Today has been one hell of a day for me.

 

I was lucky enough to take a friends spot who works for one of the lower end Canadian mobile companies at a listening party in downtown Toronto.

 

Firstly i stuck out like a shore thumb there. I gathered I was probably the only massive fan of coldplay there. We were wined and dined by EMI Canada before some of us were able to get into a room and listen to it. Hardcore security, no cellphones, metal detectors before even entering the room.

 

But then i got to hear it. And not one of us have anything to worry about. It is brilliant!

This is the album I have best ever herd. It is called viva la vida and death or all his friends. not just viva la vida.

 

so much is still going through my head trying to comprehend exactly what I just herd. We only got one listen of course.

 

Life in Technicolour is exactly what we've herd of course. And blends fantastically into Cemeteries of London which includes some great atmospheric guitar from Jonny. Very Edge like. I hate to say what everyone has been saying but there is the "Eno influence" alot of moments seemed very U2 like but stilll very Coldplay which put the hugest smile on my face at times. Lost I love the drumming, and the tribal like bongos. Defiantly one of the standouts for me. 42 is soft symphonic until it comes to a boil and becomes this big urgent orchestral masterpiece with classic hammering pianos and guitar. Lovers/Reign are two distinctively different songs. Lovers I vaguely remember sadly, but I do remember it being similar in mood/tone as Cemeteries. All we've herd from that Grey's clip is just Lovers. Reign of Love is a great raw song. A very awesome acoustic part to it. Yes may have been instantly my favorite for now on first listen. Weird how from day one of seeing that title it felt like a Beatles title. After hearing it the only way I can describe it is Coldplay with a dash of Beatles if a member of the arcade fire joined them on stage. Chinese Sleep Chant also had some great U2 like atmospheric guitaring with very muffled Chris Martin lyrics, but it sounded PERFECT! Viva and Violet just blew me away way as usual and especially coming from a room with expensive speakers. Strawberry Swing is a very nice lush song. Death and all his Friends Started very suddenly and may have been my favourite Chris piano moments of the album a fantastic closer leading into The Escapist which is a longer version of that ambient bit at the beginning of Life in Technicolour with lyrics.

 

So I hope that eases anybody's worries about where this band has gone with their sound. The best way to sum up this album was written in the bio of the album we were handed and then made give back afterwards. It's Coldplay. Just Different.

 

I may have been the luckiest Toronto Coldplay fan today, as I continue to be just like the acoustic session at Edge 102 and Koolhaus show. And I could not be happier with Viva La Vida. I will say it again this is THE BEST ALBUM I HAVE EVER HERD. Never been blown away at first listen like this since A Rush of Blood 6 years ago.

 

Updated with my standout 10/10 tracks.. Keep in mind out of ten the lowest I give any is a 9. Most are 10/10.

 

Cemertaries of London

Lost!

42

Reign of Love

Yes

Chinese Sleep Chant

Viva

Violet

Death and all his friends

All 10/10

 

The Escapist

Lovers

Strawberry

All 9.5/10

 

Life in Technicolour 9/10

But does that really count it's more of just an intro song

if you're legit thanks! :nice: otherwise, sleep with one eye open:sneaky:

don't worry. completely legit! I can't stand those losers who pull fake reviews out of their a** as a joke.

Just very very extactic and honoured to have herd the album and wanted to share with everyone out their who cares and is drooling with anticipation yet is still worried about how the album may end up.

plus it was kind of cool to have Joe-schmo Coldplay fan put 7 rum and cokes on EMIs tab :)

What are these listening sessions like?

Is everyone silent for the duration of the album?

Do you get shouted at for talking?

Do they provide 'light refreshments'?

Do they play it really loud, or do people talking get in the way of some parts?

What are these listening sessions like?

Is everyone silent for the duration of the album?

Do you get shouted at for talking?

Do they provide 'light refreshments'?

Do they play it really loud, or do people talking get in the way of some parts?

 

Yep every once pretty much just sits there and listens.

Very comfortable chairs in what seemed like a mini movie theater. they had a screen which kept playing the same stuff over and over again, a bit of a bio/ coldplay footage.

No one talked so I have no clue if anyone would be yelled at for it.

Light refreshments and an open bar.

It was just 45 minutes straight of the new album at a level suited for a small movie theater. Then we we left the room so that more people could come listen.

:dead:

 

this is SO awesome! i would absolutely DIE if i got the chance to do this.

 

thanks so much for sharing, really :D. you definitely told the right people!

Thanks! I really cant wait now! Not that I could in the first place mind.

thats so exciting

It honestly sounds legit to me. Lucky guy. Thanks for the review! It sounds great.

thanks for sharing! oh you are so lcuky

thanks for sharing! oh you are so lcuky

 

you guys are all welcome, after a few years of lurking since the pre-X&Y days I felt I owed it to everyone on the coldplaying boards to share it. It's such a crazy hectic time for all of us and I'm happy to add to the madness we are all creating.

 

I don't know how I get this great Coldplay karma my way everytime (it may be the crazy amount of hours I've spent in lines outside the koolhaus for a show and edge 102 for an acoustic session, which I totaled to be about 24 hours over the course of 3 days), but there is no other band I would truly want such experiences with.

 

If anyone has any questions feel free to ask away. just Pm me or post them here I'd be glad to answer them.

I can't wait for everyone else to have herd it. I wish I could share the love with everyone.

thank you very much! you must feel like the luckiest guy on earth!!!

 

hopefully the album will leak soon and we will be as happy as you!

 

I was hoping you could keep writing more details as you remember things each day!!!

 

cheers!!!

thank you very much! you must feel like the luckiest guy on earth!!!

 

hopefully the album will leak soon and we will be as happy as you!

 

I was hoping you could keep writing more details as you remember things each day!!!

 

cheers!!!

 

I wouldn't be shocked if it found it's way leaking soon it sounds like promo copies have been sent out to reviewists. I saw the full thing in it's glory. The Gatefold cardboard packaging looks great. I don;t about everyone else but I've come to hate jewel case cds now. I was so very very tempted to swipe it as but no it didn't look like the cd was in it. Plus they were eyeing everyone as they left the room.

 

I've already been adding more as tonight has gone by haha

 

It's so hard with only one listen to absorb everything. The places the go with their sound and levels it reaches to then get brought back down. Chris Martin was right it should be listened all the way through. It works perfectly as an entire album while giving up 13 brilliant individual pieces.

 

The worst part is none of my friends are really that into Coldplay. So a proper discussion has yet to be had about it all. I can't wait for the day when I get to sit down with a beer and rap for hours about Viva La Vida with someone that has herd it.

which was the song you liked the most after reign of love?

which was the song you liked the most after reign of love?

 

If I had to pick two I'd say Reign and Yes were my two favourites.

 

Another thing I'll say about this album is the best caparison in the structure of the songs are the arcade fire. There is this great fluctuation in terms of mood & tempo.

thx for this review... lucky man ^^

Thanks for making me even more excited :nice:

Thank you so much!!!

This really should be in the main Coldplay section so everyone can see because its a great review!!!:)

Omg, thank you so much for your review.

 

I'm getting anxious by the minute now... Why can't june come alreadyyyyyy :bigcry:

Good review..

Thanks a lot, it sounds great!

 

Did you overhear anyone else talking about it? Could you garner a reaction?

 

Good call on the 7 rum and cokes btw :P

:shocked2:

 

Wow! So lucky....

 

Thanks for the review!;)

what a great review ! I must say it's better when it's from a fan !

thank you very much :D

God your so lucky. I cant wait until the live show its gonna be nuts.:D:D:D:D