The Black Nail

Just one week after attempting to curb my addiction to the new Oasis album, ‘Dig Out Your Soul’, Keane places another ‘hit’ of what I crave right in front of me.

I accept.

Sticking it deep in my veins. 

Let me retrace my steps. Last week in full anticipation I was finally able to legally consume the new Oasis. Upon playing the full album I felt a throwback to my year as a bumbling college freshman… when I first gave in and began full consumption of GOOD music. ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?’ had just been released that October and a dirty brace-faced guitar playing kid across the hall was spinning it and spinning it loud. I peaked my head in and said, “What is that?!?” Like a kid at Disneyland looking in on Space Mountain. He let me sit a spell and take in the whole album. For the first time I felt like I had to have something to survive. 

It was all downhill from there. 

Later on my newly acquired dorm mate and I “performed” a cover of ‘Wonderwall’ to the masses at an event they called Harvestfest. And since then ‘Wonderwall’ has been covered more times than the moon has orbited the earth.

That was my first glimpse at making a cover unique yet not destroying it. I was amazed that people could actually cover songs and get away with it. And now people are famous solely for the cover they sang, what a trip.

Leave yesteryear and travel forward with me.

‘Dig Out Your Soul’ carries with it small glances back at what originally brought them to the front of the lunch line in 1995. Lyrically reaching backwards with lines like, “revolution in her head”. Their love/influence of The Beatles goes beyond evident with this album. If it were a crime they’d be locked away for certain. On ‘(Get Off Your) HIgh Horse Lady’ the “stomp – clap” doesn’t even sound re-recorded, yet ripped from the hard-drives at Abbey Road; mirroring that of ‘Give Peace a Chance’. ‘The Turning’ leaves us with ‘Dear Prudence’ leaking out the backside. And even the ghost of John Lennon speaks to us under the romantic serenade ‘I’m Outta Time’. Do I agree with using these tricks on songs? Absolutely. It relates and connects. It also shows your audience where you came from and what influences you. And lastly it pays homage to those who tread before you. However, this trick bag should have a warning label printed on the front, “Everything in moderation”.

Thus far ‘Falling Down’ is the most infectious track on the album, ask those around me, I can’t stop singing the hook, “It’s time to kiss the world goodbye…” It has nested itself in my head, and put pictures of us together on the walls. 

I must say, with hesitation, a few times while listening through the album certain elements sonically brought me back to the dcTalk ‘Jesus Freak’ album. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Be it the production or pieces of the harmonies. Maybe Liam has the freaks on his iPod and subconsciously made a connection. 

My daily-dose prescriptions for this album: ‘Falling Down’, ‘I’m Outta Time’, ‘To Be Where There’s Life’, ‘Ain’t Got Nothin’ and ‘Bag It Up’. The pre-order was delivered with a Chemical Brothers cut of ‘Falling Down’. It is marvelous. A perfect song for annoying drivers on either side of you at a red light. The louder it is the better it sounds. 

As is true with most earthlings, I love it when I can put on an album and let it play from start to finish- living in complete satisfaction. 

This is one of those albums. 

Take a breath we aren’t done yet. There is no other way to transition from Oasis to Keane but to tell another story.

The year was 2004. My blood, music, had been ripped from my person the year prior. I had become so consumed with trying to provide happiness for another in my life that I had begun to bleed out and all but lose what was truly me. A friend of mine had slipped me the debut Keane album ‘Hopes & Fears’. Not many stateside had heard of this act. Keane had begun to receive major attention across the pond. But not here. 

I first let the record spin in my car on the way to work a mundane ‘pay for the white-picket fence’ job. I remember feeling a small jolt of joy leap within. My heart beat again. And it was all because of music. Before I arrived ‘We Might As Well Be Strangers’ began. I recall weeping uncontrollably. No one had reached out to touch me in a very long time. I was at a place in my life where what I thought was going to be, was the complete opposite. 

This song moved me. 

It was a small glimpse that I could feel… something. It was the perfect soundtrack piece for that span of my life. It spoke loudly what I was living. 

Since that moment Keane had become a part of my catalogue of music necessary for survival.

To date. 

Early this morning (1am) I received my pre-order of ‘Perfect Symmetry’. I have slept little and listened much. To some it highly seems logical to skip sleep to listen to music. 

I am not part of that ‘some’. 

As always, my first listen through was spent stripping down my opinions of what I thought the album should sound like. Then I repented and partook again with fresh baby ears embracing the newness for what the artist intended, not what I intended. 

Upon second listen I was buying what Keane was selling, even though I already ‘bought’ it.

Knowing that Tom Chaplin (Keane front man) had openly admitted his addiction to cocaine and alcohol, and had sought treatment, I was already thinking, “What will this sound like without that heavy of an influence on the creative process?” I have not stripped apart all of the lyrics yet. At a glance it seems that they steered from this subject matter and moved to a more global approach, as that of U2. (There are a few subtle phrases hinting at starting anew.) These are definitely the type of songs that could be heard in arenas across the world being bellowed by faithful fans. 

Stylistically ‘Perfect Symmetry’ doesn’t stray all too far from the standard Keane sound, hints at Coldplay’s piano ballads and U2′s anthem rock still exist. As the first track plays you definitely feel the heavy influence of 80′s pop. By the end of the song all I could hear was that obnoxious voice from the Talking Heads saying, “This is not my beautiful wife!” A few times during listen I wondered if the mix engineer forgot to un-mute the piano track. You can never have enough piano fellas, your Keane remember? As the song ‘Playing Along’ comes to a close I swore I heard Jeff Buckley’s voice wailing behind the fuzz. 

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has seen, heard or read anything I’ve done that one of my favourite tunes on the album would be sappy and hopelessly romantic in nature. That track would be ‘Love is the End.’ I mean come one, there are strings and everything. 

I purchased the digital Deluxe edition which generously provides the consumer with the demo versions of every song on the album and a 20 minute documentary on the making of the album. You can’t beat that with a digital stick. 

I am far from digesting this album as it is so fresh. I may have to twitter my daily-dose picks from the album. 

Do grab both of these ‘records’ you will not be disappointed. They come highly recommended from a confessed junkie. 

It’s time for me to go. 

I have to line up… my playlist and get back to work.