I really like this, they took a lot of risks on it, but it seems like maybe the first time they put out something that’s not intended to please everyone. It’s a really interesting record from them, not what anyone would expect.
I liked this quite a bit on first listen but quite a few of the songs seemed kind of half baked. Cool ideas that don't really go anywhere.
I really am enjoying the simplicity of some of these songs. Just Chris singing over a piano or an acoustic guitar. Also, give me Coldplay with a choir every day.
Yeah, some of them kind of are half baked a bit, like WOTW/POTP, for example. A lot of them are really short. It's almost like the effect of flipping through different radio stations. I think it's cool but definitely get what you're saying.
Easily their best since Mylo Xyloto. The sequencing is strange but weirdly fun - it's nice to have a Coldplay album that's genuinely unpredictable. "Everyday Life" works well as a closer and sounds surprisingly world-weary in that context, which is not an adjective I'd ever used to describe Coldplay otherwise. Wikipedia claims that "Champion of the World" was co-written by members of Frightened Rabbit - is it just someone tastelessly trolling, or was there a sample Coldplay used? (EDIT: they apparently sample Los Angeles Be Kind) also "Trouble In Town" is so good it manages to overcome how much the title reminds me of Steamed Hams.
I don't like this much at all. There's a few songs I mildly enjoy but even those don't do much for me. Probably my least favourite Coldplay album.
This is pretty awesome. Not at all what I was expecting from them at this point, but in the absolute best way possible. A very pleasant surprise. The terrible production from AHFoD is nowhere to be found on here. These songs sound absolutely gorgeous. And some fairly large stylistic curveballs for them, that work really well but also are really quite fun, at least in my humble opinion. I did not see "BrokEn" coming, but I enjoy the hell out of it. None of the instrumentals or interludes really do anything for me at all, aside from "Bani Adam". Doesn't really feel like a double album either, more just a Coldplay album with maybe one or two more interludes than usual, but the two halves format is a neat idea. I don't really hear a difference at all between the two halves, stylistically or lyrically or anything. On the first few listens, the Sunset half drags for me pretty noticeably during the "Èkó" - "Cry Cry Cry" - "Old Friends" run, even though each song is pretty cool and interesting in its own way, particularly "Cry Cry Cry".
I'm into how different everything sounds on here. Got my review stream Friday and have been hammering it over the past few days. I can see why they split it into two halves because it's pretty subdued for the most part. There are the requisite big songs but they're the outliers on a record that's essentially Coldplay testing what they can get away with, a detour after cleaving closely to their pop side over the last decade. Spiritual (pun very much intended) successor to Viva La Vida but it's got some Ghost Stories in its DNA as well. Definitely a fan.
Now now. You’re going to make some of us far too excited for our own good with a statement like this.
Probably a hot take, but Viva la Vida is my favorite album of theirs. Haven't really liked anything since then.
From one day to the next I can't decide which I consider their best, Viva La Vida or A Rush of Blood to the Head. Changes constantly.
I don't know how to post a link directly to the sample, but the 30-second sample for the Japan-only bonus track "Flags" on this page sounds great. Can't wait to get my hands on this one too --> https://www.e-onkyo.com/sp/album/wnr190295320126/
Ghost Stories might be my favourite these days. I love A Rush Of Blood To The Head too. And then Mylo Xyloto for the pop-side perfection.
Scott Hutchison's bandmates tell us about Coldplay honouring him with new track 'Champion Of The World' – listen - NME
I get fucking chills every time I listen to Champion of the World. Can't shake the feeling the song's written for Scott Hutchison as well as paying musical tribute to him. It's incredible. Review up in an hour and a half.