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Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating:

Summary: Coldplay in Instrumental Shocker
Comment: After 3 highly successful albums, Coldplay have reached the stage where they can let go a bit in
their music. `Viva la Vida or Death and all his friends' does exactly that, it is like their
equivalent of Radiohead's `Kid A'. Despite the annoyingly long title, it seems now that it is widely
accepted that the `Viva la Vida' is the much preferred shortening of the title. This is shown
through the front cover of the album which doesn't even mention the latter part of the album
title.

`Parachutes', `Rush of Blood to the Head' and `X &Y', for me was a progression
as each album was better than the previous. Although the sound varied slightly from album to album,
the song choice was always the same. For instance, the slow ballad which looks at the positives in
a extremely negative situation; From `Parachutes', this was `Everything's not Lost', from `Rush of
Blood to the Head', this was `Amsterdam' and then arguably one of the best songs they have ever
done, `Fix You' from `X & Y'. When looking for this kind of track on `Viva la Vida'; none can be
found. This is just one example of how this album has got a completely different feel to it than
the previous 3. It feels more structured and there is a natural order to the songs which come
together to tell a story. Whereas the other albums are more like albums created to make the best
singles; this is more like an album created to make the best album and if any singles came out of
it, it would be a bonus.

Coldplay's change in approach to this album can be heard
instantly through the first track, `Life in Technicolor'. You expect the headlines in the music
press to be `Coldplay in instrumental shocker'. As you don't expect Coldplay to do an instrumental,
but that is just the start of how this album is a huge leap forward in the bands creativity. I
cannot think of a more appropriate name for this track as it makes the album come to life right from
the get go and it is so uplifting and refreshing. The track blends into the second track;
`Cemeteries of London' nicely as Martin's soft vocals comes in with, `At night they would go walking
till the breaking of the day'.

All of the tracks on this album are great. My personal
favourites include `42', `Lovers in Japan' and `Strawberry Swing'. `42' starts off with just slow
piano and Martin's vocals before Buckland, Berryman and Champion come in and set the song alight.
As Martin explodes into the chorus `You thought you might be a ghost, you didn't get to heaven but
you made it close' where he also gives up the piano to add to the vibe with the electric guitar. It
feels like he is talking about someone who feels like he is invisible to everyone else even though
he does all the right things, he is not fully appreciated. `Lovers in Japan' on the other hand
starts off with an upbeat piano along with the rest of the crew and is just a joyous, energising
song. `Strawberry Swing' is more of a kick back song as it is nice and relaxing. The melody is
magical and Martin's vocals are of the same high standard as displayed on the rest of the album.
The imagery which this song portrays is one of beauty and happiness, `It's such a perfect day'. />
One of the only criticisms I have about this album which slightly annoy me is the dual
tracks - `Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love' and `Yes/Chinese Sleep Chant'. The latter songs in both of
I feel are better served as intermittent tracks in their own right. `Chinese sleep chant'
especially is great as you feel like you are soaring through the air. The songs are all connected
anyway so I don't really see the need to connect the tracks into the one. But although I disagree
with it, I don't let it affect my enjoyment of listening to this class album.

Another
gripe on paper I would usually have with this album is that elusive hidden track. Now normally it
would irritate me but in this case the gap between last track `Death and all his friends' and the
hidden track is minimal. Not only this but this time the hidden track makes sense in the context
of the album and is definitely not just an afterthought. The track represents a chance for the
couple to forget about all the problems they have experienced in their past and live a happy life as
Martin sings `In the end, we lie awake, and we dream of making our escape'.

Overall
`Viva la Vida' is an absolutely cracking album and for me it is their best to date. Martin and the
boys have stepped slightly outside their comfort zone on more than one occasion on the album.
Showing a band that is not afraid to progress their creativity and put passion into their music. If
this is a sign of things to come, I'm already eagerly anticipating the fifth album which is expected
to be out in December 2009.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Not their greatest, but still good
Comment: As the title says really...... have to say that with all the hype surrounding this album, thought it
would be a lot more of a divergance away from their previous albums than it actually was. Admittedly
it is a little different, with probably and old U2 sounding style in there (probably due to the
producer). However, this sounds negative, but I have enjoyed this album, and it's beginning to grow
on me. My Dad always told me that if an album is great when you hear it the first time, then you'll
be bored with it soon, so the fact I didn't love it from the beginning is a good sign! Still it's on
my iPod playlist and only 4 stars instead of 5 as maybe I was expecting a little more.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Yes!
Comment: Are Keane too hard-rocking and uncompromising for you?

Is James Blunt just too damn
original and heartfelt?

Then try Coldplay! Perfection of mediocrity! (Baa baa!
...that's a trumpet)
I know... I'm mean. I don't hate this stuff. I think When I Ruled The
World is OK. But that's the point... it's OK. Not life-changing! And so WET. When did people like
this get to masquerade as rock musicians? It's bad for you. Your children will grow up thinking this
is what a rock band sounds like. Zeppelin who? no, I wanna listen to the guys who go "waaa.. waa...
I'm sad and feeble..." When there's the likes of Gutter Twins, Aquila, Rufus Wainwright and The
Veils out there barely making a dent, you should not be spending your money and valuable time on
this.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Hated it...then liked it...now loving it!
Comment: Ahead of Viva La Vida's release the NME gave away a free 7 inch vinyl of Violet Hill and on the
B-side was a track called A Spell A Rebel Yell...it was an 80's synth rock revelation, with
beautiful lyrics and a peculiar linear style with no real start or end or strong identifiable
chorus. Quite simply it was different, fresh and quite brilliant.

The album that
followed failed to match this on a first listen. The lyrics were painfully simple at times and
musically songs had an odd tendancy to change completely half way, teasing you with the promise of
half an amazing song shoehorned into another more mediocre effort.

I tried it a couple
of times and then put it to one side.

Then the olympics happened and there was an
incredible track they played over the days sporting highlights. A real uplifting acoustic driven
burst of euphoria! I knew that I had heard it somewhere before and it nagged me for weeks, until it
hit me...it was Life in Technicolour, the opening track to Viva La Vida. It was the seed that got me
back into the album and I'm so glad that it did. The lyrics are still ropey and yes the songs still
morph frustratingly, but the production and musicianship are first class and the album as a whole is
easily their best and most consistent effort since parachutes.

If you take away the
hype, the slightly grating renaissance styling and accept that Chris Martin may not be a lyrical
virtuoso but he still has a way with words which convey broad emotional strokes that are
understandable for eastern europeans making their first venture into the english language then this
is a very good album indeed. Bury your prejudices and give this album a go, if you allow it to grow
on you, you may just be surprised quite how much you end up liking it!

Customer Rating:

Summary: MASTERPIECE
Comment: Before this album Coldplay was only one of the many bands. Previous albums were OK, XY was nice, but
I didn't bought them. Then I noticed Viva la vida single on radio and the tune haunted me. I bought
downloaded album and there was heaven. I consider this one a masterpiece. Recently I bought all
Colplay alums and what gems they are. But this last one remains something special. In some songs
there are guitar Cocteau Twins like moments. I'm big CT fan, maybe that is the reason for this
unusual adoration. I want more like this. Hope that new EP will be magic again. Colplay thanks!!!

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