Submergence, 4 out of 5 StarsLike so many bands to come of age since the turn of the century, Keane has absorbed the dynamics and mystery of U2 and Radiohead. "Under The Iron Sea" makes these bands touchstones, but also makes a tight, dark rock album. The anthemic "Is It Any Wonder" sounds like Keane cloned Achtung Baby, and this is said as a compliment. Same with the instrumental title track that leads into "Try Again."
Lead singer and frontman Tom Chaplin faces the band's new-found trans-Atlantic success by trying to understand what the world looks like now that he's seen most of it. "Atlantic" and "Crystal Ball" ride a crest of pianos of keyboardist Tim Rice-Oxley, Keane are also coming to terms with their own maturity. Catchy like Coldplay but not as dramatic, grand like Muse but lacking the bombast, "Under The Iron Sea" is a solid work of modern rock. It's also worth noting that the follow-up, Perfect Symmetry, is much lighter and poppier.
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