Coldplay - Viva La Vida
(EMI) CD & LP
Yes, you’re likely afraid to admit if you like Coldplay. We at the store have been discussing this ponderous issue quite a bit lately as well. But regardless of the band’s slightly feathery image or whatever you think of Chris Martin, with Viva La Vida, they have done quite a bit of adventuring for a number 1 act. Sure, getting Brian Eno to produce your next record is predictable, but it’s Brian Eno… you know, GENIUS! (I’ll take him over Dangermouse anyday) If you want to, you can train-spot direct influences all over this record, it’s kinda fun: Joshua Tree-era U2 is a biggie, especially with the jubilation of openers “Life In Technicolour” & “Cemetaries Of London”; you’ll be waiting for Kanye to chime in over the bumping kicks & claps of “Lost?”; the march & elation of Acrade Fire is present in “Lovers In Japan” & closer “Death & All His Friends”; a little bit of Radiohead’s breakbeats throughout “42”; and “Yes!” goes from a Beirut-styled baltic string refrain to soaring My Bloody Valentine shoegaze. So yeah, very ethereal, very melodic. Pretty fucking good for the most popular band in the world. Remember when Limp Bizkit ruled the charts? This is infinitely better than that. Hopefully, Coldplay’s popularity doesn’t cloud this record’s interesting production, new structural approaches and abundance of catchy, singable melodies. Bravo.
