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My Universe solely because of this lego version I found about a year back. Anyway, My Universe vs Adventure of A Lifetime

Oh please, that is as asking who would you rather murder, your mum or your dad? None, of course!

Great topic, let´s do this.  I would point at two different moments: 1. After the Viva la Vida tour, with the band having delivered an album with great songs, huge quality, a single for the masses, but the right amount of experimental touch, and Chris transformed in a different kind of stage leader (closer to Bono or Gahan than to the shy singer of the first two tours) they find themselves in the position in which the next step/album will determine if they rightly become one the top bands in the world. And Mylo Xyloto is not a gap in the way, has some amazing songs (a lot), still has great melodies and inspired moments (a lot), and it´s without question one of my 3 most loved albums of the band, but they make some decisions that take them to a path not available for any indie band: - Paradise is the first step for things like Higher Power or My Universe, in the sense of getting rid of the guitars and embracing pure and massive/commercial pop. And I love the song, but it´s not what Coldplay was till then. - They do Princess of China with Rihanna.  - The first single, ETIAW, becomes a shock for the first albums fans, and the video and first images present them as a now colorful and bright band, miles away of the sobriety of the first era. - The album´s world presentation took place in Madrid (and I was there), and there they introduce something that, without any doubt, has helped them become one of the best ticket sellers around the world: the wristbands. I can´t say for sure that nobody had used it in a concert before Coldplay, but it was really brand new and it became a beautiful way of putting the audience at the center of the show, and connecting with everyone else, including the band. And, of course, that has remained for 15 years since then. In the ticktock era, it doesn´t matter if they play In my place or not, if they are playing a lot of the new album tracks or they only play most of the hits, what matters is that people (young people) can share short videos of how the stadium looks lightning with 50.000 colours and souls blinking at the same time. That´s why Coldplay concerts are recently the place to be.   2. In a long career (and every career over four albums should be considered long) it´s normal and understandable to have a "normal" album. Nobody´s always inspired, always making the best decisions in terms of producers and such, etc. So I understand they have the right to have an album as "A head full of dreams", with Hymn for the weekend, Adventure of a lifetime and, maybe, Up&Up, huge singles, but the rest is pretty mediocre in my opinion.  What I don´t understand is how they decide to publish something like MOTS, aiming without any reluctance to a world without guitars, and without composing beautiful and/or inspired melodies to balance that lack of guitars. We all love Coloratura, and it´s maybe one of their 20 best songs ever, but the rest is so clearly aimed at filling stadiums and selling tickets for the masses (yes, those that don´t really love music, but sharing videos and lights and joy and sense of unity). And that´s ok, but I feel Coldplay left the music aside.

Radiohead

Biutyful vs. My Universe