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Hopes And Fears
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 18 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 92 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Island / Interscope
Release Date: 25 May 2004
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Alternative, Rock
Summary
Yes, you'll see the word "Coldplay" in nearly every review for this debut disc, but the UK trio stand out from the crowd with their unconventional lineup of vocals, drums, and piano.
Also By This Artist: Perfect Symmetry Under The Iron Sea
Also On The Web: Official Artist Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Playlouder
Basically, this is a fantastic band releasing twelve brilliant songs, and it's not only the best guitar album you'll ever hear with no guitars on it, it's one of the best this year generally.
Read Full Review >All Music Guide
Confidence bursts throughout, and for a band that has been around seven years and has never released a studio full-length album until now, achieving nearly epic-like status is quite impressive.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
As a collection of songs, this is hugely impressive. As a debut album, its confidence is right up there with Definitely Maybe. [May 2004, p.96]
Entertainment Weekly
Music to while away the time before the next Coldplay--or Travis, or Starsailor, or Muse--album arrives. [11 Jun 2004, p.125]
ShakingThrough.net
There isn't much variety on the disc, which many will find a bit thin after repeated spins, but there's no doubting the band's clean, confident sound.
Read Full Review >Mojo
Somewhere Only We Know is one of 2004's loveliest tunes, and while nothing else on their debut album quite matches this apogee of woebegone non-energy, there's plenty to keep the eyes welling up. [Jun 2004, p.116]
Rolling Stone
Hopes and Fears contains more hooks than most pop groups manage in their careers.
Read Full Review >Blender
A rather polite album... but it's also comprehensively gorgeous. [#27, p.138]
PopMatters
This album is full of ballads fuelled by feelings of alienation, but Chaplin's voice is consistently powerful and lacks the fragility that would give these songs the edge the band obviously thinks they have.
Read Full Review >The Guardian
Keane rely too heavily on Chaplin's show-stopping vocals, and the radio-friendly simplicity of the lyrics grates.
Read Full Review >Drowned In Sound
Despite some fine moments, on the whole there's not enough that's memorable or above average. No one would give Keane a second glance if Tom Chaplin did not possess such a gift of a voice.
Read Full Review >Uncut
Pretty, but pretty vacant. [Aug 2004, p.102]
Almost Cool
The 11 tracks on Hopes And Fears have an almost complete lack of soul and even distinction between one another.
Read Full Review >Stylus Magazine
The continual sense of aesthetic, structural and emotional conservatism constantly makes the listener feel short-changed, Singing Tom persistently pleading his own honesty and kindness and suitability and weakness.
Read Full Review >Village Voice
Strangely: no guitar, only piano. Which, strangely, doesn't make them sound any more romantic, nor does it add interest to the other songs, which are either too slow, too genre, or too lyrically distracting.
Read Full Review >Dot Music
A product so meticulously calculated, so shamelessly designed for the widest possible demographic, so wholeheartedly shallow, you suspect Simon Fuller and Simon Cowell must be dumbstruck in admiration.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 8.4 (out of 10) based on 92 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Jim H gave it a10:
This cd is honestly amazing. I am very critical when it comes to music etc, But, like others have said here, this cd is the best I have heard in years. Great songs, vocals, and the songs stay with you when you have heard them. I can not remember when I liked a band as much as Keane. It feels great!!!!!
Arnaldo J gave it a10:
Probably the best band that appeared on the last 15 years. This album is perfect!!!
Neil R. gave it a10:
An awesome first album. Every song is wonderfully melodic and beautifully produced. The guy's voice is fantastic, and the arrangements are original. The piano is especially strong. Track 6 is breathtaking.
Killian D gave it a10:
10/10 This album is a spectacular album. Full Stop.
Jeff J gave it a7:
It peters out towards the end, but "Somewhere Only We Know", "This is the Last Time", "Bend and Break and "Everybody's Changing" are as brilliant as they are touching.
Javelin M. gave it an8:
I got this CD from my cousin and it didn't really make a big impression at the time. I enjoyed the music in the background, but I wouldn't pick it out to play. However, after having it come up on the rotation for a few years, it's grown on me. All of a sudden, it was something I craved, and for music, that's my criteria. Keane's just what I need right now, and I'm glad I found them around.
Simon B gave it a6:
Ah, yes... critics. How many times have I had to correct people on this site? Quite a few, I'd say. No, no, you still have right to your opinions so sit down for a bit, let the mouse go. Keane were interviewed in Montreal not so long ago. They were down-to-earth guys; not assholes ; and they didn't claim to try to copy anything. They were making SIMPLE, POP music. When you make something simple, it is meant to look/sound a lot like other things, yeah? The theme in Keane's melodies is not changing: "Everybody's changing but I still feel the same." People ask for renewal of Keane's music while they've just begun their carreer. Everything's been done before, there's no need to whine when you know you've heard an awesome band and you want to live by it all your life. Do you see me comparing every rock band to Dream Theater? (I haven't made any rock band comments yet, but that will come and I won't compare them to DT unless blah blah blah, get my drift?) There are sometimes when I wonder why people listen to music. Similarly to why people watch movies. "THIS IS GARBAGE. IT SOUNDS LIKE COLDPLAY." why? You just said Coldplay's awesome. Shouldn't that mean Keane is good too? "NO. THEY COPY SO THEY SUCK." copying would involve serious damage in fund and if that were the case, Keane wouldn't have been allowed to get a second album out. Besides, you're all acting as though you were speaking on the behalf of Travis and Colplay. I'm sure if Chris met Chaplin down the street, he'd just say "Hey, dude." shake hands and be on his way. This is music, not a competition.
