Keane, The Streets

Two albums have caught my ears and mind. Keane's Hopes and Fears and The Streets' A Grand Don't Come For Free. Come end of 2004 it will be likely that both these albums will be listed among the best of 2004.

Keane is just simple. It's Coldplay with piano instead of guitars. Just imagine Coldplay without Jonny Buckland and you're already halfway there. Keane is probably the next big thing from England. This trio - consisting of a pianist, a vocalist, and a drummer - are just making nice and easy-listening songs. Most of the songs are a bit/about sorrow, but it is full of hope. And they are catchy tunes as well. Having pianos instead of guitars is a welcoming change of scenery as well. Hopes and Fears is a brilliant first album. I instantly liked it and will be listening to it many times. Hopefully they won't disappoint me in the future.

Then there is The Streets' second album, A Grand Don't Come For Free. I'll tell you, Mike Skinner is a genius. On his first album, Original Pirate Material, we hear a lazy, pothead rapping with an English accent about everyday life. That album was already dubbed as a great album. Now Mike Skinner took it to another level. The music is pretty much the same, if not a bit strange. Skinner's rapping has softened a bit, so it sounds more like story telling. But the story he is telling, that is the great thing about this album. You should listen to this album from the beginning to the end and listen to his stories. It's a continous story of his life, from trying to do something, getting a girlfriend, going out on a date, breaking up, and so on. Mike Skinner might be a pothead, but it sure as hell brings out all the creative juice from his head. Hmmm, maybe I should smoke more...