Viva la Vida
A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that “If the rest of the album sounds like the songs I’ve heard, I think Chris Martin & Co. will have another masterpiece on their hands.”
Well, Coldplay’s widely anticipated fourth album, Viva la Vida, hits stores today and I was wrong about it.
Very wrong.
Coldplay’s latest is by far their greatest, transcending everything they’ve ever done. With this one, Coldplay leaves behind the lethargic feel of X&Y and builds upon the lush melodies and balladry from A Rush of Blood to the Head.
It’s been over three years since their last studio album, but the time certainly wasn’t “Lost!” This album is much more relaxed and much less stifled than the last. It’s also the group’s shortest one to date at just under 46 minutes.
Album opener “Life in Technicolor” is a brilliant instrumental that builds into something wonderful.
The haunting flamenco-folk “Cemeteries of London” follows and is reminiscent of another English group, The Animals’ “The House of the Rising Sun”. The juxtaposition between this track and the previous one is perfect.
“Lost” has this sort of tribal beat thing going on that I’d rather do without. Fortunately, the iTunes version of the album includes a bonus acoustic version of the song with nothing more than a piano and it sounds amazing.
“42” is next with its insistence that “Those who are dead are not dead, they’re just living in my head”. It features a soft melodic beginning and transforms into a driving rock beat not even halfway into the song. Before the end, though, it returns to the dreamlike beginning uniting the two and stating once again that “Those who are dead are not dead, they’re just living in my head”.
With “Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love“, there’s a two for one deal. The first, a U2-inspired upbeat track which I like, is joined by a soft, lulling one which I don’t.
“Yes” is another twofer, but it includes a hidden track, “Chinese Sleep Chant”. This time, inspiration is taken from Radiohead, which I like, and includes a more upbeat, lulling one which I don’t. Fortunately, I can set iTunes to stop the track at 4:04 right before it begins.
I’m sure everyone has heard the title track, “Viva la Vida“, from the iTunes commercial. I’m sure you love it too, right?
The album’s first single, “Violet Hill” is a dynamic piece of art that showcases a little more rock than anything I’ve ever heard from the group.
“Strawberry Swing” has a hint of Middle Eastern flair as a background to Chris’s description of the perfect day.
The final double track (as well as the album’s) is “Death and All His Friends” which includes the hidden “The Escapist”. The first begins with soothing vocals and a soft piano, while the second is more excited and has a pulsing guitar riff. Out of the three double tracks, this is the only one that I didn’t like at least one part.
Rife with allusions to God, ghosts and death, Viva la Vida is a sound departure from their previous work, which I’m sure will attract even more fans and satiate those who’ve been anxiously awaiting new material.
Visit Coldplay.com and check the band out on MySpace at MySpace.
J.’s Joints: “Life in Technicolor”, “Cemeteries of London”, “42″, “Lovers in Japan”, “Yes”, “Viva la Vida”, “Violet Hill”, “Strawberry Swing”, “Lost!” [Acoustic Bonus Track]
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Coldplay – “Viva la Vida” from Viva la Vida
Flamenco Dancing Guitar and Cajon Spanish Music » Blog Archive » Viva la Vida said:
[...] la Vida FANTASY wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptThe haunting flamenco-folk [...]
KJtheGreat said:
dude, i have the cd. just haven’t given it a listen yet.
J. Peezy said:
Hmm… I dunno J. I have to take a couple more listens, but I’m really missing the Coldplay of “Parachutes” right now. I’ll have a review up on my blog by week’s end. Let me know what you think then.