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Genre: alt rock, brit pop, piano rock Rating:  ½Check Out: “Violet Hill,” “Viva La Vida,” “Strawberry Swing,” and “Cemeteries of London.”  myspace |
In their fourth official album, Coldplay is apparently all about statements. The musical tone, the relative lack of grandiose sounds compared to their previous work, and the lyrical storytelling shows a movement away from the insular world of frontman Chris Martin’s lyrics and the band’s rock undertones towards an enclosure of the world and history in general. It’s an admirable sentiment to be sure, but Coldplay just can’t seem to do it. This album is essentially a remastering of X&Y, with the simplified sound leaning more toward the simplistic roots of Parachutes than a drastic change of pace for the band. I won’t deny that this new album is catchy, but what Coldplay album isn’t?
I have to confess that what irks me the most about this album is the album art. The use of Liberty Leading the People (French: La Liberté guidant le peuple) by Eugène Delacroix is ridiculous, if only because it’s a part of French history on a British alt rock album. But it’s the painting itself that holds a deeper meaning of revolution. I would expect Radiohead to use this painting as their album art, but even they have the sense (or the humility?) to avoid something as grand as that. I’ve had the opportunity to view this painting at the Louvre itself, and I can certainly say the music hardly does justice to the painting and/or the sentiment behind it.
Coldplay is just starting to bore me. They seem to be incapable of anything that isn’t formulaic or a rehash of “Clocks.” “Violet Hill” had some potential, but there are so many other better artists in the world who deserve the millions that Coldplay has already made from this album. What a waste of time and money.
Tags: coldplay, viva la vida
Coldplay are one of the worst bands around at the moment, I give it about 3 months before most of the songs on here are used in commercials. Living in the UK it’s all Coldplay, Coldplay, Coldplay but I cannot see any strong song-writing capabilities in this band. Each album they release is too similar to the last.
The album art is a stupid idea. This is music for people who buy their albums with their weekly shopping at the supermarket.
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It’s interesting that you brought up the fact that their songs might be used in commercials. I was checking out their Wikipedia page and found a blurb that said they would never allow their music to be used for commercials. Of course, Wikipedia isn’t exactly reputable, but I noticed they were making commercials for iTunes while promoting their album. If that isn’t a marketing ploy, I don’t know what is.
It’s Coldplay, Coldplay, Coldplay here in the States too, so I get pretty annoyed as well. I consider the album art to be sacrilege at this point so I won’t comment on it, but I do agree that each album is too similar. They need to retire and live on their royalties.
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Well, that’s a relief. Coldplay songs in commercials have been a common thing in the past. It’s not that I mind what they do with their music as long as they are aware that they strip away their own credibility. Almost as if they had half an eye on this market as they were making the album, hence the similarities.
It still hurts to hear a Cure song in a commercial!
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