The jolt that shot through my body when I saw the album announcement on Keo’s Instagram felt like a hundred bolts of lightning striking the same spot at once. I don’t think I’ve ever checked a tracklist that fast in my life. And yes, I’m a little heartbroken that some of my favourite unreleased songs didn’t make the cut again, but that sadness barely grazes the sheer relief of finally getting proper recorded versions of the tracks I’ve been clinging to through grainy live clips for months. There’s something almost surreal about seeing songs you’ve lived with in such an intimate, unofficial way suddenly crystallise into their “real” forms. Also, “Spent On You” is probably my favourite Keo song ever, so seeing it on the tracklist nearly sent me into orbit.
Anyway. I’m glad I saw Keo live before this release, because I’m almost certain this album is the one that’s going to launch them into the ranks of the big bands. Dropping a live record before a studio debut was a bold, borderline reckless move, but it paid off: it built a loyal, thirsty fanbase who are more than ready to devour the studio versions of songs they’ve been living with for so long. This album feels like the payoff to that long, slow burn of anticipation.
Keo is one of the very few bands who can pull a physical reaction out of me. Many a song has left me literally clutching my chest or closing my eyes to take it all in. I caught myself largely affected, especially by the sound of their guitars. But what I found most impressive is that I have found myself complimenting every single instrument involved at one point. Everyone gets to shine here. It’s all so intentional and emotionally loaded, you can hear the hours of craft behind every layer. The production is immaculate in its simplicity, which is something I’ve admired across every single and EP they’ve released so far, but here it feels fully realised, despite its very raw sound. Perhaps that is what makes it so special.
There are clear standouts on this album. "Loser", a deeply emotional and personal song is taking Keo's artistry to a new level. And the fully realised studio version of "Fly" leaves you honestly speechless for all of its three minutes and thirty-three seconds. The problem here, perhaps generally, were the expectations riding on this album. "Spent On You", a song I've been looking forward to forever, lost a bit of its live edge, and plays out a lot tamer than expected. Still good, just different than expected.
"Blue Song" is where Keo really shine. With its Jeff Buckley - Radiohead sound, the band gets the chance to build up to the song's later detonation, which is done masterfully. Perhaps one of my favourite Keo things they do. When it fades into "Thorn", a track that has famously found its place on Siren already, the change in production is highlighted the most. It's a lot quicker than the original, more raw and reminiscent of its live moments. And honestly, this almost live-sounding recording gives the track the space it needs.
All in all, Put A Smile On For Me is a more than solid debut album and it will be good for the band to have a catalogue out, so that new music can be realised in the shadows, and not under the constant scrutiny of hungry fans. Live without the expectations of already existing songs for a little while.
PUT A SMILE ON FOR ME OUT NOW.
Words by
Marie Müller, 2026