I'm a big Coldplay fan, I don't mind admitting it. I've never really understand people hating on them so much, yet when they headline Glastonbury you can barely get into the field. Having shipped over 250,000 units of their new album Ghost Stories in a little over 48 hours, someone out there must like them. I digress.
The well documented divorce of front man Chris Martin and his wife has been well documented in the tabloids these past months, as has the build up to this album. I really enjoyed Mylo Xyloto their previous record, and Every Tear Drop Is A Waterfall is probably one of my favourite tunes of theirs, so I had high expectations of this record. Especially when they announced their collaboration with Brian Eno.
I've been left with a sour taste in my mouth. Don't get me wrong this album may grow on me over the coming months, but having played it relentlessly for the past 72 hours I don't find myself falling in love with it.
What may have been better as a Chris Martin solo record called Reflections or the slightly cheesier, She's The Only One For Me, this record never really goes anywhere. It can really only be described as the Coldplay concept album, where they found a synth and the vocoder button on Pro Tools and decided to be a bit edgy (like most indie bands do on their second album).
Each song has a wishy-washy approach that has a graining affect on your eardrums, by track five you are pleading for something a bit more up tempo.
It's not until the penultimate track that it takes a turn with A Sky Full Of Stars, a single that seems a bit out of place. It's easy to imagine the label telling the band they need at least one song to market to the masses, and that's what they got.
My one saving grace for this record is another single Magic, which in my thoughts is a corker from start to finish. All in all though.... Meh.
Joe @thejoeeley
6/11
