Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends (Gatefold Digipack)

See Larger Image	List Price: £16.99 Our Price: £6.98 Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Manufacturer: Parlophone/EMI Average Customer Rating:
Binding: Audio CD EAN: 5099921211409 Label: Parlophone/EMI Manufacturer: Parlophone/EMI Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: Parlophone/EMI Release Date: 2008-06-12 Studio: Parlophone/EMI
Related Items Perfect Symmetry Here We Stand 22 Dreams Forth You Can Do Anything
Editorial Reviews: To say there has been a lot of anticipation for Coldplay’s fourth album, Viva La Vida, is an understatement. Having enlisted legendary leftfield producer Brian Eno, borrowed their album title from a painting by renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and made tantalising remarks about sonic reinvention, the world has been curious (to say the least) to hear what the ‘new’ Coldplay might sound like. Viva La Vida definitely makes some departures from the band’s usual formula, which happens to be one of the most commercially successful rock-pop blueprints of recent years. The plangent chords, emotive melodies, stadium-rock rhythms and universal lyrical concerns remain, but Martin and co. have gone out on several limbs here, incorporating instrumental tracks ("Life In Technicolour"), using subtle North African and Latin elements ("Yes", "Strawberry Swing"), and overhauling previously strict verse-chorus-verse structures in favour of slightly more avant arrangements. The old Coldplay still shine through (see tracks like "Violet Hill" and the title song) but even their classic sound feels more muscular and confident. The band’s new flourishes, cosmetic and self-conscious as they may be, are enough to make Viva La Vida a welcome break from the old routine--Danny McKenna
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: As good as ever! Comment: Coldplay are one of the those rare bands who are capable of producing consistently good albums. This album is a fantasctic journey of catchy riffs and instrumentals coupled with the usual quality Coldplay lyrics & vocals. I have enjoyed all of Coldplay's albums and to date they have all offered something different with this album being no exception. I would highly recommend this album to all music lovers. Customer Rating: Summary: AMAZING Comment: This Album is the best from coldplay its amazing defintly worth the money Customer Rating: Summary: Touched by the hand of Eno Comment: Before anything, I have to mention that this is written by someone who is not a dedicated Coldplay fan. Over the years, I have enjoyed most of their singles but was never motivated enough to rush out (or rather log on) and buy any of their previous albums. This time around though, I picked up a rumour that their new album had Eno in the production seat. As I have the habit of picking up everything that Eno has some involvement in - no matter how small or immaterial -, I bought the album without really pro-evaluating my purchase. Well, this album is worth every penny paid - and more. All the tracks are great and some of them are trully exquisite ("Viva la vida", "Lost!", "Lovers in Japan", "42", "Death and all his friends"). The presence of Eno is practically everywhere: the treated guitar riffs, the sonic little twists and the beautiful backgrounds - I think I can even hear him in some background vocals ("Lost!", "Viva la vida" &c). The tempo and mood in "42" and "Death and all his friends" change masterfully, from soft vocal ballad to upbeat rock tune with that insuperable Eno originality and sonic quality. All in all, a brilliant rock album that manages to be artistic yet so emotional at the same time. Customer Rating: Summary: Viva! Coldplay! Comment: Ambition and ability are two words that can be never disputed with Coldplay. Keeping to the same underlying formula, with a songwriter as expressive and tuned in with his audience as Chris Martin, Coldplay can tweak and probe to create different sounding albums. As proved with "A Rush Of Blood To The Head" which was a much darker album than the innocent and defining "Parachutes", the band have always managed to keep the sound fresh. This album is no different, distinctly different to "X&Y" but utterly wonderful in it's entirety. I think my natural affinity with this album comes from the comparisons to Arcade Fire. It is an obvious influence throughout the album, with the choir chant style backing vocals on "Life In Technicolor", the organ and distinctive drum beat on "Lost!" and the amalgamation of two songs into one album track ("Lovers In Japan/Reign Of Love"). Another wonderful example is "42" with it's distinctive Chris Martin lyrically led stripped down start before exploding into life, the change of tempo mid track is a trick used frequently on "Neon Bible". What appeals to me is that a band as large as Coldplay are happy to accept influences from outside their world, to challenge themselves, to rip up their normal mechanical approach to create hit after hit and to produce something fresh and exciting. Customer Rating: Summary: Sorry From A Satch Fan Comment: I'm an extreme fan of Joe Satriani. You may call me the extremist. :-) I have been that way since Flying In A Blue Dream in about 1989. I've got every single CDs and DVDs etc. I could find about him. It's all there in my collection. Even saw his concerts 3 times. There are very few bands from the late 90s and onwards that I listen to. One of them is COLDPLAY. Heard TROUBLE and YELLOW on the radio sometime in 2002. Brought PARACHUTE straightaway. I liked the band and the album so very much. Listened to all the albums that followed. I was bit confused when I heard the news "Joe Satriani sues Coldplay". Joe's track IF I COULD FLY from the album IS THERE LOVE IN SPACE?, released in 2004, is all instrumental on which Joe's guitar sings. I have been listening to this for 3-4 years now. It's one of my favorites. It has nice melody, nice chord progression and nice rhythm and beat. Listened to Coldplay's VIVA LA VIDA and compared. I can say that the song has vocal melody that goes over and over again that matches with Joe's chorus section melody. It also shares similar chords progression, tempo and key I think. Can't judge whether it's subconscious plagiarism or of anything like it or not. I've heard 100s of songs that sound similar to each other and I think that's all right and that's all it is. Both the artists are my favorites. Both the songs are good. What can I say ? Besides, the album is very very very good. I like it as the other ones. I can feel littlebit of early U2. Highly recommended. Deserves 5 stars. I feel sorry for Coldplay and wish them all the best !!! More Reviews