Like fine wine and cheese, there’s a different track for every summer activity. Musical Prozac columnist and song connoisseur Azra Kassam considered the fine balance of tempo, melody and beat to match your favourite summer tracks with the activity du jour. 

During the summer, I find everything takes on a magical quality and I fully appreciate life’s simple pleasures under the glorious sunshine. But even the greatest moments can be made better with a complementary song to highlight the fine notes of freshly cut grass, blue skies and easy living. While there’s something to be said for the sounds of nature, here are a few recommendations when the silence just isn’t cutting it.

If you’re: Cleaning your room on a Sunday morning with all the windows open…

Try: “On Top of the World,” Imagine Dragons

Why: As awesome and fun as summer can be, mundane chores still need to be done. Fortunately, bands like Imagine Dragon produce great “pick-me-up” songs that will turn any boring task into one that will have you dancing and singing your way to a sparkling room in no time! The positive lyrics will remind you why you love life, and the rhythmic clapping will force a smile on your face whether you like it or not.

If you’re: Road tripping with your best friend with the windows down and the wind whipping through your hair…

Try: “Gold on the Ceiling,” Black Keys

Why: Since “Gold on the Ceiling” is off the Black Keys’ album El Camino, named after a 60s model Chevy, it’s only fitting that you start off your road trip playlist with this great garage rock track. In fact, go ahead and throw all the tracks off El Camino on that playlist while you’re at it. “Gold on the Ceiling,” with its bluesy riffs and driving bass (no pun intended) will be sure to keep you awake at the wheel.

If you’re: Laying under the stars with your summer love… Read more…

Since 1997, U.K. band Keane has been wooing Brits with gorgeously emotional lyrics and a distinct piano sound that set them apart from other rock bands. With more than 10 million albums sold worldwide they’ve definitely wooed fans across the pond and in other international markets. After a four-year break between their third album Perfect Symmetry and the release of their fourth album, Strangeland in 2012, Keane is back with a vengeance.

Here are five things you might not know about them:

They’ve been plotting to conquer North America: Although they have fans everywhere from Britain to China, (they were even invited by Burberry to play a concert in Beijing in 2011), Keane has yet to experience that kind of success in North America. “I think that’s been our plan for quite a few years really,” said  Tim Rice-Oxley, co-founder, chief composer and pianist. ”It’s never going to be easy for a British band to conquer America, but we feel they’ve got a lot of love for us here and we’re just really happy with that.”

They want to give you the best night of your life: Keane’s favourite thing is performing live shows and with a score of new songs and more energy than a five-year-old after a Big Gulp. They won’t disappoint. “I am looking forward to being on stage with my friends and trying to get everyone going crazy and singing along. Keane fans are really dedicated and passionate. We like every single person in the room to be having the best night of their lives,” said Rice-Oxley.

They think making music is magical: While some other artists are busy pulling out gimmicks like Mary Poppins and her carpet bag, Keane likes to keep it real and focus on the music. “We think it’s sacred, to us it’s magical that music sort of appears out of thin air. The music is something that we feel so passionate about. We don’t want to do stuff that just feels like we are doing it for commercial purposes.”

Give a listen to their newest single, “Silenced By The Night.”

They aren’t trying to be cool and they don’t care what you think about that: Read more…

KEANE almost quit when frontman TOM CHAPLIN went into rehab for drug and alcohol abuse last year, his bandmate TIM RICE-OXLEY reveals.

But pianist Rice-Oxley insists the struggle has made the group appreciate their talents and potential – and helped them come back stronger.

He says, “We’ve all been pleasantly surprised by how good it’s been. In fact, it’s been better than ever before, which none of us dared to expect.

“Coming so close to losing everything made us appreciate that we’ve got something very special.”

He adds of Chaplin, “He’s been through a lot, but he just seems to be very inspired again. He knows he’s got a gift and he doesn’t want to waste it.

“Tom is one of the best frontmen of our generation.”

(c) 2007 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All global rights reserved. No unauthorized copying or re-distributing permitted.

KEANE frontman TOM CHAPLIN is staying away from the seaside this year after a mystery illness caught surfing nearly scuppered the band’s upcoming tour.

The band were almost forced to postpone their shows in the UK and North America for the second time in six months, when Chaplin fell seriously ill with an unidentified bug. He suffered from severe vomiting and was left weakened by his subsequent weight loss.

The singer recalls, “We all went surfing in Cornwall over New Year. The weather wasn’t great but there was lots of wind – great for surfing.

“We were in the water for a while and suddenly I got hit by this huge wave. I went under for a while and swallowed lots of water. I thought I was fine but the next day I came down with this terrible illness and couldn’t stop throwing up.

“I was vomiting for days on end – I think I got legionnaire’s disease or something similar. It couldn’t have been food poisoning because we all ate the same food. I definitely got something in the water.”

The band cancelled parts of their Under The Iron Sea tour in August when Chaplin was admitted into London rehab clinic The Priory.

(c) 2007 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All global rights reserved. No unauthorized copying or re-distributing permitted.

Rock band Keane has cancelled its previously postponed fall North American tour to accommodate lead singer Tom Chaplin’s rehabilitation therapy for drug and alcohol abuse.

According to a post on the band’s website on Friday, Chaplin is not well enough to return to the road.

“Obviously it’s crucial that Tom is given the time to get better properly,” wrote Keane pianist Tim Rice-Oxley. “With the first dates in America only a fortnight away, his doctors feel there is undue pressure on Tom to rush through rehab and get back out on the road.”

“That’s why, between the three of us, we’ve decided to cancel the North American tour,” Rice-Oxley said. “We’d like to apologize to the fans who’ve bought tickets, but we’ve done this in the best interests of our friend — which, ultimately, is in the best interests of the band too.”

While the North American dates have been cancelled, a European tour is still on for October and November.

“We’ll be keeping in close touch with Tom and his doctors about how he’s progressing and we’ll keep you posted,” Rice-Oxley added.

Tom Chaplin, lead singer of British band Keane, has checked himself into a private rehab clinic for drug and alcohol addiction.

Reuters reports that three concerts have been cancelled as a result, and the band’s entire North American tour (including stops in Toronto and Vancouver) has been postponed.

“I’ve been having to deal with an increasing problem with drink and drugs, and the time has come to get the professional help I need to sort myself out,” read a posting from Chaplin on the band’s Web site (www.keanemusic.com).

Last week, word came from the band that Chaplin was suffering from exhaustion.

While refunds will be provided to ticketholders for the cancelled shows — in Ibiza, Edinburgh and Dublin — rescheduled dates for the North American tour should be announced sometime this week.