Less magic
Keane's sophomore kicks off in high spirits, bringing in small electronic overtones to the emotionally arresting Brit-rock chemistry which turned many heads on HAF. Quickly though, the modern U2-esque second track begins demonstrating the band's songwriting thresholds. Where the majority of Hope's songs we're memorably beautiful, here it is the far exception to a majority of less-memorable albeit satisfyingly straightforward rockers.

Nothing in their way
Keane is a favorite band of mine, so this review is going to be totally and unabashedly biased. (As if my other reviews aren't.) If you're trying to get a feel for what Keane is like, maybe this can help: They're a little bit of Coldplay, a little bit of U2, and a whole lotta original.

Their sound is just...completely innovative, and yet classic. If you're looking for shallow, fluffy lyrics, please go elsewhere. Every song has a purpose on the album--and a deep, sometimes dark, meaning--and not one of them disappoints. I highly recommend, and urge anyone who loves good music to discover this band for themselves. Just when you think Keane can't get any better, they do. As long as they don't muck it up for themselves by breaking up or anything of that sort, they're going to be unstoppable in the music world.

Intricate, balanced, an excellent production
I don't give out a lot of 5 star reviews, but this album has made cracked my top ten list and is now one of my all time favorites.

I think it is not for everyone, but if you like piano rock albums that can flow from trippy ballads to poppy upbeat tunes without you might give this a try.

simply amazing
phenominal album, i am a convert to the british sound. I really dig this sound.

My favorite CD of all time
I fell in love with Keane with the release of "Hopes and Fears." The unique instrumentation of the band allows for a dynamic study of colors, and "Under the Iron Sea" expands that study by expanding the dark side of melody and lyric. Tom Chaplin's voice really helps to carry the intensity, pain, and passion that went into the writing of these songs, and the band delivers a non-traditional, fresh sound to their listeners in this album. I have listened, and listened, and listened to every track on this CD hundreds of times by this point, and have not yet begun to get tired of any of them. In fact, I'm impressed that I pick up on something new in their subtlety of lyric each time I listen.

My favorite tracks on this album include "Broken Toy," "The Frog Prince," and "Atlantic." The former has such a whimsical approach to time signature, using conventional meter in combination with syncopation to create a very unconventional and somewhat unstable feel. "Atlantic" sets the tone for the CD as the rather dark, surreal first track. "The Frog Prince" ties up the album with a message that continues the feeling of instability and unrest.

I love this side of Keane, and I'd like to see them explore this new sonority even more. I enthusiastically recommend this album, though not to those looking for a happy sort of British pop band. This is definitely not THAT Keane anymore.