‘Put A Smile On For Me’- Keo’s debut album
by Sophie Stratford
After stepping into the spotlight this year Keo released their long-awaited debut album Put A Smile on For Me on September 25th.
Opening the album is ‘Be Happy’, a song which many fans heard live at festivals this summer and loved, even before its official release. This was showcased extraordinarily at the secret album release party on Friday at a skatepark in South East London, where the band played a free show to play the album in full for the first time. Opening with this track, fans mimicked Finn’s (frontman) actions that have accompanied this song in every prior performance, with every lyric being sung back to him simultaneously.
The heavy electric guitar that opens the album continues throughout and into the second track and second single ‘That’s Me’. A fan favourite, every release show so far has seen electric energy from the fans to this song with not a single person being able to stand still during its play- as shown at the bands Plymouth show where fans accidentally broke the barricade out of sheer excitement.
Continuing to the third track, this is one that fans had not yet heard. Kept away from festival setlists ‘Fly’ slows the pace of the album early on, whilst maintaining Keo’s signature guitar involvement it has a welcome change of energy.
Swiftly into ‘Best I Can Do’, another festival favourite the guitars have picked back up. A personal favourite of mine, Keo’s songs almost feel as if they are being performed live. The passion and raw vocals of the recordings really elevate the listening experience becoming so captivating it’s almost addictive.
The first single from the album makes up the fifth track of the record- ‘Pistol’ sets the tone of the album, encapsulating the essence of the album in the one track. The strength of the guitars paired with the vulnerability in the lyrics prove just why this band is so special- the balance they achieve in their work is remarkable.
‘Bird On The Wire’, the final single released before the album itself and arguably the most mellow song on the album, provided insight into the softer side of Keo before the rest of the album tracks had been uncovered.
Following this are album tracks ‘Loser’ and ‘Black Dress’. With both tracks starting off slower they provide balance to the album, as any good album should have. Again, these tracks showcase a unique openness that brings the authenticity to Keo’s music which is adored by fans.
‘Blue Song’, exactly as the name suggests, is one of the slowest songs on the album. Often underrated, this type of song is crucial in an album of this genre. Where other songs start slow and then pick back up with guitars, this one stays consistent throughout allowing time to focus on Finn’s vocals and really take a moment to appreciate the technical aspects of the album.
Re-released hit ‘Thorn’ is the penultimate track on this album. Although this song had already been released on the bands first project, ep Siren, the band were not satisfied with the way it had been recorded, hence it is now the ‘ep version’. The new recording as seen on this album encapsulates the passion behind the song, with the album being recorded essentially in a live capacity the intensity of emotion procured is insane. As the loudest song at a Keo show, this new version of the song is sure to be cherished by fans and casual listeners alike.
The album closes beautifully with ‘Spent On You’, played by the band across shows this summer with an adoring introduction from the frontman himself. A slower song treasured by fans long before its release, with many people singing along showcasing their own emotional connection to it alongside the band, highlighting the intensity of the dedication of Keo fans and the love they hold for both the band and their music.
All-in-all, Put A Smile On For Me is an exemplary debut album. Its depth and production are unlike any other I’ve heard recently, obsessed doesn’t begin to describe it. Keo are the next big thing in indie and their rise to fame this year is incredibly well deserved.
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