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Music : Viva La Vida
Rating: 
- Think I finally understand this album
This one has been tricky. Because at first, I really thought this album was garbage. And I don't think it's Coldplay's best effort, but there are some really cool moments on this album that you really need to listen to for a while until you "get it." With the exception of the single... that's pretty happening from the first time you listen.
Could some of the lyrics be better? On some tracks, certainly. And that was my biggest problem with it listening the first few times. But, in reality, it's an atmospheric record, designed more to set the mood than for each song to stand on it's own (in my opinion). So when you listen as a whole album, it does work.
I REALLY wanted the last track, Death And All His Friends to take off into something bigger. Was somewhat disappointed that's where the album left off. But, all in all, it was an artist album, and while I'm not sure it should've earned the title of number one downloaded album of all time, it is still worth picking up.
If you don't like it at first, give it a while. Then if you still hate it, hey, it was only a few bucks down the drain.
Rating:
- Producer Eno burnishes Coldplay sound
As might be expected, producer Brian Eno has once again done his magic for a popular band that (in this case) was in need of some direction. His approach of layering tracks to slowly build a song's momentum seems a perfect match for Coldplay's material and general style, giving this album a stylistic focus that was lacking in XY.
Rating:
- As Pink Floyd as it gets...
This album is horrible when compared to their earlier discography. I don't know why people like it so much unless they are just fans turned into mindless zombies by the media industry's hype about it. I became a fan of Coldplay because of their first album, Parachutes. In my opinion, they've been going downhill ever since they broke out into the mainstream and their sound lost its guitar-driven base. "X & Y" was a major let down and I only like "Fix You" and "Til Kingdom Come" on that album. "A Rush of Blood to the Head" isn't much better with the only stand out gem being "The Scientist." This album only has "Viva La Vida" as a stand alone song of any merit and even that is just so-so when held up against the songs I just mentioned. The major flaw with this album, it would seem, comes in the form of the producer. To put it into the words of Amazon.com's review, the flaw lies in the following statement: "Having enlisted legendary leftfield producer [Roger Waters]..." I spliced the name of Pink Floyd bassist and singer/songwriter into that sentence because this album sounds just like their later work with Waters. It's not a bad album if you're in a slow, thoughtful mood and have the time to sit through the whole thing but there are NO good songs save for the title track. The last track has a nice catchy part that is stuck in my head right now, but the part starts at 1:18 and ends at about 3:20 and it's too much trouble to mess around on my ipod to zero in on it. Pink Floyd albums also suffer from this problem. In conclusion, it's a "great" piece of experimental mood music as far as the overall sound of the album is concerned but the songs are just terrible. My advice, skip this and buy Keane's new album set to come out later this fall!
Rating: - Coldplay
Great album probably their best to date.
I thoroghly enjoy their music and always buy their albums.
Great selection of music.
Rating:
- A Beautiful, Masterful Pop Album -- NOW I'm A Fan
It's really weird how the same music can affect different people in such radically different ways. The varied opinions of VIVA LA VIDA on this forum are striking. I've never really considered myself to be much of a Coldplay fan (was always more into Radiohead, by comparison) but - wow! - they really won me over on this one. I took a liking to it immediately.
Every song here is top quality and every song is expertly composed and orchestrated. Major props to Brian Eno whose production style is clearly evident. The musicians are never flashy - every instrument serves to compliment Chris Martin's superb vocal melodies. Chris has grown quite a bit as a vocalist and he sings in surprizingly different ways throughout the album.
Even though there are no mind-blowing solos or proggy freak-outs to be heard, the arrangements are sophisticated and reveal greater depth upon repeated listens. The instrumentation and musical textures are varied and engaging, yet the songs breathe naturally. Nothing feels contrived or forced.
No song on VIVA LA VIDA sticks out or dominates like previous pop juggernaut "Clocks." Rather, the album works as a cohesive whole. As with most any group, echos of influence can be detected, yet the album still feels original rather than derivative. "Cemetaries of London" employs a rhythm reminiscent of an old sea shanty while "Yes" makes use of a Middle Eastern sounding violin before it launches off on an exuberant alt-rock tangent to close out the track. Meanwhile, "Violet Hill" sounds kinda like the best Supertramp or updated old-school Genesis song you've never heard (it's way better than those groups but employs their same sort of style). And the beautifully orchestrated "Strawberry Swing" is "feel-good" music of the highest order. In fact, this whole album feels so good it practically makes me high (well, not quite!). This despite some of the rather dark subject matter including politics, war, religion and death. I also love the luminous opening instrumental track whose synthesizer reappears at the end of the last song, a nice way to bookend the album and add to its cohesiveness.
Coldplay had some great hit songs on A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD, but I didn't know they (along with Eno and some other first-rate producers) could make an entire record this fantastic. I expect to be listening to VIVA LA VIDA years from now. Highly recommended! Oh, and I'll have to go back and give X&Y another chance. I heard it once and wasn't turned on by it at all, but maybe I just need to give it some more listens.
AN ASIDE: yet another FN CD booklet with scrawled, obscured, incomplete and barely legible lyrics and other writing. This highly annoying practice has been around for decades and why anyone ever thought it was a good idea in the first place is beyond me. I'm also not too crazy about the cover, taking a classic painting and trashing it with graffiti. But that doesn't bother me nearly as much as the junky words all over the inside of the CD booklet. C'mon people: either publish your lyrics legibly and in their entirety or don't publish them at all. Don't make us strain our eyes trying to figure out what, if anything, you're trying to say in print. CD booklet rating: D
- Think I finally understand this albumThis one has been tricky. Because at first, I really thought this album was garbage. And I don't think it's Coldplay's best effort, but there are some really cool moments on this album that you really need to listen to for a while until you "get it." With the exception of the single... that's pretty happening from the first time you listen.
Could some of the lyrics be better? On some tracks, certainly. And that was my biggest problem with it listening the first few times. But, in reality, it's an atmospheric record, designed more to set the mood than for each song to stand on it's own (in my opinion). So when you listen as a whole album, it does work.
I REALLY wanted the last track, Death And All His Friends to take off into something bigger. Was somewhat disappointed that's where the album left off. But, all in all, it was an artist album, and while I'm not sure it should've earned the title of number one downloaded album of all time, it is still worth picking up.
If you don't like it at first, give it a while. Then if you still hate it, hey, it was only a few bucks down the drain.
Rating:
- Producer Eno burnishes Coldplay soundAs might be expected, producer Brian Eno has once again done his magic for a popular band that (in this case) was in need of some direction. His approach of layering tracks to slowly build a song's momentum seems a perfect match for Coldplay's material and general style, giving this album a stylistic focus that was lacking in XY.
Rating:
- As Pink Floyd as it gets...This album is horrible when compared to their earlier discography. I don't know why people like it so much unless they are just fans turned into mindless zombies by the media industry's hype about it. I became a fan of Coldplay because of their first album, Parachutes. In my opinion, they've been going downhill ever since they broke out into the mainstream and their sound lost its guitar-driven base. "X & Y" was a major let down and I only like "Fix You" and "Til Kingdom Come" on that album. "A Rush of Blood to the Head" isn't much better with the only stand out gem being "The Scientist." This album only has "Viva La Vida" as a stand alone song of any merit and even that is just so-so when held up against the songs I just mentioned. The major flaw with this album, it would seem, comes in the form of the producer. To put it into the words of Amazon.com's review, the flaw lies in the following statement: "Having enlisted legendary leftfield producer [Roger Waters]..." I spliced the name of Pink Floyd bassist and singer/songwriter into that sentence because this album sounds just like their later work with Waters. It's not a bad album if you're in a slow, thoughtful mood and have the time to sit through the whole thing but there are NO good songs save for the title track. The last track has a nice catchy part that is stuck in my head right now, but the part starts at 1:18 and ends at about 3:20 and it's too much trouble to mess around on my ipod to zero in on it. Pink Floyd albums also suffer from this problem. In conclusion, it's a "great" piece of experimental mood music as far as the overall sound of the album is concerned but the songs are just terrible. My advice, skip this and buy Keane's new album set to come out later this fall!
Rating:
- ColdplayGreat album probably their best to date.
I thoroghly enjoy their music and always buy their albums.
Great selection of music.
Rating:
- A Beautiful, Masterful Pop Album -- NOW I'm A FanIt's really weird how the same music can affect different people in such radically different ways. The varied opinions of VIVA LA VIDA on this forum are striking. I've never really considered myself to be much of a Coldplay fan (was always more into Radiohead, by comparison) but - wow! - they really won me over on this one. I took a liking to it immediately.
Every song here is top quality and every song is expertly composed and orchestrated. Major props to Brian Eno whose production style is clearly evident. The musicians are never flashy - every instrument serves to compliment Chris Martin's superb vocal melodies. Chris has grown quite a bit as a vocalist and he sings in surprizingly different ways throughout the album.
Even though there are no mind-blowing solos or proggy freak-outs to be heard, the arrangements are sophisticated and reveal greater depth upon repeated listens. The instrumentation and musical textures are varied and engaging, yet the songs breathe naturally. Nothing feels contrived or forced.
No song on VIVA LA VIDA sticks out or dominates like previous pop juggernaut "Clocks." Rather, the album works as a cohesive whole. As with most any group, echos of influence can be detected, yet the album still feels original rather than derivative. "Cemetaries of London" employs a rhythm reminiscent of an old sea shanty while "Yes" makes use of a Middle Eastern sounding violin before it launches off on an exuberant alt-rock tangent to close out the track. Meanwhile, "Violet Hill" sounds kinda like the best Supertramp or updated old-school Genesis song you've never heard (it's way better than those groups but employs their same sort of style). And the beautifully orchestrated "Strawberry Swing" is "feel-good" music of the highest order. In fact, this whole album feels so good it practically makes me high (well, not quite!). This despite some of the rather dark subject matter including politics, war, religion and death. I also love the luminous opening instrumental track whose synthesizer reappears at the end of the last song, a nice way to bookend the album and add to its cohesiveness.
Coldplay had some great hit songs on A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD, but I didn't know they (along with Eno and some other first-rate producers) could make an entire record this fantastic. I expect to be listening to VIVA LA VIDA years from now. Highly recommended! Oh, and I'll have to go back and give X&Y another chance. I heard it once and wasn't turned on by it at all, but maybe I just need to give it some more listens.
AN ASIDE: yet another FN CD booklet with scrawled, obscured, incomplete and barely legible lyrics and other writing. This highly annoying practice has been around for decades and why anyone ever thought it was a good idea in the first place is beyond me. I'm also not too crazy about the cover, taking a classic painting and trashing it with graffiti. But that doesn't bother me nearly as much as the junky words all over the inside of the CD booklet. C'mon people: either publish your lyrics legibly and in their entirety or don't publish them at all. Don't make us strain our eyes trying to figure out what, if anything, you're trying to say in print. CD booklet rating: D
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