- by Jason Gregory
- Tuesday, June 10, 2008
- filed in: Indie
The fact that ‘Viva La Vida…’ opens with an instrumental (‘Life In Technicolor’) probably says a lot about Coldplay’s intentions with this album. Whereas Martin was once the predominant force driving the band’s music – one thinks of his piano instrumentals in ‘Clocks’ and ‘Shiver’, or even his acoustic guitar in ‘Yellow’ – the rest of Coldplay, particularly guitarist Johnny Buckland, have all come to the fore this time around. Buckland’s guitar chortles menacingly in ‘Cemeteries of London’, which sees Martin cast an eye over a dark capital city, and disports wildly on first single ‘Violet Hill’. There’s even a nod to the Hispanic surroundings that much of the album was crafted on the deeply sung ‘Yes’, before the faint calling of a Scottish piper crops up later on ‘Strawberry Swing’.
If there’s one area where Coldplay fail to show much progression on ‘Viva La Vida…’, it’s in Martin’s songwriting. Yes, he’s broadened his lyrical landscape to challenge everything from religion to the meaning of life and death, but it often comes across as one step too far. “You might be a big fish in a little pond,” he sings on ‘Lost’, before adding: “It doesn’t mean you’ve won, because along may come a bigger one.” Although the symbolism is there, at times Martin still lacks the ability to link his intentions together with any real sense.
But, that said, ‘Viva La Vida…’ on the whole is a fantastically unexpected and spontaneous comeback from a band that never really went away. Martin has said that the intention with the record was to get better, not bigger; and, for once, it’s hard not to take him seriously.
Ratatat - 'LP3' (XL) Released 07/07/08... Next 
Coldplay Rock London's Wembley Stadium - PHOTOS
Coldplay and Jay-Z Triumph At Manchester LCCC - PHOTOS
Coldplay - 'Strawberry Swing'
Manchester United vs. Barcelona - The Battle Of Music Tastes
Coldplay, Wolfmother Play Australian Bushfires Benefit Show
BuyColdplay T Shirts now!
White Lies Storm London's Brixton Academy - PHOTOS
Arctic Monkeys Take Humbug To Wembley Arena - Photos
Lily Allen Takes A Tumble and Pours Herself A Pint In Manchester
~ by vivalavida 6/17/2008
~ by Jaie 7/15/2008
~ by Jaie 7/15/2008
~ by aaa 1/11/2009
~ by Ann 1/31/2009
Register now and have your comments approved automatically!