Keane

In an arid world of snark, Keane is like an oasis of earnestness. Four albums deep, the bright Brit pop band behind hits like "Somewhere Only We Know" and "Is It Any Wonder?" continues to impress with its ability to convey a good-natured sense of optimism without tipping too far into maudlin territory. The quartet — and its chief songwriter Tim Rice-Oxley — wisely leavens the album's fist-pumping anthems ("Silenced by the Night," "On the Road") and gentle paeans of reassurance ("Watch How You Go," "You Are Young")

In an arid world of snark, Keane is like an oasis of earnestness. Four albums deep, the bright Brit pop band behind hits like "Somewhere Only We Know" and "Is It Any Wonder?" continues to impress with its ability to convey a good-natured sense of optimism without tipping too far into maudlin territory. The quartet — and its chief songwriter Tim Rice-Oxley — wisely leavens the album's fist-pumping anthems ("Silenced by the Night," "On the Road") and gentle paeans of reassurance ("Watch How You Go," "You Are Young")

Keane Perfect Symmetry (Interscope) ESSENTIAL "Playing Along" Keane's third album opens with a group of excited voices, somewhere between gasping and celebratory, expelling a tuneful "ooooh!" Fans of the ceaselessly exuberant Brit-pop trio will find themselves doing the same as the album progresses. It is a surprise and a thrill to hear that even as the band enters its "artsy" phase - expanding its instrumental palette to include mewling saws and clattering percussion - the songs remain uniformly excellent from stem to stern.

WHILE THERE'S much to marvel at in Tom Keane's astonishingly cynical view of the patronage problem ("Indictments, then politics as usual," Op-ed, April 7), one comment stood out for me: in ironically sympathizing with the plight of John O'Brien and his colleagues at the Probation Department when asked by members of the Legislature for patronage appointments, Keane comments, "What were they supposed to do - say no, thereby angering the legislators who are, in effect, their bosses?" The answer is yes, they were supposed to say no. O'Brien doesn't work for the Legislature...

After a cursory listen to Keane's debut, "Hopes and Fears," it takes a mighty effort to shrug off comparisons to Coldplay. Both bands are British, both peddle piano-driven pop, and both feature a lead singer who slips into falsetto like Frankie Valli on a good night in Vegas. But upon closer review, that's where the similarities stop, as the band proved Wednesday night at the Paradise with a set of sparkly pop gems. Keane's album has been out in the United States for a mere month, but already the lads from Sussex have amassed a curious mix of fans.

It probably wasn't a coincidence that Keane's first vocal number Friday night at the Bank of America Pavilion was "Put It Behind You . " Last year the British trio canceled its entire summer tour, including a gig at this venue, when lead singer Tom Chaplin decided to go into rehab. Newly svelte and ecstatically sweaty on this uncharacteristically muggy night, Chaplin and his bandmates -- keyboardist Tim Rice-Oxley and drummer Richard Hughes -- were clearly thrilled to be putting that past to rest and looking forward.

In an era when commercial radio is as fragmented as plates at the conclusion of a Greek wedding, a band like Keane is a minor miracle. As evidenced by their Orpheum show last night, the British trio has the power to bring together disparate generations that generally can't even discuss the same genres of music, let alone listen to the same bands. But there it was for all to see. A sold-out show with more than 2,500 Keane fans consisting of mothers with their grammar-school-age sons, 20-something daughters with 50-something fathers, and the requisite college students...

If Robbie Keane has any questions about being a European soccer star in Hollywood, he can simply ask his new midfielder with all the tattoos. David Beckham is pretty sure the Irish superstar will figure it out on his own while they chase an MLS title with the Los Angeles Galaxy. With an Irish flag flying above the pitch at Home Depot Center, Keane went through his first training session Friday with his new club. He was welcomed by Beckham and Landon Donovan, who both believe Keane can fix the MLS-leading Galaxy's only serious deficiency: goal-scoring from their...

TOM KEANE'S attempt to square the circle in "Republicans against capitalism" Op-ed, Jan. 14) shows how difficult this task really is. On the one hand, Keane writes that thinking of Romney as a "job creator" at Bain Capital is "probably the wrong measure. " But he argues that his experience in allocating "capital efficiently" may have given him insight into promoting "a strong national economy. " Nowhere in his op-ed does Keane use the words "leveraged buyout," which in fact represents a major part of Romney's role at Bain.

A three-day permit to take up arms against coyotes in a Southern California retirement community has expired without any of the animals being shot. Laguna Woods City Manager Leslie Keane said Monday that no shots were fired by the pest-management company hired by the city after coyotes snatched and killed two leashed dogs, knocking down their owners. Keane says two coyotes were trapped by snares but it isn't clear if the animals were part of an estimated seven-strong pack believed to be attacking pets.

TOM KEANE'S attempt to square the circle in "Republicans against capitalism" Op-ed, Jan. 14) shows how difficult this task really is. On the one hand, Keane writes that thinking of Romney as a "job creator" at Bain Capital is "probably the wrong measure. " But he argues that his experience in allocating "capital efficiently" may have given him insight into promoting "a strong national economy. " Nowhere in his op-ed does Keane use the words "leveraged buyout," which in fact represents a major part of Romney's role at Bain.

Robbie Keane scored in the first half to help the Los Angeles Galaxy beat an Indonesian all-star team 1-0 on Wednesday night in the MLS champions' first game on its Asian tour. Keane took a short pass from Adam Cristman inside the area and slotted a right-footed shot into the bottom right corner of the net in the 14th minute. David Beckham and Landon Donovan both started for the Galaxy in front of about 30,000 spectators at 80,000-seat Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. The Galaxy will play the Philippines national team in Manila on Dec. 3, and Australian club Melbourne Victory...

PHOENIX - Bil Keane's "Family Circus" comics entertained readers with a simple but sublime mix of humor and traditional family values for more than a half century. The appeal endured, the author thought, because the American public needed the consistency. Mr. Keane, who started drawing the one-panel cartoon featuring Billy, Jeffy, Dolly, P.J., and their parents in February 1960, died Tuesday at age 89 at his longtime home in Paradise Valley, Ariz., near Phoenix. His comic strip is featured in nearly 1,500 newspapers across the country.

David Beckham put the Los Angeles Galaxy's commemorative Western Conference championship hats on his three sons as they all headed to the locker room, keeping his own head bare and clear. Beckham isn't interested in celebrating his best season in MLS unless the Galaxy can get another win and raise another trophy in two weeks. Mike Magee scored the go-ahead goal on a pass from Beckham in the 58th minute, and Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane also scored as Los Angeles advanced to the MLS Cup with a 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake on Sunday night...

James Earl Jones will have some big-name help when he returns to Broadway. Producers said Tuesday that Angela Lansbury, Candice Bergen, John Larroquette and Michael McKean will join Jones in "Gore Vidal's The Best Man" in the spring. The play debuted on Broadway in 1960 and was nominated for six Tonys. It tells the story of two politicians vying for the presidential nomination. It will have its first preview on March 6 with an official opening set for April 1 at a Shubert Theatre to be announced.

KAREN KEANE AGE: 61 OCCUPATION: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SKINNER INC. RESIDENCE: LINCOLN > How would you describe your style? It feels eclectic. When I'm auctioning in front of the Mass College of Art benefit auction, I'm wearing my Hank Snow's Nudie suit, which out of context might not make a lot of sense. If we're going to visit banks or law firms, I'm suited up in Akris. > Can you talk about wearing your hair gray? Being in the antiques business I am very sensitive to artifacts in their original condition.

WHILE THERE'S much to marvel at in Tom Keane's astonishingly cynical view of the patronage problem ("Indictments, then politics as usual," Op-ed, April 7), one comment stood out for me: in ironically sympathizing with the plight of John O'Brien and his colleagues at the Probation Department when asked by members of the Legislature for patronage appointments, Keane comments, "What were they supposed to do - say no, thereby angering the legislators who are, in effect, their bosses?" The answer is yes, they were supposed to say no. O'Brien doesn't work for the Legislature...

Boston’s waterfront has exploded in the public consciousness. It feels like the newest, coolest, and most vibrant part of the city, pulsating with activity, suddenly crammed with tourists — and even longtime Boston residents — who marvel at newly discovered delights around every corner of its 47 miles.  That’s right: 47 miles. The waterfront stretches from the southernmost tip of Dorchester through South Boston, to downtown, the North End, Charlestown, and finally to East Boston.

Since the Revolution started playing in 1996, there has been a feeling that they would be high on the list if a prominent Irish or Portuguese player became available. So, questions were raised when Robbie Keane , the Ireland national team's all-time leading scorer, joined the Los Angeles Galaxy recently. But the Revolution never really had a chance to acquire Keane, according to league and team sources. Galaxy owners Anschutz Entertainment Group had business dealings with Keane's club, Tottenham Hotspur, through a proposed Olympic stadium proposition in London.