Keane - A Bad Dream (Island)
2/5
By: Charlie Potter
When I first heard Keane I reported them to those within earshot as being like a watered down version of Travis. I went through a period of not thinking that, but given that this is possibly the worst single they've released to date, I'm inclined to go back to my original diagnosis. They're nice lads, and they keep a lot of old people happy, but this is one of those rare occasions where I have to admit to being quite comfortable in my cynicism.
That said, Keane have filled a really important gap with this song. Consider this - 'Enter Sandman' by Metallica is a dreadful metal song about dreams. No, It doesn't matter how classic it is - it's terrible. I've got nothing against Metallica per se, there are some quite good tracks on 'Master of Puppets' for example, but 'Enter Sandman' is just a really awful song. About dreams.
That Antony and the Johnsons song 'Hope There's Someone' however is a really, really great song that isn't metal about dreams. What Keane have quite craftily executed is a combination of the two. No, no, its not an incredibly good metal song about dreams (it's even more cunning than that), I mean what other band would have the incredible intuitive foresight to be able to realise that what the ageing public want - and this is almost precisely what the increasing age of the average population means - is a rubbish song, that isn't metal, about dreams?
Keane are a band that do have a vague glint of credibility remaining. I remember once witnessing a set of theirs on what was an emotional evening's entertainment, and it was indeed a genuinely good performance. And overall, I'll hand it to 'em, they're OK. You'll tolerate their existence without ever wanting to actually hear them.
'A Bad Dream' itself however is just standard, passable, wishy washy pop, and apart from commenting on the dreadful lyrics, there's not a lot more once can say about it. If you don't know what sort of sound Keane have by now, then welcome to England! No, not all the bands are this bad, and despite the fact that Keane themselves can sometimes elevate their craft a little with a good melody, this song doesn't quite manage to pull one out of the bag.
Really though, those lyrics... no two ways about it, what lyrics there are have no feeling and read as if they have been written in about five minutes. For a good laugh, go and look them up.
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