Keane and Ashanti CD Reviews

Keane comes back from the brink with Perfect Symmetry, while Ashanti digs up some unreleased tracks from The Vault. Kidzworld turns it up.

Keane :: Perfect Symmetry

During their last tour, Keane’s singer Tom Chaplin entered rehab for alcohol and drug abuse. Many bands would be ended by such things, but Keane kept going, and even released an album after Chaplin got out. Perfect Symmetry is a more upbeat and danceable album than their previous, Coldplay-like releases. Whatever happened to Tom between entering rehab and now must have cheered him up a lot. Fans of slower, piano ballads will still find them here, but there are elements of David Bowie, and even fellow Englishmen Radiohead on this album. If you like breezy piano rock with a sharp pop edge, you will love Perfect Symmetry.

Fun Facts

Singer Tom Chaplin and band mate Tim Rice-Oxley have known each other since they were kids—their mothers were friends.

In 1997, Tim was invited by Chris Martin to play keyboards in Coldplay. He chose to stick with Keane instead.

Tim co-wrote the song Early Winter with Gwen Stefani for her album The Sweet Escape. Gwen has been a fan of Keane since 2005.

Members of Keane have campaigned for the Make Poverty History movement.

Hot Tracks

Lovers are Losing, Perfect Symmetry, Pretend That You’re Alone

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Ashanti :: The Vault

Earlier this year, Ashanti released her fourth album in six years, The Declaration. That’s a lot of music in not a lot of years, but she’s still got more! This workaholic entertainer (she’s also an actress and model) has decided to take songs she recorded before her first album came out and release them on this album, The Vault. It’s a cool idea, but sometimes there’s a reason some songs get left behind, and this album proves that. These are the boring songs that didn’t make the cut, and so there’s no reason to hear them seven years later, when many better songs have come between. Yawn.

Fun Facts

In high school, Ashanti was in the drama club, and played baseball, soccer and badminton.

Ashanti is also a songwriter. She’s written songs for Ja Rule, Jennifer Lopez and Nas.

In 2002, she received the key to her hometown, Glen Cove, NY. May 2 was also named Ashanti Day.

Ashanti played the role of Dorothy in the Muppets’ Wizard of Oz.

Hot Tracks

Imagine Life, Where I Stand, Mr. So So

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