By re-wiring brutally honest tales of self-deprecation and yearning, poignant lyricism meets its match with gloriously grungy yet anthemic soundscapes in Keo’s debut Put A Smile On For Me.
It’s almost a blueprint of everything Keo’s about. Frontman Finn Keogh’s weighted, droning vocals that pair with this intensely fuzzy guitar tone are undoubtedly what draws such a great crowd to what they have to offer. That all being said… at moments, it just doesn’t click for me.
On paper, it would all make sense: destructive guitar riffs pounding against the edge of lyrics that sink in should make for a great listen. Especially when considering that this is what most of their small yet mighty discography is built from. And there are points where this is absolutely the case. Take opener ‘Be Happy,’ for example, where we get introduced to the thrilling rush of the album’s sound through a display of all I’ve mentioned before. But trail through the rest of the album and be greeted by a sound that doesn’t want to budge. That guitar tone gets trapped in the confines of each song, not wanting to stray into unfamiliar territory. Once you’ve heard one song, you can almost predict the rest.
I do enjoy Keo’s music. The highs are extremely high, the album’s lead single ‘That’s Me’ and previously released track ‘Thorn’ being definitive examples. But if listening to the album in order, by the time you get to the third track ‘Fly,’ there’s nothing particularly new to sink your teeth into. And this is an issue that stays with us consistently for a further eight tracks. For me, it feels difficult at times to differentiate between them.
To lighten up a bit, however, much kudos can arise from Finn Keogh’s lyricism. There’s that transparency which feels like we’re flicking through the pages of a journal. It’s brave to be so candid on your first real introduction to the world, but it’s something Keo have undoubtedly excelled at.
Further highlights make themselves known when those electric guitars are swapped out for acoustic. It’s what feels like an ode to those great 90s MTV Unplugged sets; ‘Pistol’ and ‘Spent on You’ offer moments for everything to really have its own moment. We get a breather from the relentlessness that’s gone before, reminding us of what Keo are capable of.
While Put A Smile On For Me will sit nicely with a crowd that Keo’s already formed, for me, it doesn’t challenge the band. It’s clear they’ve set out a comfortable sound, but at times it can feel too familiar. That being said, Keo have undoubtedly thrown themselves headfirst into a music scene that’s crying out for more to delve into. It’s merely the beginning for a band who, if they step outside their comfort zone, will harbour a great legacy.
