Customer Reviews

Keane: Strangers

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First off, I love Keane. I've seen them live before and I know how incredible they can perform. But it's always nice to have healthy reminders of that great live show especially from the comfort of your own home. This DVD is a two-disc collection that's just chock full of footage. Included are live performances of all their hits plus some extra stuff not available anywhere else-like their duet with Rufus Wainwright on "Try Again" and the acoustic version of "We Might As Well Be Strangers". Also there's a two-part documentary and both the U.K. and U.S. versions of music videos for "Somewhere Only We Know" and "Everybody's Changing". Pretty amazing and absolutely essential for any real Keane fan.

If you're a KEANE fan, this is a must-have DVD!!!! The amount of footage and access you get on this 2-disc dvd for the low Amazon price is amazing! Even if you're not a KEANE fan and/or have never seen them live, this dvd is great to have to see all of the live performance footage; they'll win you over! The documentary tells KEANE's interesting story (how they met, how their music evolved, etc...), and the bonus footage (live performances, videos, etc...) is just icing on the cake. The only silly drawback is that some of the bonus footage is buried in the interactive mode of the dvd (i.e. you can only access certain footage by using the interactive mode within different chapters). But, KEANE is worth even this tiny hassle. Now, I can't wait for KEANE'S next album!!!!!!

I just got this DVD yesterday and I am amazed at what they have packed into the 2 DVDs. There is so much stuff! Videos, and Live performances, and tons of interviews with the band and especially Tim and why he wrote certain songs. I was really impressed. As for them being burned out like the last reviewer said, I got the impression that Tim is an "old soul" and is never happy with his work unless it is perfect. This in turn makes him a great songwriter. It also makes him very moody and depressed a lot of the time. He even comments on the DVD that he probably wouldn't be able to write the songs he did unless he had some sort of melancholy soul. I think these two DVDs are great and I really love this band.

It's not everyday that I latch on to any band. Prior to Keane, it was The Smiths in '83, which I still adore. "Hopes and Fears" is the best album I've purchased since 1987 (the year that The Smiths released "Strangeways here we come" and disbanded. So, naturally, I went to see them in Montreal where they blew the doors off The Spectrum! Better than any show I've ever seen. So, naturally, it was with great anticipation that I purchased "Strangers". One thing to note is that it's not a concert video. Yes, there are many fantastic live songs taken from 4 or 5 different shows, but it's not the "concert experience". "Strangers" is a long-time fan's labour of love. Despite his admitted inexperience with making documentaries, Ed Roe does a masterful job at giving us a glimpse into the soul of Keane. The documentary takes us through the birth and transformation of Keane as well as life on tour including a very tense band meeting (I'd really like to know what Tim was upset about). At the end, you're left with (at least I was) one impression: It couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch of guys. Much like U2, the synergy of these 3 talented guys far outweighs the sum of their individual skills. The concert footage captures them exactly as it should, but one particular piece of footage left me in tears: Keane playing Bedshaped live over their gradual progression from a basement band to a pub band to a small venue act to international superstars. When you see and hear them play in the basement in their current incarnation, it's easy to see why they made it. Simply put, "Strangers" could easily be entered into major documentary and/or international film competitions and be a contender. And, the concert footage is awesome too!

I'm no stranger to KEANE. Ever since I discovered their music back in 2003, I have heralded them to friends, relatives and colleagues. They are simply an outstanding rock group who make astonishing music. This concert-documentary is for anyone who loves KEANE or for those who want to know what all the fuss is about. It's an insightful look into the making of a world-class band and behind-the-scenes footage that takes you right into their private world (i.e., rehearsals, recording sessions, bus tours, public appearances, private spats, etc.). I was surprised how raw and honestly accessible KEANE was in revealing such private moments. Of course, the best part about the program are all the LIVE concert footage. Amazing performances abound with Tom's glorious voice and Tim and Richard's brilliant accompaniment; an unforgettable experience for the eyes and ears. All of their songs from "Hopes and Fears" are performed including some B-sides and new tunes from their much anticipated forthcoming album. KEANE is, by far, the best rock band since U2 and Coldplay. There doesn't seem to be any limitations upon their talent and extraordinary future. This excellent DVD shows you why. Kudos to the filmmaker and everyone directly involved!!!

Actually a "3 and a half" would be more accurate. Been a fan of Keane's music since I first caught an appearance on an episode of Conan O'Brien...uh, about 2 years ago I think. Absolutely love the uniqueness of this piano-driven band (as opposed to the usual guitar-driven ones); I love the lead singer's voice; and I also love the songs. Already looking forward to their next CD. But since this review is suppose to focus on the DVD documentary I'll just write about that for now. The best parts are the concert footage segments -- the audiences are totally into the music and there is a great deal of energy and passion. It really made me want to be right there in the front row with the other fans, dancing around, singing along, and having fun. I have yet to attend an actual Keane concert so I appreciate this footage all the more.

I can't rate the documentary footage as highly as the concert parts but that is not to say that I would not recommend this DVD to Keane fans (I would). The problem with the documentary stuff is that there wasn't a whole lot of interesting, funny, or even candid footage. You never really get to know the guys as individuals nor do you get to know much about their own interests, personalities, friendship or working relationships. In comparison to other band documentaries that I've seen over the years, this one did not really let the viewer inside of the band's world. In fact, there were a couple of segments where the guys (hmn...maybe the piano player and drummer more than the lead singer) didn't even seem to be enjoying the tour. At one point, one of the guys is seen and heard - after a show - complaining about how horrible the show was. This was a show where hundreds of fans stood for hours out in the pouring rain just to see their favorite band and the rain didn't seem to bother the fans at all. The documentary footage left me with the impression that the band (again, not so much the lead guy though) seemed burned out. They are so young and this is so early in their career that I'm hoping they don't call it quits after only a short period of success. They make such beautiful music together and I hope they'll be around for years to come.

So in sum, the concert footage is excellent and the documentary stuff is not so great. Wondering now if any other fans who have seen this DVD agree with me about the documentary stuff or not? That said, if you're a Keane fan then it's worth a look!!!

The 2 DVD set, STRANGERS, tells the story of the band Keane in a brilliantly understated way. Black and white documentary footage combined with multitudes of candid, on-the-spot interviews makes one feel like they're along for the ride on Keane's "Hopes and Fears" tour.

Lead vocalist Tom Chaplin, keyboardist and primary song-writer Tim Rice-Oxley, and drummer Richard Hughes all offer very open Q & A, clearly and candidly recalling how they got to where they are. Several splicings of old home-movie footage are some of the highlights of the film, as they really shed light on the types of gigs and digs the band was in prior to landing a major record label deal. Great stories permeate the video, like the time Keane shared the stage with another up-and-coming band known as Coldplay, and the mom of one band member taped the whole Coldplay set only to rewind the tape and record over it to make sure she got her son's performance. The comment from Keane went something like: "At the time, it's what you'd want your mother to do... In hindsight, not so much."

Interspersed throughout are what would normally be found in a "Special Features" menu: Videos, live performances, photo galleries, additional backstage passes and interview footage, a live-concert duet with Rufus Wainwright, even a few TV commercials for "Hopes and Fears". If I had one beef with the DVD set, it would be that these gems cannot be accessed directly from the main menu, only as optional viewing during the documentary. Mercifully, the selection tabs can be seen changing even when fast-forwarding the DVD, so after a couple of viewings, you'll be able to find what you're looking for quickly.

One particular highlight were the special features surrounding the song "Bedshaped". The music video is included, and it is both haunting and poignant. There is a very short making-of clip as well. The real treat, however, is the "live" video of the song. The filmmakers spliced together a timeline of videos starting with the band cutting a demo in their very cramped living room, they progress through ever expanding venues from a dingy club to a huge outdoor arena; an encapsulation of the band's journey in 4 minutes and 36 seconds.

All in all, I can't recommend this DVD set highly enough for Keane fans. My wife, who is not a particularly keen Keane fan (pardon the pun), was captivated as well. One feels like they know the band after seeing it.

Sorry for the outburst but I am SO glad I got this DVD. I am a HUGE Keane fan (ask anybody who knows me)but I wanted to know more about the band. Sure, I had googled them but it wasn't enough so I bought "Strangers." I was estatic to see it came with two discs, both packed with live performaces and a documentary. It was very interesting to see how the band started and got going. It was also very funny at times and I'd have to pause the DVD because I was laughing but didn't want to miss any good material. It was great to see, after worshipping these guys for months, that they're regular people who are dysfunctional but funny, restless but charming. I felt like a even bigger fan after watching this, which is always a good feeling. And it was really cool because I bought the DVD in winter 2005 and I heard Tim and Tom talking about songs from their next album (Under the Iron Sea) and I finally got to understand what they we're talking about 6 months later when they released the CD. Speaking of Tim, it was very intriguing to see him in the writing process and, as stated before, the discussion of songs. It's also great just to see Chaplin, because he's so cool and SUCH an amazing singer. Richard is a great drummer though I found it hard to connect with him. The band's personality really shines through in this DVD and it's so much fun to watch.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Funny and fresh with loads of info and performances, this DVD is worth every penny.

This documentary, made by a long-time fan of the band, takes you through Keane's beginnings as a guitar band to its evolution to a piano/vocals focus. The bandmates provide insight into the long road between its first gig and the American tour featured in the film and you get a glimpse into the effects of success and endless touring. There are enough interview segments to get a sense of each performer and how they relate to each other as lifelong friends. And, of course, the gorgeous music of Keane is played throughout with lots of live concert clips and full versions of their songs as well. I loved it.

The item is a two DVD set. Each disc has doumentary info, live performances and videos. You are able to see the documentary and the live performances in each disc from the main menu. But if you want to see the videos you are forced to watch the dcoumentary. Terrible way to lay out this item. It would have been best to put all the music (live and videos) in one disc and the documentaty on the other.

The quality of the music and videos (when you can get to them) is very good.