Dejan Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Since their debut in 2000, Coldplay has created an interesting little musical niche for themselves. Without alienating the mainstream MTV/Clear Channel audience, they have earned a modicum of rock credibility and can apocryphally be considered rockers in the same vein as Pink Floyd. Rather than turn to the Dark Side though, Coldplay has other goals. Making no secret of their desire to be bigger than U2, the English quartet has taken a curious approach towards surpassing their Irish superiors. On their first two albums, Parachutes and A Rush Of Blood To The Head, Coldplay established a distinct sound centered around Chris Martin's simple piano melodies and wispy ethereal lyrics whose earnest sincerity rescued them from the realm of whiney drivel. The star of this show is clearly Chris Martin, who you may have heard is married to a famous actress and named his baby girl after a popular snacking fruit. (I tell you this as I fear the Martin-Paltrows may not be receiving enough publicity, which would surely be troubling). While Martin doesn't exhibit the technical proficiency of Billy Preston or Steve Winwood, this is not necessarily a negative within the context of Coldplay's repertoire. One need listen no further than the 2002 hit "Clocks" to grasp that the beauty of Coldplay's songs comes from their simplicity. Unfortunately, for their third album, Coldplay strays too far from the formula that works for them. On X&Y, the songs are cryptically designated into two groups, the X's and the Y's in what appears to be an archaic reference to the sides of an LP. A better designation should have been to mark as X's those spots that bear Coldplay's distinct originality and the Y's for those that make you wonder why this sounds like an ill-conceived U2 imitation. Fans looking for the bands mix of pleasant melodies with orchestral Beatle-ish arrangements that rely more on Martin's music than his voice will not be disappointed. The signature keyboards on the first single, "Speed Of Sound", as well as "X&Y", "Swallowed By The Sea" and "Talk" make them worthy additions to the Coldplay catalogue. However, when Jonny Buckland attempts the same trick on lead guitar, the songs suffer. On "White Shadows" and "Square One," Buckland attempts to mimic Martin on guitar with little success. The same piercing guitar sound that works for U2 fails for Coldplay because the band simply lacks an edge. (Pun completely intended). The dirgelike "Kingdom Come" is a valiant effort to close the album out on a solemn note, a la All You Can't Leave Behind's Grace, however Martin does not possess the vocal range to give the song the warmth and emotion it needs. Even though X & Y contains one too many songs that sound like U2 B-sides, (e.g. "Twisting Logic," "Low"), it would be grossly unfair to characterize the album as a pale imitation of U2. The songs that play to Coldplay's strengths are quite enjoyable and show that Coldplay has the potential to live up to their hype. Keep in mind though, this is not an album whose charms are immediately apparent. Perhaps Martin's hypnotic keyboards require time to burrow into the subconscious before they can truly be appreciated. Like a wine that opens up when its had a chance to breathe, it is with repeated listens that the album's subtleties are revealed. Unless Chris Martin erases world hunger, Coldplay has little chance of becoming the next U2 and should stop creating music in that mold. However, if they stick to the music that is uniquely theirs, there is a good chance that come 2015, some young band with a lead keyboardist married to Mary Kate or Ashley Olsen may proclaim that they want to be the next Coldplay. [/b] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilchick629 Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 :stunned: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swallowedinamessage Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 would you like me to say what i think of the actual review and how it is written or exactly what i think of it's opinions? oh yeah .. who wrote that interview? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Justine* Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 He probably did, and we are proof-reading it for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frostbitepanda Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 No editing. And whatever the guy was trying to say at the end there, he was trying to be funny but only succeeded in making no sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dejan Posted July 28, 2005 Author Share Posted July 28, 2005 what's wrong with y'all ? It's just a fuckin review,you don't know the MEANING of a forum i guess :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swallowedinamessage Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 lol you get stressed too easily Dejan ....... anyway ermmm well after nearly falling asleep reading it and realising that half of it makes no sense .... its hardly an X&Y review, more like trying to compare Coldplay to U2 which you have already tried in a thread you made the other day so its not a very good review to me. if i was reading this review to make up my mind whether to buy X&Y you'd leave me :confused: and undecided Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
50 Cent * G-Unit Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 GREAT REVVIEW. SUMZ IT UP GOOD I THIKN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victaniac Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 How did I know this was going to be a negative review :rolleyes: I can't stand reviews that have not one bit of research to them. "Twisting Logic?" If someone gets the simplest of the simples wrong, just image what else is incorrect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swallowedinamessage Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 :lol: :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pekebuda8103 Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 :) :lol: :angry: :cool: :embarrased: :rolleyes: :o ;) :huh: :D :P :cry: :( :smug: :wink3: :confused: :/ :stunned: :idea2: :sneaky: :kiss: :dozey: :blush: :snore: :) :lol: :angry: :cool: :embarrased: :rolleyes: :o ;) :huh: :D :P :cry: :( :smug: :wink3: :confused: :/ :stunned: :idea2: :sneaky: :kiss: :dozey: :blush: :snore: :) :lol: :angry: :cool: :embarrased: :rolleyes: :o ;) :huh: :D :P :cry: :( :smug: :wink3: :confused: :/ :stunned: :idea2: :sneaky: :kiss: :dozey: :blush: :snore: :) :lol: :angry: :cool: :embarrased: :rolleyes: :o ;) :huh: :D :P :cry: :( :smug: :wink3: :confused: :/ :stunned: :idea2: :sneaky: :kiss: :dozey: :blush: :snore: :) :lol: :angry: :cool: :embarrased: :rolleyes: :o ;) :huh: :D :P :cry: :( :smug: :wink3: :confused: :/ :stunned: :idea2: :sneaky: :kiss: :dozey: :blush: :snore: :) :lol: :angry: :cool: :embarrased: :rolleyes: :o ;) :huh: :D :P :cry: :( :smug: :wink3: :confused: :/ :stunned: :idea2: :sneaky: :kiss: :dozey: :blush: :snore: :) :lol: :angry: :cool: :embarrased: :rolleyes: :o ;) :huh: :D :P :cry: :( :smug: :wink3: :confused: :/ :stunned: :idea2: :sneaky: :kiss: :dozey: :blush: :snore: :) :lol: :angry: :cool: :embarrased: :rolleyes: :o ;) :huh: :D :P :cry: :( :smug: :wink3: :confused: :/ :stunned: :idea2: :sneaky: :kiss: :dozey: :blush: :snore: :) :lol: :angry: :cool: :embarrased: :rolleyes: :o ;) :huh: :D :P :cry: :( :smug: :wink3: :confused: :/ :stunned: :idea2: :sneaky: :kiss: :dozey: :blush: :snore: :) :lol: :angry: :cool: :embarrased: :rolleyes: :o ;) :huh: :D :P :cry: :( :smug: :wink3: :confused: :/ :stunned: :idea2: :sneaky: :kiss: :dozey: :blush: :snore: :) :lol: :angry: :cool: :embarrased: :rolleyes: :o ;) :huh: :D :P :cry: :( :smug: :wink3: :confused: :/ :stunned: :idea2: :sneaky: :kiss: :dozey: :blush: :snore: :) :lol: :angry: :cool: :embarrased: :rolleyes: :o ;) :huh: :D :P :cry: :( :smug: :wink3: :confused: :/ :stunned: :idea2: :sneaky: :kiss: :dozey: :blush: :snore: :) :lol: :angry: :cool: :embarrased: :rolleyes: :o ;) :huh: :D :P :cry: :( :smug: :wink3: :confused: :/ :stunned: :idea2: :sneaky: :kiss: :dozey: :blush: :snore: :) :lol: :angry: :cool: :embarrased: :rolleyes: :o ;) :huh: :D :P :cry: :( :smug: :wink3: :confused: :/ :stunned: :idea2: :sneaky: :kiss: :dozey: :blush: :snore:cOULD ANYONE EXPLAIN ME WHAT'S THAT PIECE OF SHIT? THE PERSON WHO WROTE THAT REVIEW MAY BE CRAZY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hidegjatek Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 hey justine you changed your avatar.that is great one. about the article?it is too long so i havent read yet :wink3: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Raptor of Nonsense Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 I'm a big U2 fan.That is, bigger than I am a Coldplay fan. With that in mind, I think I'm in a position to say: X&Y sounds very, very little like U2. Fine, Jonny uses similar techniques sometimes, as in "Talk", but even then... *kaff* he doesn't have enough talent to sound too much like the Edge. No offense to him, of course; he's already better here than either of their previous efforts, so I suspect the next album will see him even better.(This was likewise true of Edge; I don't think his real talents shone through until album #4, and even then they were hazy and ambient. It would be #5 before he learned how to make it a lead isntrument, and #7 before he proved himself a guitar hero.) The closest Coldplay and Jonny have ever come to sounding like U2, I believe, is "Moses". To say the album 'imitates' U2 is mildly insulting, a sit places the band in a position they themselves do not concede. Bands will inevitably harken back to their influences, to which I boldy respond: Duh. That is, it all sounds slightly U2-esque -- they're a chief influence. But it still sounds like Coldplay, but a Coldplay also inflecting their music with the other sounds of the '80s, which we may forget existed. That's mostly all I wanted to say, except that 'simple' is nto a word I'd use to describe "Clocks"; I'd use a more fitting word, like 'ambitious'. Or 'complicated'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marie Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 I am a bit fed up with journalists that keep comparing U2 with Coldplay. They different bands. Maybe they sound a bit like U2 but that cannot be helped as U2 are one of, if not the biggest band on the planet and inspire countless number of other bands. Plus U2 do not have a piano in any of their songs (as far as I can remember) or use it as a main instrument. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berrywoman Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 what's wrong with y'all ? It's just a fuckin review,you don't know the MEANING of a forum i guess :rolleyes: if you are going to copy and paste a review from elsewhere.. be sure to credit the source.. or at least provide a link so you don't get attacked. :) Its also courteous to the author. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilchick629 Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 let me quote the other thread u did cant remember who wrote it though "U2 is U2, and Coldplay is Coldplay" :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frostbitepanda Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 let me quote the other thread u did cant remember who wrote it though "U2 is U2, and Coldplay is Coldplay" :P Haha! That was me! xD *Feels special* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swallowedinamessage Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 what's wrong with y'all ? It's just a fuckin review,you don't know the MEANING of a forum i guess :rolleyes: if you are going to copy and paste a review from elsewhere.. be sure to credit the source.. or at least provide a link so you don't get attacked. :) Its also courteous to the author. :) i think it was Dejan who wrote the review just because it is pretty shit and doesn't really look at X&Y as an album :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ugadawg5 Posted July 29, 2005 Share Posted July 29, 2005 the review is correct in that simplicity is what makes Coldplay's music work. nothing on X&Y sounds easy. if Coldplay follows on their current path, their music may continue to "evolve", but fans and critics alike will point to their first two albums as their finest and most earnest work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dejan Posted July 29, 2005 Author Share Posted July 29, 2005 what's wrong with y'all ? It's just a fuckin review,you don't know the MEANING of a forum i guess :rolleyes: if you are going to copy and paste a review from elsewhere.. be sure to credit the source.. or at least provide a link so you don't get attacked. :) Its also courteous to the author. :) i think it was Dejan who wrote the review just because it is pretty shit and doesn't really look at X&Y as an album :rolleyes: vaffanculo testa di cazzo figlio di troia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gentleparachute Posted July 29, 2005 Share Posted July 29, 2005 the review is correct in that simplicity is what makes Coldplay's music work. nothing on X&Y sounds easy. if Coldplay follows on their current path' date=' their music may continue to "evolve", but fans and critics alike will point to their first two albums as their finest and most earnest work.[/quote'] I second that. But I've more hope... Hopefully they'll realise in their future albums and incorporate both. That'd be truly great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlotte Posted July 29, 2005 Share Posted July 29, 2005 personally i'm fed up with comparisons. only time will tell, i suppose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soup Posted July 29, 2005 Share Posted July 29, 2005 ...a review of a coldplay album. ...what the fuck..does U2..have to do with coldplay's album. what kind of fucking review.. .............jesus christ. just REVIEW THE ALBUM. if you can't talk about an album on it's own without making pointless comparisons.. don't bother reviewing. and what the hell does Chris being Gwn's husband have jack shit to do with the album? not a damn thing. every single review i see.. same exact phrases and comparisons. i don't thikn i've ever read a review that talks about the album itself. period. :o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victaniac Posted July 29, 2005 Share Posted July 29, 2005 the review is correct in that simplicity is what makes Coldplay's music work. nothing on X&Y sounds easy. if Coldplay follows on their current path' date=' their music may continue to "evolve", but fans and critics alike will point to their first two albums as their finest and most earnest work.[/quote'] No, Coldplay themselves make the music work. I personally would hate it if CP went on doing the same old, simple stuff that they got known for. How are they supposed to evolve if there's no room for change? I don't like how you say "fans" will point to their first two albums as their finest. Which fans? Not this fan. Give the guys a chance. You don't know if you'll prefer their 4th or 6th album to Parachutes or AROBTTH. For someone who shares my birthday, we're not really eye to eye on things. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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