For all their distinctly anti-rock and roll image, common consensus has it that Keane produced one of the best albums of 2004. Surprisingly enough, common consensus may have a point on this occasion. Much of its success has been down to towering singles 'Everybody's Changing' and 'Somewhere Only We Know'; piano-led anthems cast off into some hopeful place of innocence by Tom Chaplin's choirboy vocals. More importantly the album itself is not just made up of single and filler, more a selection of fine, original songs which compare to the finest moments of A-ha. A strange likeness it may seem but Morten Harket would be proud of Chaplin's pitch perfect peformance on 'She Has No Time'. Tim Rice-Oxley is the key on most of the tracks delighting with some wonderfully original melodic hooks whether it's mysterious and soulful on 'Sunshine', understated and captivating on 'Your Eyes Open' but the terrific 'Untitled I' is the real find, a hypnotic ballad helped in no small part by Chaplin's most mature, melancholic delivery. It's rare that awards are handed out to artists who genuinely deserve it but 'Hopes And Fears' is as great as popular music gets.