I know that at least here in America, there are going to be some pissed off fans when they first hear X&Y. The fact is, many here got really into Coldplay after Yellow and especially after The Scientist, which was played virtually on the minute here, so I really feel that people (specifically female fans) looking for those intimate piano ballads will initially be very disappointed with this album.

 

That being said….

 

I really like the new music, but not necessarily the studio album. I first heard songs like “Low” and “Fix You” at the Boston Avalon buzz gig, and I thought they were amazing. When I first heard the leak of the album, though, the studio versions of the songs did not strike me at all as the live versions did. It took me a lot (a lot) of listens to really start loving X&Y (which I do now) but that was the exact same way for me with AROBTTH and Parachutes. Coldplay music NEEDS to be absorbed, and I’m afraid that for many of those fans looking for another Scientist, another instant gratifier, the fans who believe the only songs worth listening to on AROBTTH are The Scientist, Clocks, and In My Place, they will lack the patience to let this album sink in.

 

However, the Twisted Logic Tour is the best thing that Coldplay will do for itself to win back a fan base that they may alienate with X&Y. They have virtually sold out all venues, so this will be the tour of the summer. When fans hear songs like “Fix You” and “A Message” live, the intimacy that I believe is missing, hidden behind the synths on the studio album, will be restored. Please, if you are an avid Coldplay fan and are disappointed with X&Y, don’t be. If you are lucky enough to have tickets to one of their shows, you won’t be disappointed. In fact, you will appreciate the songs even more.

I'm an American, and I really get what you say. for the past 4 years, I'd heard of Coldplay, considered them a favorite band, but I never really listened to them except their most popular songs...like Yellow, and the Scientist. But then I heard Amsterdam, and I call it to this day, My all time favorite Song. Well, last summer, my brother had the live 2003 CD. He played 'See You Soon', and it really 'sparked' my interest even more. So, I got the Live 2003 CD first, the "A Rush," then "Parachutes." Kinda backwards eh? haha, but I just want to say, Coldplay is now my all-time favorite band...and forever will be. Both albums just helped me figure out what kind of music I like. I love every song on those albums. To me, X&Y doesn't have the same complete feel as the previous 2 albums. BUT, I LOVE IT! Some of the songs haven't comepletely grown on me...but I love the majority of the tracks on there. I'm going to get it tomorrow. I love the stories behind the songs too. That helps me appreciate it even more.

I really like the new music, but not necessarily the studio album. I first heard songs like “Low” and “Fix You” at the Boston Avalon buzz gig, and I thought they were amazing. When I first heard the leak of the album, though, the studio versions of the songs did not strike me at all as the live versions did. It took me a lot (a lot) of listens to really start loving X&Y (which I do now) but that was the exact same way for me with AROBTTH and Parachutes.

 

When fans hear songs like “Fix You” and “A Message” live, the intimacy that I believe is missing, hidden behind the synths on the studio album, will be restored. Please, if you are an avid Coldplay fan and are disappointed with X&Y, don’t be. If you are lucky enough to have tickets to one of their shows, you won’t be disappointed. In fact, you will appreciate the songs even more.

 

I entirely agree. I like X&Y as well, but I'll yield that it doesn't have that intimate feel of Parachutes or AROBTTH. I agree with the criticism that it's overproduced and perfect to a fault. However, songs like Talk and Fix You will sound absolutely incredible live. I hope they release a Coldplay Live 2005 cd, and I envy anyone with a ticket to one of their shows this summer.

Totally agree with the above. X&Y is brilliant and absolutely great, but I do hope they'll use some more intimate songs for the B-sides.

Personally I don't really care about the intimate songs anymore...they've had enough of that....

I really like certain songs on the album, but the problem, I think, is that they're indeed overproduced and they sounds very much alike...

They overdone keyboards on the first 5 songs really bug me.....it all sounds the same...

 

but still, I like the album....but I think they've tryed to hard to be something there're not..

This is the BEST album coldplay have made..no question!! Does anyone else agree that they are moving away from the trademark balleds and onto a much more epic sound. It is a sign of a great band when they want to push forward and progress instead of sticking with the same sound. I was in tears when i heared some of the tracks for the first time today...it is a gorgeous album :)

hey you dontpanic_, i totally agree. parachutes and AROBTTH had this intimate feel as if you were listening to them jamming right in your room, or in some club in london somewhere. I won't be able to attend a concert cause the guys aren't coming down south again (they came to the Saenger Theater of New Orleans in January '03 BEFORE i started liking them, figures) and I anticipate a new live album out for the Twisted Logic Tour once it's all said and done...

For those fans that still want this album to sound like parachutes and arobtth, please stop this. The band has grown, get over it. Anyone watching the coldplay show on mtv last night would have heard Mr. Buckland himself say, in response to their music, "If ever we fall back on our own tricks or things we've done before, it becomes boring." See, the band wants to grow and move on they don't want to keep producing the same albums. This to me is only a positive. This new album is unbelievable and it really does pain me to see people rag on it because it doesn't sound like their previous efforts.

I'd also like to add that following up one of the best albums of all time, ROBTTH, is no small task. To me, it would be a challenge to even try. But they took the risk, and in my opinion were pretty successful.

I thought the last album was overproduced... this one is getting into Foo Fighters territory in terms of overproduction and lack of intimacy.

 

Also, you can make intimate songs that still rock hard, they don't have to be soft ballads (see: "Mother" by John Lennon, "Behind Blue Eyes" by the Who, most Built to Spill songs, and a million other examples). Intimacy isn't linked with softness in my mind.

 

And finally: I NEVER begrudge a band the right to evolve, but that doesn't mean I always have to like what they evolve into. Which doesn't necessarily mean I don't like X & Y (although it's far from my favorite Coldplay album so far). I'm just sayin'. If people don't like it, it's not always just because it sounds different. :cool:

Here in the Dominican Republic, Coldplay is considered one of the best bans in the world, i think there new sound is great its diferent form "A Rush" and "Parachutes" but it has the essential Coldplay in it..songs like the "the hardest part".."x & y"..and the single "speed of sound" reflect it..they improve therselves everytime..although i haven't had the chance to see them live i bought "Live 2003"..and it schoks me, the intensity of their music and the pasion of it. X & Y is great..go coldplay :)

No one is saying that we want only intimate songs, but there is a complete lack of them on this album. Maybe one intimate song would've made a big difference. Once more: brilliant album, their best so far. But: missing the intimate feel to it.

if you read the reviews on Amazon.com, you will see some the the reactions I expected there would be

A lot of those sour reviews are by people that

A. Hate coldplay already and just want to fuck around or

B. Don't know what it means to hear good music or

C.Just aren't yet used to the new music and it will grown on them in time.

I'm hearing it for the first time right now as I am typing. I love it, just what I hoped for great songs soaring melody it's perfect

well...i didnt even like Coldplay until about a week ago....i read something about x&y in my newspaper and it was praising it as this work of art...they were calling it an epic...comparing to the likes of sgt.pepper...i knew right then they were doing something i had to hear...i immediately came on to the computer and found the site that let you hear the whole thing before it was released...i listened to the whole thing and was blown away...i dont think it was overproduced at all...it just creates atmosphere. It also does have ballads...how about 'what if'? Just because its more layered...i dont think it loses anything..just adds to the atmosphere of the spacey kind of album they were probably shooting for..AND just cause i just started listening to them ...does not mean im ignorant to coldplay cause ive hear their other 2 albums like 30 times in the past week....I love their old sound...I dont think Ive hear one song i dont like...but they evovled into something huge. their songwriting has been taken up a notch...they can create real atmosphere rather then just intamacy like they did with the previous....im not nocking their old stuff...im praising their new....i think its a masterpiece...beautifully produced...and well layered. Sorta sometimes reminds me of something like OK computer...

There are some really dumb people on Amazon.com - they posted reviews on the first day of it coming out slagging it off, when they haven't even given it a chance. I believe it's an album that grows on you over time, so the 1-star reviews over there are just a load of nonsense. There was one guy who gave it 5-stars and said that anyone who reviews it on the first day of it being released is "a MORON!" So I'm thinking, didn't YOU write a review? And what about people that actually love it and have given it a 5-star review like yourself? Are they morons?

 

I submitted my review on Tuesday and I only did this because I wanted to post it early before it got lost in a sea of negative ones. I'm No.410 on Amazon's reviewer rank (389 reviews so far!) and I posted it because I'd spent the previous day listening to it NON-STOP. I think about 14 hours of my day must've been taken up listening to the album over and over so it would sink in on me, and it has. Love it - best album they've ever done.

Ha I noticed that as well!

How good are some of Chris OHHHhhhhHHHhhh sections? They're great. Twisted Logic is a killer track. And really - all of them are. I agree two or three listens in i adored this album.

i cant stop listening new album... songs are amazing... the beat is a bit different then before, but still, its coldplay... we all know who they are and how intimate they can be so... listen and enjoy... :D