| Name | Artist | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Life In Technicolor | Coldplay | 2:29 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
2
|
Cemeteries of London | Coldplay | 3:21 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
3
|
Lost! | Coldplay | 3:55 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
4
|
42 | Coldplay | 3:57 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
5
|
Lovers In Japan / Reign of Love | Coldplay | 6:50 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
6
|
Yes | Coldplay | 7:06 | Album Only | View In iTunes |
|
7
|
Viva la Vida | Coldplay | 4:01 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
8
|
Violet Hill | Coldplay | 3:42 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
9
|
Strawberry Swing | Coldplay | 4:09 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
10
|
Death and All His Friends | Coldplay | 6:23 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
11
|
Lost? | Coldplay | 3:42 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
| Total: 11 Songs |
iTunes Review
Coldplay's choice of U2 producer Brian Eno to oversee the majority of their fourth album, Vida la Vida, doesn’t alter their sound so much as refine it. Coldplay are a polite sounding group, eager with melody and attracted to smooth surfaces; the extra guitar shimmers and the elegantly programmed orchestrations are hardly a departure for them. Several tracks, including the title track and “Lovers in Japan,” veer closely to U2 territory, adopting their marching lope, hijacking their percussive yet ambient guitars, and swallowing up singer Chris Martin in a blur of reverb, but then Coldplay has often resembled a modest version of the Irish supergroup in their ambient ambitions. Martin's social conscience can be heard underneath the murky rock and hypnotic drones. “Violet Hill” explores his own mixed feelings towards violence, trying to discern what is necessary versus what is excessive. The title track is either calling for the end of the world or celebrating the end of an empire. Martin’s worldview may be filled with unsolvable paradoxes, but his band builds a commanding presence as the musical authority that drives “Yes,” “Life in Technicolor,” and the gorgeous “Lost!” makes clear.
Customer Reviews
This one is a grower
I’ve been listening to this album streamed for nearly a week, and I’ve got to say, the first listen had me ready to cancel my pre-order. This album starts out with Life in Technicolor, aptly called a “middle of the road instrumental” with no real interest. It’s followed by Cemeteries of London and Lost, which despite Cemeteries of London’s piano introduction, are mostly beat and texture-driven. These three introduce Coldplay’s new sound on the album. The last few albums, differences aside, had a cold, pure tone to them, with sudden big climaxes. This one is much warmer and down to earth, and the first three songs especially find a groove and then build on them to a less lofty peak than they might have 3 years ago.
Back to the tracks themselves. 42 is more interesting, but it’s bipolar contrast between the restrained, dark piano ballad and the outburst that forms the second half of the song is jarring and shatters the mood, though both parts are very good. Lovers in Japan sounded has a great melody and strong piano-drum interplay, but due to the thick production and pounding metronomic beat, it slipped by me that first time. Reign of Love struck me as extremely clichéd, and I felt (and still feel) like I’ve heard it many times before. This is a weak track, and if it weren’t bundled with Lovers in Japan, which is actually quite good by the third time around, next to no one would buy it. At this point, I was thinking that this all there was to hear and that I should go listen to.
Then Yes came on. This is the best song on the album by far. The opening is reminiscent of I Am The Walrus, and Yes keeps with the eastern/psychedelic sound as it turns into one of the best songs Coldplay has ever written. It has a great tension that drives it like no Coldplay song since God Put A Smile Upon Your Face. All the elements on the album mix perfectly here, from the strings and heavy bass to the dark lyrics and bending lead guitar. It’s an awful shame that it’s album-only. If it were not, it would be the first you should buy. Yes’s hidden track, Chinese Sleep Chant, is a very different move for Coldplay. There is no audible piano, and Chris Martin’s voice is buried beneath loud jangling guitars all through the track, and that’s probably why it’s hidden.
Viva la Vida you all know by now, and it sounds a lot more like classic Coldplay. The thing that really shines is the lyrics. They are poetic and upbeat despite dealing with a dethroned king (a refreshing subject given Coldplay’s profuse love songs and insecurity). The lyrics on the rest of the album aren’t phenomenal, but Viva la Vida’s are really, really good. Violet Hill, the first single, has a lot more piano and some of the cleaner sound of previous albums, but the aggression here, especially in the repetitive guitar solo, is something that previously only appeared on non-album tracks like “How You See the World No. 2” and “Pour Me,” but that I’d like to hear more of. It makes the music much more immediate and gripping. Violet Hill is a real climax for the album, and after it, you expect a soothing last two tracks, and Strawberry Swing delivers this, It’s one of the happiest songs Coldplay has ever written, conjures a lying on the grass, enjoying nature sort of mood. The last track and the acoustic Lost I will leave to you to find out.
People who disliked X&Y (and I’m not one of them) should find this more to their taste. It’s very produced, sometimes too much, but the basis of the songs is more acoustic. The bass and drums are more prominent and driving, the piano gives way to make room for guitar and strings, and the songs aren’t so much a backdrop for Chris Martin as a wave his lyrics ride. Chances are, you will love this or hate this, but either way, the more you listen, the more you will like it.
To prove this, click “yes” if this album sounded a lot better to you the 2nd or 3rd time around around.
No review could possibly scratch the surface of this album’s greatness…
But I’ll try:
Track 1: Life in Technicolor - X/10
- I decided that this instrumental should not be ranked, because what truly makes a Coldplay song is Martin’s incredible lyrics. However, this song is still a solid opener to their 4th studio album
Track 2: Cemeteries Of London - 8/10
- A rather dark and unsettling beginning soon builds into a beautiful work of music and then gently fades into an ending guided by piano. Cemeteries Of London is the strongest 8/10 on the album
Track 3: Lost? - 8/10
- Despite the previous track’s soft and smooth ending, Lost? starts with a bang and is kept in rhythm with a clap every other beat. I personally believe that the acoustic version of Lost? would have fit better here.
Track 4: 42 - 10/10
- Wow. 42 starts out similar to “The Scientist”, but at 1:36 this song picks up tempo, and makes use of a beautiful string orchestra. Buckland also rewards listeners with a powerful guitar solo (much better than Violet Hill’s). My personal favorite.
Track 5 (part 1): Lovers In Japan - 9/10
- Quirky (and mildly oriental) piano sparks off this quick and hopeful song, but at 3:45 it fades into part 2
Track 5 (part 2): Reign of Love - 7/10
- In my opinion, part 2 isn’t as memorable as part 1. Honestly this ballad could have been cut with no resulting damage to the album as a whole.
Track 6 (part 1): Yes! - 10/10
- Incredible. The first part of Yes! contains lyrics second only to Viva la Vida, and my favorite hook on the album. The album’s Hispanic influences shine here.
Track 6 (part 2): Yes! - 6/10
- Perhaps I’m being a bit harsh here, but the two for one deal in this song truly ruins an amazing first 4 minutes. Part 2 is nice, don’t get me wrong, but seems to have the words filler written all over it.
Track 7: Viva la Vida - 10/10
- Yeah that’s right, 10/10. You have all heard it, and should all love it. Beautiful lyrics make this song the standout on the album for a good reason. My only fear is that heavy radio exposure will diminish the effect of this undeniable Coldplay classic.
Track 8: Violet Hill - 8/10
- Coldplay chose Violet Hill as their first unofficial single, and rightly so. It is quite possibly the most unique track on the album thanks to its heavy, distorted guitar provided by Buckland. The ending is equally beautiful.
Track 9: Strawberry Swing - 7/10
- Pretty, but nothing here that would make it standout from other songs on the album. Possibly the only “filler” on the album.
Track 10: Death And All His Friends - 8/10
- What a pretty ending. After Martin finishes a classic Coldplay ballad, we are returned to Life in Technicolor and Coldplay's 4th studio album comes to a close.
Recommended Listening:
- 42
- Viva la Vida
- Yes!
Thank the musical Gods for Coldplay!
Coldplay's 'Dark Side Of The Moon'
I listened to this album a week ago and didn't like it at all. Tonight when it was officially released, I put on my good pair of headphones and lied down in bed to give the album an hones listen. Wow.
This album truly is a new but wonderful direction for Coldplay. This is coldplay's dark side of the moon. I think it could be considered a concept album even. From the stunningly beautiful opening instrumental "Life In Technicolor" to the final quiet notes of "Death and All His Friends", this album takes the listener on an incredible sonic journey that feels like an epic trip. Every song is unbelievable and together they weave a beautifully layered and at times angelic masterpiece.
I realize now that the reason I didn't like it the first time around was because I was listening for the wrong things. I was hoping for hits like yellow and te scientist. You won't find them on this album. I definitely think the album should be viewed as an album with a thread running through all of the songs instead of a collection of songs , which is how I would classify their last three albums.
In short, buy the album and listen to it all the way through. I know some coldplay fans will be disappointed by this, but if they try to understamd the beauty of the album as a whole and listen to it with that mindset, I think they will like what they hear.
Biography
Formed: 1998 in London, England
Genre: Alternative
Years Active: '90s, '00s
Top Albums and Songs by Coldplay
| Name | Album | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Viva la Vida | Viva la Vida | 4:01 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
2
|
Clocks | A Rush of Blood to the Head | 5:07 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
3
|
The Scientist | A Rush of Blood to the Head | 5:09 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
4
|
Viva la Vida | Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends | 4:04 | Album Only | View In iTunes |
|
5
|
Fix You | X & Y | 4:55 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
6
|
Speed of Sound | X & Y | 4:48 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
7
|
Yellow | Parachutes | 4:29 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
8
|
Violet Hill | Viva la Vida | 3:42 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
9
|
Talk | X & Y | 5:11 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
10
|
In My Place | A Rush of Blood to the Head | 3:48 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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2
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- $9.99
- Genres: Alternative, Music, Rock, Adult Alternative
- Released: Jun 11, 2008
- ℗ 2008 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by EMI Records Ltd
