New Coldplay
May 6, 2008 by Michael
You should like Coldplay because they jump around in boxes just like you do. Oh you don’t? Oh…well they do. So like them.
Say what you want about Coldplay, but no matter what you say, they do have legitimate song-crafting talent.
It’s almost a given that the cool indie kids all bash Coldplay. In fact, it’s become so ubiquitous that I think it’s come full circle; you’re now cool and hip if you’re brave enough to admit that Coldplay is actually pretty good…with qualifications, of course. One mustn’t forget the qualifications.
Whatever, without further ado, here is the reason for my post. It’s 3:25 AM and just before heading off to sleep, I stumbled upon the FREE new single from Coldplay’s upcoming album, “Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends.” Yes, I thought of Ricky Martin too.
I’m likin’ the song and I’m hoping the new album lives up to my expectations.
Song of the Day:
Go get the FREE single! It’s called “Violet Hill.”
Well, it looks like it’s no longer available for free. You can go listen to it though. Sorry if you, like me, didn’t know about this a week ago, and missed out (I got it last minute). I could just upload it, but I’m not testing the RIAA gods on this one. I’m sure they’re out like hawks. Hungry ones.
I don’t know if it’s just me, but I wasn’t feeling the song much =.=; even after like 5 listens. But I know I’ll like the album. I’m a big fan.
It’s a gear change, a refreshing piece of songwriting, the lyrics speak clearer than ever and the song has a stomping, urgent intensity about it thats a step away from the first three ‘trilogy’ like albums that filled stadiums with everyman anthems. They’ve bled darker deeds here and hopefully the new album will speak for itself as a consequence. Everyone in the media seems excited by the prospekt (!) of a coldplay backlash, surely they’ve gotta fail now ‘cos the title’s too pretentious and they can only keep coming up with the same sort of anthems for so long…well i’ll be betting this; their new album will resonate for years to come - it’ll be darker, more experimental, patchier (style wise) but i’ve got that excited feeling I get when something good’s on the way. Coldplay release albums every 3 years. Parachutes was understated, typically sleepy and debut-like for a soft rock band, their follow up broke the musical box, a perfect composure in my opinion. Their third was an even bigger, bolder stadium smashing effort and took us to places like speed of sound, white shadows, talk, low…clearly closing their first major chapter as a global band, capable of equalling U2 in the hairs-on-the-back-of-your-neck style songwriting.
The new album will sell itself if it’s good enough. My only fear is that people have alreayd put coldplay to bed. I agree that indie kids almost enjoy knocking good songwriters like coldplay - it’s easier too than not! - We live in an increasingly selfish society that says pull the ladder up jack and to hell with the rest. (Probably the Evening Standard and Boris Johnson’s fault) ….coldplay remind us we’re all human, we’re all affected by the heart strings. Cold simply add rythmn to that feeling and sell it us. Not many bands do that well.
Here’s my list of the bands and artists that can make you drift and dream but do ti with style grace and reason..
U2, Greenday, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Oasis, R.E.M, John Mayer, Radiohead, Ryan Adams, Incubus
I hated X&Y, which I’ve dubbed “the Paltrow album”, but I’m liking the new single. It sounds a bit different for them, which is probably because of Brian Eno. Hopefully the rest of the album is good too.
Juice: I didn’t immediately like the song either. But that changed either during that first listen or on my second one.
Anon: Hit the nail on the head. I’m just wondering why you didn’t leave a name.
Dan: You know, I didn’t really like “X&Y” either. But at the time, I knew (or rather, thought) in my head that it was arguably their best album…as far as their musical and songwriting skills went, not lovableness, or even consistency. I think their peaks on that album were the highest they’ve been in their career. I didn’t like “A Rush of Blood to the Head” at first either…but it grew on me. “X&Y” has taken a lot longer but I can dig it now. (”Twisted Logic” is such an under-rated song from that album.)
With that said, I’m expecting this 4th album to be head and shoulders above anything they’ve done before. Or at least a couple notches…at least. I hope. “X&Y” was supposed to be their huge breakthrough masterpiece.
Oh! This is another moment where you can think that I’m pathetic:
I don’t listen to Coldplay.
And not because I don’t like them. It’s just that I only know of that one single they released a long time ago (must’ve been their first US single?) and I haven’t been exposed to them since. No exposure to Coldplay all this time? Seems crazy, yes, but it’s possible.
I don’t think you’re pathetic. I have thought you were maybe deprived of a little life (c’mon…you haven’t seen “Singin’ in the Rain”!!), but never pathetic.
Well, I suggest you get your hands on their first two albums to get acquainted….and then go watch “Singin’ in the Rain” after.
I’m not embarrased to say I like Coldplay. I just like what I like and they’re music is perfect for opening up a bottle of wine and cooking a meal or a lazy day at the lake. I saw them live at Austin City Limits 3 years ago and they were so modest and gracious it was unbelievable and by the way, at that performance Chris Martin told everyone to go out and see Arcade Fire. He said that after hearing them, he just wanted to throw the towel in and quit. That was how I learned about them.
That’s one of the things I like about Coldplay…their earnest sincerity. And that’s also what a lot of people find annoying about them. They say they’re too nice or “harmless.”
What I find refreshing about Coldplay is that you can see that they truly want to make the best music they can. And they really want to please EVERYONE…which may be one of their weaknesses. They may fall short sometimes, but I can’t help but root for them. And they may be annoying sometimes, but you almost can’t help overlooking it.
But yeah, like I said, I’m convinced they want to make the best music they can muster…and that’s not something you can say about every “successful” band out there.
Ok, Mr. Kim. You got me into Sigur Ros, but you will not–I REPEAT–NOT get me into Cold Play. Can’t do it. Ever since that damn “Yellow” song was stuck in my head for 5 years…
dammit!
“And it was all….yellow.”