Keane - The Best Of Keane -Deluxe Edition- (2012)
The Best of Keane is a comprehensive collection of the band's most popular and enduring songs, spanning their entire discography. This deluxe edition, released in 2012, features a carefully curated selection of hits, plus bonus tracks and live recordings.
Tracklisting:
Disc 1:
Disc 2 (Bonus Disc - Live at the O2 London):
About the Album:
The Best of Keane is a testament to the band's impressive catalog, featuring some of their most beloved and critically acclaimed songs. From their early days as a piano-driven, emotive rock band to their later experimentation with new sounds and styles, Keane has consistently delivered memorable and impactful music. Keane - The Best Of Keane -Deluxe Edition- -201...
Praise for Keane:
"Keane's best songs are undeniably great... Their blend of piano and soaring vocals has captivated audiences worldwide." - NME
Recommended for:
Format: 2-CD Deluxe Edition
Release Date: November 2012
Label: Island Records
Enjoy this exceptional collection of Keane's best works!
The closest Keane ever got to a "rock" riff—played entirely on a distorted piano/synth. The staccato rhythm and political undertones ("Is it any wonder I'm tired? / Is it any wonder that I'm uptight?") gave the band their first real taste of aggressive radio rock.
Most best-of compilations are cynical cash-ins. Keane’s Deluxe Edition is different. It is a carefully argued thesis statement: that a band without guitars could create rock music of immense scale and emotional precision; that pop melodies could coexist with existential dread; and that a deluxe edition, when curated with care, can elevate a collection from “hits” to “canon.”
For the casual listener, the single CD offers 19 anthems for rainy days and stadium lighters. For the dedicated fan, the second CD’s rarities reveal a band constantly fighting against their own reputation as “Coldplay-lite.” And for music historians, this compilation stands as proof that the 2000s British rock scene was richer and stranger than the dominant guitar-band narrative allows. Keane did not change rock music. But they proved that you could move a mountain with a piano, a voice, and a drum kit—no electric guitar required.
Discography Note: The full title referenced is The Best of Keane (Deluxe Edition) [2CD / Digital], released by Island Records on November 11, 2013 (UK) and November 12, 2013 (US). Catalog number: 3750982.
An upbeat, galloping track that closes the darker era on a note of cautious optimism. Keane - The Best Of Keane -Deluxe Edition-
Arguably their best B-side. Snowed Under is just as good as the A-side. Featuring the line "I wish that I could be in some other place / Where the people aren't so cold," it completes the emotional arc of Hopes and Fears. The Deluxe Edition restores this track to its rightful place.
A high-water mark for piano rock. The relentless, almost frantic pace of the right-hand piano part contrasts with Chaplin’s weary vocal about feeling alienated as the world spins too fast. It is a perfect example of Keane’s ability to marry euphoric instrumentation with devastating lyrics.
A deep cut that became a fan favourite, this track bridges Hopes and Fears and Under the Iron Sea. It builds from a simple piano motif to a crushing wall of sound.
Where the Deluxe Edition truly shines is in its ability to tell the story of the band’s internal struggles and redemption. Keane’s history is famously fraught with tension, most notably the addiction struggles of drummer Richard Hughes and the temporary departure of Rice-Oxley. Yet, out of this turmoil came songs of immense beauty.
The acoustic version of "Sea Fog" or the soaring "Sovereign Light Café" (included in the deluxe tracklist) show a band that grew up. They moved from the desperate, wide-eyed longing of "Bedshaped" to a more grounded, nostalgic reflection on English life. The inclusion of B-sides and live favorites in the deluxe package rewards the die-hards, offering a glimpse into the band’s vault of quality material that didn't fit the "pop star" trajectory.