COLDPLAY – VIVA LA VIDA OR DEATH AND ALL HIS FRIENDS
By Josh Marks
Perhaps Barack Obama or John McCain should enlist Coldplay
for their presidential campaigns. In a time of dismal sales for the struggling
record industry, the British quartet’s fourth album “Viva La Vida Or Death And
All His Friends” skyrocketed to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in its first week by
selling 721,000
The answer is yes, not a resounding affirmative, but a yes nonetheless. This moody, atmospheric set of ten songs reveals itself as a solid effort upon repeated listening. Under the guidance of uber-producer Brian Eno the band has charted a brave new course musically, as Eno has reigned in the arena rock anthems and inserted synthesizers and percussion instruments. Gone are Johnny Buckland’s big guitar riffs and Martin’s epic piano ballads. There are no spine-tingling classics such as “In My Place” or “Warning Sign” on this 45-minute long album.
While “Viva La Vida” could have come precariously close to being labeled the dreaded easy listening or even Coldplay-lite, this is not the case. Instead, Coldplay have created a multi-layered spectrum of lush atmospherics with lyrical depth.
The album doesn’t really feel like it gets started until the third track. “Lost!” kicks off with a big church organ and percussion beats followed by Buckland’s brief guitar solo and Martin’s confident chorus. It’s one of the few feet-stomping tracks on the album. For every “Lost!” however, there is a “Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love,” a mostly 80s-style electronica piece that just rolls along for six and a half minutes without any noticeable hook.
The title track is Martin at his lyrical best, as a tightly played violin starts things out. Lyrics such as “I used to rule the world. Seas would rise when I gave the word. Now in the morning I sleep alone. Sweep the streets I used to own,” reveal a maturing, creative and less self-absorbed songwriter. “Violet Hill” is another strong track with an imaginative narrative and another short guitar solo from Buckland.
“Viva La Vida” is a snapshot of a band in transition, one that is destined for even greater musical heights. From that perspective, the flaws of the album can be looked at as a band evolving to the next level. Experimental groups such as Coldplay and Radiohead should be commended for taking chances musically instead of becoming one-hit wonders. With this transitional album under their belt, Coldplay’s masterpiece could come as soon as the next album. One thing is for certain, masterpiece or not, the next album will conquer music sales yet again.
For those in the