From My Ears To Your Eyes Pt 2: Coldplay – Viva La Vida

Coldplay – ‘Viva La Vida or Death & All His Friends’
Released June 16, 2008
Capitol/EMI Records

It’s Friday night and I’m terribly bored, so what else is there to do but post a few thoughts about a cd on a ridiculously popular blog site? Nothin, that’s what. Alright, so on to the show. I think I might be one of the few who really though that X&Y was a super solid record for Coldplay and even amongst less company in saying it’s my favorite of the band’s cds. Nothing against Parachutes or Rush Of Blood, it’s just my personal preference. I liked the direction they seemed to be slightly deviating towards on that record, and found it a nice change from the straight up piano balladry the band usually makes use of. So it’s been a few years now and the band is back with this, the oddly titled Viva La Vida (or death and all his friends), complete with it’s Revolutionary artwork, and the promise of quite a shift in audible output. Singer Chris Martin had commented that this cd wouldn’t be such a ‘piano record’ and the fact that this was to be produced by music legend Brian Eno (if you have to ask, look him up kids) cemented the idea that a change was in the works. But would it be a change for the better? That’s what I was determined to find out when I downloaded this bad boy a few days ago. My expectations were admittedly low for this disc, I hadn’t liked lead single ‘Violet Hill’ the first few times i heard it and I just wasn’t sure what to expect. What I got though when I started listening to this cd was music that kinda blew me away a little bit. Coldplay REALLY steps their game up to the next level here guys, they’ve made what amounts to a rather beautiful record with soundscapes so lush only Brian Eno could have been behind them while keeping all their pop sensibilities in tact so as not to push too many people away. They’ve really managed to create a record that might just hush their critics, win over the music snobs, and please the soccer (football?) moms all in one fell swoop..and that ain’t easy folks. Songs like ‘42′ (with it’s slight Radiohead similarities) and ‘Yes’ are great songs that show a matured band..while tunes like ‘Reign Of Love’ and ‘The Escapist’ really appeal to my quiet side and might just be two of my favorite songs of the year so far. Heck, even the once disliked ‘Violet Hill’ is a favorite of mine now. Something about that song feels important, do ya know what I mean? Anyway, I’ve only listened to the record 4 or 5 times now I guess, so as usual, all my opinions are subject to change..but as far as right now goes, I don’t think it would be out of the realm of possibilities for this to be a top 10 record this year for me if all goes according to plan. So that’s cool. Viva La Vida… should go ao long way in solidifying Coldplay’s spot in music today, and might even do for them what the Eno-produced Joshua Tree did for another little band called U2..which is propel them into music industry lifers; or who knows, maybe even legends.

Year End List Potential: 4.8/5