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Night Train [EP] Image
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 49 Ratings

  • Summary: The British rock band releases its EP featuring K'Naan and Tigarah as guest artists, as well as one song with the band's Tim Rice-Oxley on lead vocals.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 14
  2. Negative: 2 out of 14
  1. Chaplin, Rice-Oxley and drummer Richard Hughes, chased down something different while still remaining true to their former records. Not only does it work, it provides a valuable lesson for bands that are far too afraid of taking risks.
  2. Q Magazine
    80
    The eight tracks and 31 minutes of the Night Train EP/mini-album, recorded during the Pefect Symmetry tour, should sate the faithful. [Jun 2100, p.127]
  3. As a transitional release, however, Night Train points to an even bigger and brighter future: it mostly sounds like a band happy to enjoy the freedom of chalking up 10 million album sales, and everyone else can take a running jump.
  4. Whatever the conceit for releasing only eight songs—perhaps they didn’t have enough material or were just eager to release these particular eight tracks—Keane serves up a concise, competent follow-up to Perfect Symmetry (2008).
  5. The band can still deliver the angsty goods (check out the gusty "My Shadow"), but Keane have proved themselves masters of--gasp!--pop perkiness.
  6. It’s all very eclectic and a bit unexpected -- two qualities that seem to be Keane’s modus operandi as of late -- but what’s missing is a pop anthem along the lines of “Again and Again” or “Bend and Break,” both of which allowed Tom Chaplin to flex his vocal chops on past albums.
  7. No matter what their exteriors, Keane still seem incapable of anything other than the most heavy-handed gestures, peddling the same populist mock uplift that leaves you feeling pushed when it's meant to move.

See all 14 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 10
  2. Negative: 2 out of 10
  1. May 26, 2018
    10
    Incredible album. One of the best album of all time. Better than all Coldplay's albums
  2. Feb 26, 2017
    9
    The album definitely was a shot in the dark, and the experimentation was a grand overhaul for the band. Ishin Dishin was however the downfallThe album definitely was a shot in the dark, and the experimentation was a grand overhaul for the band. Ishin Dishin was however the downfall of this EP, and more songs that resembled "Stop for a Minute" and "Looking Back" would have made the album way more consistent. Overall, The quality from the band still shines through. Expand
  3. Oct 5, 2010
    8
    A short, refreshing little album full of experiments and collaborations. These songs work (with the exception of 'Ishin Denshin' which getsA short, refreshing little album full of experiments and collaborations. These songs work (with the exception of 'Ishin Denshin' which gets tedious and boring) they are refreshing little snippets of Keane at the band's best. 'Clear Skies' is a highlight-a rather beautiful song that is along the lines of Classic Keane, while the collaborations with K'Naan on 'Stop for a Minute' and 'Looking Back' are fun departures from their usual compositions. If you like Keane's other work, you'll most likely love this album. It is a good listen nearly all the way through-and sounds as refreshing as a cool drink on a hot day. My only critique (besides the tedium of Ishin Denshin') is that it isn't long enough! Expand
  4. RezJ
    May 17, 2010
    5
    Keane is not a Rock/Alternative Band anymore. with this album they showed maybe they gonna change their style. and this record isn't Keane is not a Rock/Alternative Band anymore. with this album they showed maybe they gonna change their style. and this record isn't good enough for this band. Expand
  5. Dec 11, 2016
    4
    Had this have been released as a studio album, it would have been career suicide. The fact it's an EP makes it forgivable. It's good to hearHad this have been released as a studio album, it would have been career suicide. The fact it's an EP makes it forgivable. It's good to hear them having fun and experimenting, but overall it's still a mess. 'Your Love' is a standout track here for it's classic synth-rock sound, as well as 'My Shadow' for it's classic Keane sound. The others are cheap, forgettable and a little trying-to-hard-to-be-different. Expand
  6. Mar 16, 2013
    4
    Definitely the worst Keane album ever.
    It's not Keane. It's like they're trying their best to be something they're not.
    If you want to
    Definitely the worst Keane album ever.
    It's not Keane. It's like they're trying their best to be something they're not.

    If you want to become a true Keane fan, listen to Under the Iron Sea.
    Collapse
  7. Mar 26, 2016
    0
    In many ways I feel like bands that produce albums like this are the ones who are ruining the music industry, especially in the world of rock.In many ways I feel like bands that produce albums like this are the ones who are ruining the music industry, especially in the world of rock. Look, if you like this music there is nothing wrong, and in fact you are definitely not alone. What Keane has done in this effort is create one of the vapid and mainstream sounding rock albums in the past 10 years. I know Keane has produced some really good music, and will probably continue to; however, there is little to stop this from sounding like a thrown together arranging of songs- hoping that one of them will be the next hit on the UK charts. Some of the songs of are enjoyable alone and if Ishin Denshin is Your Love I respect that because that song is extremely catchy. Perhaps my rating was a little too harsh, yet I still can't get over the fact that this band reminds me of The Script and their album #3. It was not only a waste in time, but an example of the machine like rock the music industry cranks out just to make money. Where has all the angst, rebellion, and soul gone? Expand

See all 10 User Reviews