universal International
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Britpop | British Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000A2GVA6
Release Date: 2005-05-10

Tracks:

Somewhere Only We Know
This Is the Last Time
Bend and Break
We Might as Well Be Strangers
Everybody's Changing
Your Eyes Open
She Has No Time
Can't Stop Now
Sunshine
Bedshaped
Snowed Under [*]
We Might as Well Be Strangers [DJ Shadow Remix][*]

Tracks:

Somewhere Only We Know [DVD][Instrumental]
Somewhere Only We Know [DVD][Version]
Everybody's Changing [DVD]
Bedshaped [DVD]
This Is the Last Time [DVD]

Album Description

International edition of Keane's debut album featuring five bonus tracks: 'Snowed Under', 'Walnut Tree', 'We Might As Well Be Strangers' (DJ Shadow Remix), 'Allemande' and 'To The End Of The Earth'. Interscope.

Customer Reviews:

Hopes for "Fears".......2005-09-09

Average customer rating:

a must have album
Wow!
Keane is best Pop Bang for the buck.
One of the Best bands out there!!!
Love this! LOVE KEANE!

Hopes and Fears
Keane
Manufacturer: Interscope Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Britpop | British Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Final Straw
Under the Iron Sea
Strangers
The Girl in the Other Room
Live Recordings 2004

ASIN: B0006FFRVG
Release Date: 2004-12-07

Tracks:

Somewhere Only We Know
This Is The Last Time
Bend And Break
We Might As Well Be Strangers
Everybody's Changing
Your Eyes Open
She Has No Time
Can't Stop Now
Sunshine
Untitled 1
Bedshaped

Customer Reviews:

a must have album.......2005-12-16

Somepeople tend to compare KEANE with Coldplay. I could say KEANE is somehow inspired by Coldplay but in no way it is a B class Coldplay. This is a masterpiece debut wich contains some songs that qualifies as perfect 4 minute pop songs such as Somewhere Only We Know and Everybody's Changing. A interesting fact is that in this album there are NO GUITAR. With is great because I rather have an excellent piano playing all over than a mediocre guitar as a merely filler. The voice is so fine, so polished, so relaxing that this is a perfect album to listen to while driving, while spending time with your significant other, in the pre sleep hours or in the first hours of the morning. It will certainly lift up your mood. Oh, and by the way relaxed and polished in now way means cliche or cheesy.

Wow!.......2005-11-04

the 5.1 mix is fantastic! thanks for releasing this most excellent album with a 5.1 mix! highly recommended!

Keane is best Pop Bang for the buck........2005-10-16

Keane has got to be the best band to come along in years, if you love brilliant pop music (esp. of the UK variety). Keane songs are indeed brilliant.

Every track on this record is amazing. Most are upbeat, but even the slower ones stick in your head.

I hope this band writes more stuff FAST. And how about a concert DVD or two? If you haven't heard them live yet...they're even better!

BTW, I haven't had a single problem backing up a Dualdisc yet. I like to back up all my CD's so I don't have to worry about scratching them, etc, and store the originals in a safe place. I've backed up both the CD and DVD sides of my Dualdiscs on recordable CD/DVD's no problem. I'm a Mac/OSX user, though, so I'm able to back up even copy-protected CD's without issue too. Can't speak for windows OS.

One of the Best bands out there!!! .......2005-08-16

I fell in love with this music in the first 5 seconds of the first song I heard. In one sense it is alot like Coldplay but it also has it's own unique sound and style. I have listened to each song hundreds of times and I will never get tired of it! Their music is wonderful and the lyrics are so amazing! If you like Coldplay you will love Keane.

Love this! LOVE KEANE!.......2005-08-05

I really love KEANE and Hopes and Fears, and the enhanced version is really cool. I love it because you actually get to see the music videos. There is MUCH to see on this Duel-disc! I highly recommend purchasing this, and the second album once it's released in 2006. Keane is the best thing that's ever happened to me, their music will change your life.