A frustration I have with them is that they got hooked on interludes with Viva la Vida and have leaned on them a little too much ever since. I think their instrumental or choral pieces are actually really pretty and often do interesting things, but I definitely understand wanting a few more actual rock or pop songs amidst all the classical-leaning stuff they've added over the years.
"We Pray" sounds like something that woulda been on the radio in 2007 or something. Not bad so far, but I usually find something to like in their albums for a bit and then it fades. I think Ghost Stories, so over 10 years ago, was the last time I really loved something from them.
I was skimming through their discography recently, and Everyday Life is really so so good. Weird that it's sandwiched in between AHFOD and MOTS, my two least favorite. I listened to Moon Music this morning. There was nothing head scratching bad on it, but nothing that makes me want to return for a second listen.
Some real whiplash listening to this directly after the new Balance and Composure. It is nice to listen to something that isn't horribly bleak for once. "Good Feelings" sounds like they tried to write a Dua Lipa song.
I haven’t loved one since Ghost Stories either and honestly I pretty much adored everything that came before it. I always hope they’re gonna make another banger, but this sadly isn’t it for me. 2 more chances I guess. lol
I really like this record. I appreciate how Chris isn't denying his natural gifts and is fully comfortable with being a sentimental soft dad-rocker.
Coldplay albums best to worst: AROBTTH, Viva, Parachutes, Mylo, X&Y, Everyday Life, Ghost Stories, Moon Music, MOTS, AHFOD
Chris did mention that one of their two final albums is likely to be more stripped-down like their earlier stuff. Really looking forward to that one.
Yeah I think they truly peaked as a band with Viva, but had some incredible stuff on their subsequent albums
I was really hoping this was going to land with me, but this is their lamest album by far. Almost none of these songs did anything for me. Rush of Blood Parachutes Viva Ghost Mylo XY Everyday MOTS HFOD moon music
it's strange that in all of the press around the album Chris Martin talks about them having insanely high quality control when they're making music to the point where it's almost detrimental, but then the album *really* sounds like 5 or 6 good song ideas (if we're being generous) padded out to 10 songs, albeit padded out by some very talented guys with a very high recording budget I think I remember an anecdote from around Viva La Vida's release where they mentioned having so many good songs but they also wanted to make it seem like a concise & focused album so they slapped some songs together and did hidden tracks and stuff but kept it a 10-track album - this is the polar opposite of that
Yeah depending on my mood, they can switch places. I feel really lucky I got to see one of the rare Ghost Stories tour dates at Beacon Theater back in 2014.
This is a definite step up from Music of the Spheres for me, even though nothing reaches the high of Coloratura, which I still think is one of their best songs. I've been a fan since Parachutes, and have always said Coldplay is my favorite band, despite how extremely unpopular that may be. I've reached a point with them where it's really hard to be mad at the music they are making, because whether it's great or mid, it's pretty clear listening to Chris Martin speak that it's coming from a non-cynical place.
I think it depends on what you consider “good song ideas.” I think the instrumental stuff is pretty cool. “Rainbow” is pretty radical for an album from a big mainstream pop-rock act, because it’s basically a six-minute tone poem with nothing even close to a verse or a chorus. My feeling is that they just aren’t super interested in doing an album full of conventional pop songs anymore, which I respect, even if I do miss when they were making all killer no filler albums. I do think Music of the Spheres was a more successful balancing act of their pop and classical leanings than this album is. Partially because that album ends with this big maximalist epic, and this one kind of just runs out of gas.
If I’m ranking today: Ghost Stories A Rush of Blood Viva La Vida Mylo Xyloto Parachutes Moon Music X&Y Music of the Spheres Everyday Life A Head Full of Dreams
First impressions are stronger than Music of the Spheres but most of the time, it still seems to retread old, tired grounds. I'm over the trite We Are The World-like vibe that they keep returning to. They could do much more with the world music influences they love implementing but they seem stuck in a creative rut instead. AETERNA is a standout with this Friendly Fires-y dance music soundscape, and makes me wish they'd switched things up a bit more this time. I do appreciate how the dreaminess and the classical, baroque elements constantly pop in and out here. On an aesthetic case, they got me at least but I wish it all led to better songs.
I totally get that. I want that too! But I do think it's too bad that this album seems to be getting clobbered critically mainly on the basis of being...not that? These last few albums aren't my favorites, but I appreciate that they're pretty consistently taking big swings musically. That said, I'd really love it if they do take a back-to-basics approach on their last couple albums. I'd say there are plenty of examples across their last few albums that they can still hit it out of the park when they want to write a big crowdpleaser.