One of the most wonderful things about being a music fan is how we can attribute and associate certain acts with memories in our lives. These bands will forever be held in a particular place of fondness, as their music will transport us back to a younger time as we are finding our way in the world. A band who will forever occupy this category for me is English alternative rock band, Keane.

Founded in 1995, the early line up of the band comprised of Tom Chaplin, Tim Rice-Oxley, Richard Hughes, Dominic Scott, and Jesse Quin, after they met while attending Tonbridge School in Kent.

The group would eventually release their debut album in 2004, entitled Hopes and Fears, and the success of this album would catapult the band to a position of mainstream acclaim – with significant airplay on radio across the UK and Ireland. The album would spawn five singles, including the mammoth hits, Somewhere Only We Know and This Is The Last Time. Over the following eight years, the band would release a subsequent three albums, all demonstrating maturity of sound and instrumentation. These albums would be entitled, Under The Iron Sea (2006), Perfect Symmetry (2008), and Strangeland (2012).

This article will go through some of my favourite songs by the band.

Spiralling (Perfect Symmetry, 2008)

Pure and simple, this song is an absolute banger. The lead single off the third song by the band, it exhibits that Keane built their reputation on with previous releases. The song was a popular release, it would go on to become the fastest downloaded song ever for the Universal record label and would go on to win the award for Best Track at the Q Awards in 2008. It is considered by many to be one of the best British pop songs since the turn of the millennium, and it will forever be one of the my favourite songs.

Crystal Ball (Under the Iron Sea, 2006)

Crystal Ball is probably my favourite song by the group. The song is the second single to come from the album Under the Iron Sea, and would continue the sound that the band had been cultivating and it felt like a good progression on from the big singles of the first album.

This Is The Last Time (Hopes and Fears, 2004)

The fourth single off that outstanding debut album is another example of the strength of the release, and why the band were catapulted to prominence. A beautiful song about always being there for someone you love, even if they have hurt you previously. It was a message that would resonate with many listeners and is easily one of my favourite releases by the group.

Nothing In My Way (Under The Iron Sea, 2006)

Nothing In My Way is another outstanding track from the second album from the band.

Somewhere Only We Go

Without question the biggest song from the band, and the standout track off their discography. In recent years it has become more commonly associated with English pop icon, Lily Allen, after her beautiful cover soundtracked the John Lewis Christmas advertisment of 2013, but there is still something about that original that hits different. A beautiful and touching love song about wanting to be alone with that special person, it has stood the test of time and remains one of the best British songs of all time.

For people of a certain age, Keane will forever be one of those bands who will transport them back to younger days, and will soundtrack some great memories in their life. They will forever have a place in the hearts of lots of music fans, and that’s a pretty solid legacy to have as a band.

MK