Well they said you were a bright child
Never anything but joy behind your eyes
No sign of all the dark clouds
Spreading like volcanic dust over your...
This is an album of mature, accessible pop-rock. The singing is beautiful, the playing immaculate, the sound warm and rounded, with nothing to scare the horses.
Not a game-changing comeback by any means, Cause and Effect is instead a satisfying return to form that manages to gracefully age Keane by invigorating a familiar formula with wisdom and honesty learned over a dramatic, life-changing decade.
It may not make for the most comfortable listen, but Cause and Effect at least proves Keane are able to channel emotional states that are knottier and more compelling than that of their insipid early successes.
Musically, the album hits in all the right spots, solidifying their expertise at penning sunny, earnest Radio 2-core. And when they deviate from the easier path, most notably on the slow, deeply sombre ‘Strange Room’, which sees Chaplin’s voice take on a genuinely affecting, downtrodden lower tone, ‘Cause and Effect’ begins to exist as more than a comeback album for the sake of a comeback album.
The lyrics of all the songs make you want to cry. Chaplin's voice is so powerful and delicate while creating a perfect balance. Cause andThe lyrics of all the songs make you want to cry. Chaplin's voice is so powerful and delicate while creating a perfect balance. Cause and Effect is becoming my favorite album, with catchy songs and very well composed. It is simply a masterpiece.…Expand
Wow! This is a future classic in my opinion. Every song is stunning, a journey through TIm Rice-Oxley's turbulent few years and out the otherWow! This is a future classic in my opinion. Every song is stunning, a journey through TIm Rice-Oxley's turbulent few years and out the other side. There are some raw, dark lyrics but also lots of hope too. I would suggest finding a nice quiet place and listening to this album through good quality headphones to appreciate the pure brilliance that is Cause And Effect!
The album opener, You're Not Home has Sigur Ros/Jonsi vibes and it builds to a fantastic crescendo towards the end. This is one of my favourites and is the perfect song to open the album.
The two singles, Love Too Much & The Way I Feel are brilliant. Love Too Much has quite a poppy feel to it, like a modern Everybody's Changing, whereas The Way I Feel is most like the rocky brashness of Is It Any Wonder and has some very meaningful lyrics about depression.
Put The Radio On is a genius track. It sounds like Keane before they were famous. It reminds me of Russian Farmer’s Song, mixed with a dash of Atlantic. This has the potential to be in my top 5 Keane songs of all time, the more I listen to it. The second half is so unexpected and epic!
Strange Room is extremely dark but heart-breaking lyrics. You’ll find it hard not to shed a tear when listening to this song.
Stupid Things immediately stood out when listening to this album for the first time. It is the third single and I can see why! It is very catchy and I think this is going to get stuck in my head (In a good way!) Love it.
Phases is a classic Keane pop-rock song with some great lyrics. I think this is going to grow on me and become another song that gets stuck in my head!
I’m Not Leaving is a beautiful song, a message to Tim’s daughters. Richard’s drumming in this really stood out for me and after a few listens it is really growing on me.
Thread – I’ve listened to this delicate song a couple of times now and it’s another song that is a classic Keane ‘grower’, the more you listen to it, the better it gets! So many Keane songs are like that, I would encourage people to listen to Keane songs 3 or 4 times at least before passing judgement on them.
Chase The Night Away is utterly brilliant. It is a modern day Somewhere Only We Know in my eyes! I really think this could do very well if it was released as a single, perhaps around Christmas time. It is the most hopeful song on the record, a love song with wonderful lyrics and a catchy chorus. It is probably my favourite song on the album at the moment.
I Need Your Love is a fantastic album closer. Another classic example of Keane building a song to a bold climax. I think this will become a favourite of mine too after a few more listens!
The two bonus songs and the acoustic variations are also well worth a listen! I especially like the acoustic version of The Way I Feel.
Overall, Cause And Effect is highly deserving of the 10/10 rating I have given it. Now, go and listen for yourself!…Expand
Keane are back! For me the best album of the year. The lyrics of “The Way I Feel”, “Love Too Much” and “Thread” are sad and beautiful. It’sKeane are back! For me the best album of the year. The lyrics of “The Way I Feel”, “Love Too Much” and “Thread” are sad and beautiful. It’s reassuring to know that you’re not alone in experiencing those sorts of emotions. It’s healing to know you’re part of team “broken part, missing link and punctured wheel”. And everybody else is just as confused, angry/sad and trying to work it.…Expand
Coming back after an uninspired release, i was expecting a cheap chisel at the pop statue. I was wrong. Aside from the 2 lead singles, theComing back after an uninspired release, i was expecting a cheap chisel at the pop statue. I was wrong. Aside from the 2 lead singles, the album creates a wonderful atmosphere. Not a drop spared on each track. Well, done keane.…Expand
Cause and Effect is a celebration of Keane’s phenomenal back catalogue. It includes sounds from all of their past records, but still feelsCause and Effect is a celebration of Keane’s phenomenal back catalogue. It includes sounds from all of their past records, but still feels exciting and new. Iron Sea and Perfect Symmetry style productions stand out the most, and for day-one lifelong fans like myself, that’s exactly what I wanted to hear. I cannot recommend this album enough, it really is quintessential, yet modern Keane. It’s stunning.…Expand
Much more subdued than their other albums to date, but there are riffs and melodies in there from earlier work and the piano style from theirMuch more subdued than their other albums to date, but there are riffs and melodies in there from earlier work and the piano style from their debut album is back. I think, in general, there is something to please most long-time fans. The lyrics are beautifully written and the general track composition is less predictable and repetitive than their earlier stuff. However, the album does feel slightly off-balanced by the two leading singles. It almost feels like they were thrown in at the last minute and they do feel out of place. The middle portion of the album becomes a bit weighted down by its own emotional depth at times but then frees itself towards the end. Some parts reminded me slightly of Elbow, but perhaps that's just me. Not the easiest listen I agree, but quite beautiful at the same time. Not the Keane album I was expecting if I am honest, but in parts a masterpiece. Certainly worthy of a return album and nice to have them back. My highlights: You're Not Home, Put the Radio On, Strange Room and I'm Not Leaving (that first line: "hey big shoes, once I was young like you") and the bonus track Golden Age (this should have been part of the regular track listing) and Love Too Much, even if it does feel out of place. If I could give half scores, it would be a 7.5.…Expand
Ouch....what a letdown! I've been moved by their innovative sound and singular style over the years and this album has none of that signatureOuch....what a letdown! I've been moved by their innovative sound and singular style over the years and this album has none of that signature coolness. They've prematurely aged into some bland toothless adult contemporary phase and I'm not following. A reviewer opined that Keane would inevitably ignore these songs in concert. Let's hope.…Expand
