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Amazon.com: Coldplay Photos Amazon.co.uk: To say there has been a lot of anticipation for Coldplay’s fourth album, Viva La Vida, is an understatement. Having enlisted legendary leftfield producer Brian Eno, borrowed their album title from a painting by renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and made tantalising remarks about sonic reinvention, the world has been curious (to say the least) to hear what the ‘new’ Coldplay might sound like. Viva La Vida definitely makes some departures from the band’s usual formula, which happens to be one of the most commercially successful rock-pop blueprints of recent years. The plangent chords, emotive melodies, stadium-rock rhythms and universal lyrical concerns remain, but Martin and co. have gone out on several limbs here, incorporating instrumental tracks ("Life In Technicolour"), using subtle North African and Latin elements ("Yes", "Strawberry Swing"), and overhauling previously strict verse-chorus-verse structures in favour of slightly more avant arrangements. The old Coldplay still shine through (see tracks like "Violet Hill" and the title song) but even their classic sound feels more muscular and confident. The band’s new flourishes, cosmetic and self-conscious as they may be, are enough to make Viva La Vida a welcome break from the old routine--Danny McKenna Customer Reviews: Rating: 
Date: 2008-07-21
coldplay album
I honestly had not heard of Coldplay until the recent TV add. Now I'm listening to their new album all the time, buy it!! Rating: 
Date: 2008-07-21
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back!
Coldplay has come out with a much awaited album amid criticism aimed at sappy self-absorbed lyrics, and uninspiring major chord tunes (for those of us who want something more involved).
Guitarist Johnny Buckland has done better this time, although he hasn't done anything groundbreaking--influences that come to mind are Radiohead and U2. That being said, the new music of Coldplay doesn't necessarily match the old voice of Chris Martin, who continues to weep and squeak--this time over "death and his friends." Perhaps next time he'll sweep us off our feet.
It's good to hear Colplay taking a different approach than their past albums, experimenting with different lyrics and music, and with that in mind I'd recommend this album to any past or present Coldplay fan, and in the spirit of trying something out, to an anti-Coldplayer. Rating:
Date: 2008-07-21
Viva La Vida
Wow! The songs are well-written and composed with great ideas and themes that take the listener into other realms from diverse times and places. Rating:
Date: 2008-07-21
Coldplay finally grows some backbone, again.
What first drew me to this band was their knack for creating such an atmospheric experience. Call it shoegaze music, call it whatever you want...the band, as a whole, created something unique and totally original with their release of 'Parachutes'. That disc was basically a body part to me for an extended period of time after it's release...and it's still a regular in my cd player.
The next albums, while there were definitely noteworthy songs, were a bit of a letdown for me. Chris Martin seemed to take center stage, so I never got the sense of a BAND geling together to create something spectacular and memorable...as they accomplished with 'Parachutes'. Sometimes bands seem to "play it safe" after such a successful debut album. This was the impression that I got anyway.
'Viva La Vida' is a remarkable, well-crafted gem. The musical prowess of every member of the band is witnessed on the entire album. After listening to the haunting opening track, "Life In Technicolor", I somehow knew this album would be magnificent. It is only an instrumental, but nothing needed to be said. The backing vocals in "Cemeteries of London" and "Death and All His Friends" give me goosebumps on each listen. "Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love" is the best song Coldplay has ever done. As a man, I am not afraid to admit that this song makes my eyes water everytime I listen to it. It is that beautiful. It is that engaging.
'Viva La Vida' is not only a return to form, it is a masterpiece. Rating: 
Date: 2008-07-21
Good music, but not able to play CD on MacBook
No complaints about the content, but my copy of a CD can not be
played on MacBook. The laptop keeps spitting it out, so I can not open
it in iTunes or transfer songs to iPod. This is frustrating because, after legally purchasing a CD, I can not listen to it as I would like. |
