coldplay

Viva La Vida
$18.98
Coldplay's fourth studio album, "Vida la Vida or Death and All His Friends", was released on June 11th, 2008 and was an immediate success both with the critics as well as with the public. The album went to #1 in numerous countries, and eventually won the Grammy award for the Best Rock Album. Though a relatively short album for these days, only 47 minutes, it is nonetheless large in message and scope. Some have criticized it because it lacks an edge, which often great albums have, but in spite of that, or perhaps because of it, it is noteworthy. In any case, it is true to what the group has always been.

It opens with "Life in Technicolor" a very pleasant instrumental introduction to the album which sets the tone for the whole album. There is a longer version of the song that has lyrics titled "Life in Technicolor II" which appears on the 2008 EP "Prospekt's March". "Cemeteries of London" is a beautiful song, with intriguing lyrics. "Lost!" follows along the same lines as a slow melodic piece. "42" starts off along the same lines, but then transitions into a higher-energy piece. "Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love" continues to play to the strength of the band, with a strong melody and interesting lyrics, the first half having a good driving rhythm, and then transitioning into a very slow a melodic second half.

"Yes" opens up the second half of the album and is another example of how the band can produce similar pieces, and yet make them sound completely different. There is a hidden piece at the end of "Yes" called "Chinese Sleep Chant". The title track "Viva la Vida" is next, and is a piece destined to be around for a long time as a classic. "Violet Hill" is next, the first anti-war piece from the group. "Strawberry Swing" is next, a nicely crafted piece which leads well into the closing piece. "Death and All His Friends" is a nice simple closing to the album, though it doesn't actually close the album as there is a hidden instrumental piece called "The Escapist" which forms a nice bookend with the opening "Life in Technicolor".

Coldplay is Chris Martin (lead vocals, keyboards, guitar), Johnny Buckland (lead guitar), Guy Berryman (bass guitar), and Will Champion (drums, backing vocals, other instruments). "Viva La Vida" is a very melodic and thoughtful album, which is well-crafted musically and lyrically. From their start, Coldplay was a highly thought of musical group and this is their best album to date, and that wasn't an easy goal to achieve.

A Rush of Blood to the Head
$11.94
I bought this after hearing songs on Pandora . . . fell in love with Coldplay. U2, Muse fans or others in that genre should consider checking this out.

Live 2003 (CD & DVD)
$24.98
For me the most enjoyable parts of this CD/DVD comp were on the DVD (had gotten a preview of the songs on LaunchCast so i knew what to expect sonically from the band). The extras showed some cool things like Chris Martin singing in the shower with his clothes on :D, the band kicking it in a little harder on "Trouble" (very unexpected, wished they did it more often), the psycho fan in LA who tried to jump the fence :? and the multiple angles of all the band members. From the CD side of things, there wasn't that much difference between the studio & live versions aside from crowd participation, so the newer songs, "Moses", "One I Love", & "See You Soon" are most welcome. All in all, a good addition to the catalog.

Viva La Vida/Prospekt's March
$21.98
Not much else to say but this is excellent and a must have for Coldplay fans, even non-fans should give it a try. There is a lot of music on this album and I can play it over and over...Just an all around awesome album with some new sounds and instruments but same beautiful writing and execution.