Album reviews: David Keenan, Coldplay and Maria Kelly

Releases that reflect recent stressful times from two Irish singer/songwriters and a ninth album from a stalwart of British rock are reviewed this week

David Keenan: the Dundalk singer/songwriter’s second album establishes him as an original, eloquent artist

SINGER-SONGWRITER

David Keenan

What Then? (Rubyworks Records)

David Keenan’s debut album may have been yet another victim of the pandemic (A Beginner’s Guide to Bravery was released about a month before everything went haywire), but the Dundalk singer/songwriter has truly rallied with this follow-up. As if to prove to himself as much as anyone else, the songs here – delivered in taut, acoustic spurts – evoke various mental states across the past 18 months. From ...