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[Meier]

Album Info

Strangeland is the upcoming fourth studio album by English alternative rock band Keane. It will be released on 7 May 2012. It is their first full length album since Perfect Symmetry (2008). The album's name and track listing were revealed in late February 2012.

Keane began working on demo tracks for Strangeland in 2010. In May 2011 the band met up with English producer Dan Grech-Marguerat, who according to Tim Rice-Oxley is "a massive Keane fan". The producer said the band wanted to "[go] back to the songwriting of their first two albums", while making an album that sounded "rich and simpler". According to Rice-Oxley, the album is inspired by the The Vaccines' album What Did You Expect from the Vaccines? (2011), which was produced by Grech-Marguerat: "We loved what Dan Grech did on The Vaccines album. It had just come out. He'd also done stuff with Radiohead and produced the second Howling Bells album, which I loved."

News

TWO WEEKS UNTIL STRANGELAND - PREVIEW THE ALBUM ON OUR PLAYER

It's now just two weeks until Strangeland's May 7th release (May 8th in the U.S.). If you'd like to preview all of the album's songs on the official site via our interactive player, then just click here (and then let us know your favourites in the comments).

http://www.keanemusic.com/archive-comment.php?rnd=xIp+RX93IM9HkpVtiWCgO1ef0m8vKcWFmbfxv7Jm0Bo=
http://soundcloud.com/igamusic/sets/keane-strangeland/

Meier's Musings
I personally loved Perfect Symmetry although I do prefer Under the Iron Sea. For me, Hopes and Fears is actually their "worst" album although I use that term very loosely since I think it's fantastic just the same. The album is out on the 8th here in the States and I can't wait! The band released the video for Silenced by the Night on April 4th -- I will update links to additional tracks as they're available.

Track Listing

1. "You Are Young" 3:34
2. "Silenced by the Night" 3:16
3. "Disconnected" 3:57 (video may be NSFW)
4. "Watch How You Go" 3:40
5. "Sovereign Light Café" 3:38
6. "On the Road" 3:56
7. "The Starting Line" 4:12
8. "Black Rain" 3:46
9. "Neon River" 4:52
10. "Day Will Come" 3:11
11. "In Your Own Time" 3:43
12. "Sea Fog" 3:23
    ---
13. "Strangeland"
14. "Run With Me"
15. "The Boys"
16. "It's Not True"

Purchase Links
Amazon

- Standard: http://amzn.com/B007Y1ARLA (MP3), http://amzn.com/B007FOH7UU (CD), http://amzn.com/B007CVZE38 (Vinyl)
Amazon

- Deluxe: (MP3 forthcoming), http://amzn.com/B007EC6FIS (Physical)
Amazon

- Standard: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007W5WRM0/ (MP3), http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007CVZDQG/ (CD), http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007CVZE38/ (Vinyl)
Amazon

- Deluxe: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007W4KWKA/ (MP3), http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007CVZDXE/ (CD), http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007CVZE0Q/ (Deluxe Hardback Book Box Set)

Links
Strangeland Wikipedia Entry
Keane - Perfect Symmetry (GAF thread)
Keane - Under the Iron Sea (GAF thread)
Keane last.fm Entry

 

[Meier]

Added the (somewhat NSFW) music video for Disconnected to the OP. The video was inspired by classic Italian slasher flicks and is directed by Juan Antonio Bayonara who is best known as the director of The Orphanage. I would classify the song as good but not great.. might grow on me though.

Still no Amazon MP3 preorder page oddly enough.

 

[Meier]

An Evening With Keane: Watch the Event Streamed Live

This Friday, April 27 at 7.30 pm you can watch a very special Evening With Keane streamed live.

That's right, the mighty Keane are back with a new album, Strangeland, and we are very excited to announce an extremely special event. At 7.30pm on Friday, April 27 at the Platform Theatre, Central St Martin’s College in London, the all-round superstars will take part in a Q&A session (hosted by music journalist extraordinaire Pete Paphides), followed by a live set showcasing tunes new and old.

The even more exciting news is that we are teaming up with our friends at LOVEFiLM to stream the entire event live. So even those not lucky enough to win tickets in our prize draw* will be able to share in this special evening. Check this page on Friday for details on how to view the live stream.

We'll also be taking questions for the band on our Amazon UK Music Twitter and Facebook accounts, so make sure you tune in to see if yours gets asked. We'll announce more details about how to get involved very soon, so watch this space.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/feature.html/?docId=1000622963

The Keane website describes it as, "a 30 minute Q&A, followed by a 30 minute live show." Here is the link to figure out what time that translates to for those outside the UK: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclo...+webcast+with+Amazon&iso=20120427T1930&p1=136

 

[Hot Coldman]

I suuuuuuure hope it's better than Night Train. :lol

I agree with you, Meier, Under the Iron Sea is probably their best (I love the video for Crystal Ball something fierce), but Perfect Symmetry just bores me now. I hope it's got the staying power of the former; either way, I'll give it a listen. (Thanks for the thread, didn't hear about this anywhere)

 

[Meier]

I suuuuuuure hope it's better than Night Train. :lol

I agree with you, Meier, Under the Iron Sea is probably their best (I love the video for Crystal Ball something fierce), but Perfect Symmetry just bores me now. I hope it's got the staying power of the former; either way, I'll give it a listen. (Thanks for the thread, didn't hear about this anywhere)

I like to just think Night Train doesn't exist. Since it was only an EP and not an actual LP, we can just ignore it, right?

I think Perfect Symmetry can be classified as a bit of love it or hate it since it's so far removed from their other stuff. It really clicks for me though.

 

[Hot Coldman]

I did like Perfect Symmetry, but it got a bit bland after listening to it for a fair bit. I didn't mind the poppier direction, I think they pulled it off well, but it made for a bit more disposable album I think. And Spiralling just gets on my tits now.

I like Silenced by the Night. Promising!

 

[MrHicks]

keane > coldplay

 

[Hoo-doo]

I used to really love Keane, but the direction they took with Perfect Symmetry didn't really strike a chord with me.
It had some great tracks, but it didn't stick. I kind of forgot about the band after that.

Hopes and Fears is my favorite album, and I really loved Under the Iron Sea as well.

Let's hope it's a bit of a "return to form", so to say.

 

[MrHicks]

silenced by the night is great
lets hope the rest of the album is like that

 

[Hot Coldman]

keane > coldplay

 

[BruiserBear]

I like the new song, but I'm not sure if this band is ever going to surpass Under the Iron Sea.

 

[Meier]

I'll add this to the OP but they've updated their website with clips from each song.. I'm in the middle of an album right now but will give the tracks a whirl when it's done.

TWO WEEKS UNTIL STRANGELAND - PREVIEW THE ALBUM ON OUR PLAYER

It's now just two weeks until Strangeland's May 7th release (May 8th in the U.S.). If you'd like to preview all of the album's songs on the official site via our interactive player, then just click here (and then let us know your favourites in the comments).

http://www.keanemusic.com/archive-comment.php?rnd=xIp+RX93IM9HkpVtiWCgO1ef0m8vKcWFmbfxv7Jm0Bo=

 

[mrkgoo]

Keane is one of my favourite bands, but while I like Silenced by the night, it sounds so similar to the first two albums. I mean, might be great, but then, maybe I'll just listen to those?

 

[Exterminieren]

keane > coldplay

This guy.

This guy right here.

 

[Meier]

Ah ha, I was able to find the original source for the files on the site. Here's the full clips listing: http://soundcloud.com/igamusic/sets/keane-strangeland/

My first impression is a little so-so to be quite honest. I think it's always hard to fully judge a song based off a random 90 second clip though so I'm still hopeful that I'll enjoy the final product. I think their first 3 albums are masterpieces personally.

 

[Meier]

The album is out today in Europe. It leaked but I haven't listened to it yet since I pretty much only listen to stuff via rdio these days. Amazon UK links added to the OP.. looks like the standard version is available for £4.99.

 

[mrkgoo]

Keane is one of my favourite bands, but while I like Silenced by the night, it sounds so similar to the first two albums. I mean, might be great, but then, maybe I'll just listen to those?

I just bought this and listening to it - I'm loving it so far! So I take it back - I find it a welcome return to form.

 

[linsivvi]

The 2 singles sound promising, at least no more of that Night Train nonsense. Will check out the album today.

 

[Truant]

Why does people hate Night Train?

 

[linsivvi]

Because it sucks.

 

[so1337]

"Day Will Come" is the song that really stands out, I think. Didn't expect this kind of sound from Keane. The rest of the album is fairly predictable but well done.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

Really liked Under the Iron Sea. If their new one is anything like that I'd be happy.

 

[AwesomeSauce]

I like Keane. Saw that this album is up on Spotify so I'll give it a spin.

 

[mrkgoo]

I love "Strangeland"from the Deluxe edition.

 

[Meier]

I love "Strangeland"from the Deluxe edition.

It's a solid track -- very odd that they left the titular song off the standard version of the album. I've listened to it a number of times now and ultimately it left me disappointed. The first 3 albums are amongst my favorite releases of their respective years but this one came across as just a bit too safe and ultimately "blah" for me.

The two singles are fantastic and there are some very good songs peppered throughout, but they're not grabbing me. They're mostly just kind of there..