If first impressions are everything, then consider "Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends" a CD your boom box will absolutely be in love with when it's released next month.

 

From the eye-popping Eugène Delacroix cover art to the pleading synth-piano of the disc's closing hidden track - "The Escapist" - Coldplay have assembled another existentialist page-turner.

 

Like every other Coldplay record, "Viva la Vida" flits between soaring U2-like guitar riffs and slick power ballads, full of frontman Chris Martin's unafraid questioning. Yet, thanks to avant-garde producer Brian Eno, all of it sounds like something they've never done before.

 

"Yes" and "Strawberry Swing" saddle country swagger to the band's anthemic vibe, while cascading keys and pulsating drums delineate "Lovers in Japan" the disc's de facto stadium dancer. "42" starts as a straight ballad before brawny lines of the "Speed of Sound"-variety intercede.

 

On 2005's "X&Y," the band's sound was carefully constructed, but here, there's a sense that Coldplay want to challenge the listener. Snippets of the album's 10 tracks plumb the foursome's well-worn emotive gloss. But more often than not, the music is full of fresh vibrancy. From the piercing beats of "Lost!" to the streaking strings on the disc's title track, there's no filler on "Viva la Vida;" just plenty of welcome ambition.

 

After hearing a preview of the album last week at the Spoke Club in Toronto, here's what you're in for when the record is released June 17th.

 

1. Life in Technicolor - The CD kicks off with a shimmering instrumental opener. With echoing keys that melt into chattering guitars, the track teases like it wants to burst into a full-blown rocker, but instead settles into the flashbulb flirt the band can use to stoke audiences when they hit the road.

 

2. Cemeteries of London - Flamenco flavoured handclaps, Jonny Buckland's staccato riffs and Martin's breezy "la-la-las" and "na-na-nas" hide what is lyrically the album's grimmest track. Still, the ingredients act as a nice atmospheric starter.

 

3. Lost! - Following the straightforwardness of "What If" from "X&Y," Martin gets direct with his listeners. "Just because I'm losing/Doesn't mean I'm lost," he reassures himself as mesmerizing percussive hooks and velvety electric piano weave a hypnotic tapestry in the background.

 

4. 42 - Philosophy, existence, the afterlife - these are wild concepts for most pop stars. But I love how the group shamelessly brood over God and humanity in this song. Retaining the band's familiar piano rock sound, Martin isn't having any fun as he meditates on the shortness of time ("Those who are dead are not dead/They're just living in my head"), but as a chilled guitar line breaks into a frantic run he achieves an almost gospel vibe: "You didn't get to heaven/ But you made it close."

 

5. Lovers in Japan/ Reign of Love - Slippery keys and buzzing drums get this fantastic stadium dancer going. And just when things are getting interesting, the quartet dial down the noise, huddling around the campfire with Martin's whispers of "I can't let it go" providing a fitting coda.

 

6. Yes (Chinese Sleep Chant) - Billowy riffs and splashes of strings noodle their way through this Africanized bit of country. Swerving around the humourless, "I'm so tired of this loneliness," Buckland indulges in a bit of Edge-style shredding near the end.

 

7. Viva la Vida - Spastic beats and clenched violins make this a perfect sing-along for hucksters over at Apple. But the sinewy guitar and mid-tempo bass sliding all over this majestic listen make me think this will be pretty darn irresistible come concert time.

 

8. Violet Hill - This is perhaps the best single Coldplay could have used to summarize the new record. Beefy percussion, streaking synth and grandiose Queen-esque flourishes show off a band brimming with newfound confidence.

 

9. Strawberry Swing - Slap this one on during one of those early-morning summer drives through cottage country. Country zest is sprinkled between whispering synths and Martin's unabashed "It's such a perfect day." The handclap end is the cherry on the cake.

 

10. Death and All His Friends (The Escapist) - Don't let the title fool you: These boys aren't going quietly into the night. A drizzly piano opening sizzles into jagged chords as Martin laments, "I don't want to follow/Death and all of his friends." Before it's over, the band's wall of sound collapses onto itself, wobbly bleeps urging you to immediately hit the rewind button.

 

Coldplay's "Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends" is in stores June 17th.

 

http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/C/Coldplay/2008/05/30/5724551-ca.html

wow, that's like the first rave review so far

 

cheers!

good review.......but isnt the album out 12th of june? or is that just in britain?

yeah they fucked up there. But excellent review nonetheless :)

Again, even more intrigued now! Another description of 42 that makes me wanna listen more and more!

Thanks for the post :D

Sounds great, a bit of something for everyone!

I can't help thinking that 42 is being overrated.

I think Viva wil be the best track on the album

the rest VERY close behind it.

 

who knows.

Cheers!

 

I've now completely reversed on what I said this morning though, I'm thinking that the Grey Anatomy song may be DAHHF after all.

A great review - many thanks for posting!

It's amazing how close the next album is now...

 

Great Review. Thanks for posting it up. :)

Thanks for posting! Great reading :)

Rave review number... what?

 

Still, sounds nice :)

yeah they fucked up there. But excellent review nonetheless :)

 

no its a canadian review so the 17th is accurate

 

The one theme in all these reviews is u2 like

 

 

and i still don't know which sng that grey's anatomy one is

thanks for that...one question though, why were lovers in japan and reign of love seperated by a slash but yes and chinese sleep chant seperated by brackets? or am i looking to far into it....

thanks for that...one question though, why were lovers in japan and reign of love seperated by a slash but yes and chinese sleep chant seperated by brackets? or am i looking to far into it....

 

Lovers In Japan/Reign Of Love are shown thusly on the back of the CD whereas Chine Sleep Chant is "hidden" as is "The Escapist" - though I think "The Escapist" is in fact also shown on the back of the CD as "Death And All His Friends/The Escapist" so I don't get that one.

 

Anyway great review, can't - freakin - wait.

 

Oh and Strawberry Swing, like he said, sounds perfect for driving round lovely country roads on a sunny morning. Beautiful. Never have CP done an album with so much to offer. Round of applause!

good review.......but isnt the album out 12th of june? or is that just in britain?

 

It's out in the UK June 12th, and then in America we have to wait 5 days *coughcoughbullshitcoughcough* till we get our hands on it.

I'm loving the review on strawberry swing. Makes me hope itll be "GPASUYF"-ish

oh i wish there would be a song like that.

good review.......but isnt the album out 12th of june? or is that just in britain?

 

Pity us poor Canadians- that's how long we have to wait after the rest of you guys have already bought it and gone crazy for 5 days straight. :bigcry: :bigcry: :bigcry:

 

That's going to be a tough weekend. I might have to hide. :(

 

 

 

Great review though. Although I have to say it worries me a little how little the songs I have heard have in common with their descriptions on there...

off topic question:

The newest issue of Q magazine has Dave Grohl on it, it's the June issue. I saw that Coldplay is on the NEWEST newest issue, is that the July issue? We just haven't reached it here in the states?

very good review / but nothing really new!

 

i'm wondering myself....how come there are lots & lots of journalists will the album on their hands, and us, TRUE COLDPLAY FANS, have to wait until June 12??

 

I wish Coldplay would give their material to us /

very good review / but nothing really new!

 

i'm wondering myself....how come there are lots & lots of journalists will the album on their hands, and us, TRUE COLDPLAY FANS, have to wait until June 12??

 

I wish Coldplay would give their material to us /

 

OR June 17th!!!! Dont forget us yanks!

OR June 17th!!!! Dont forget us yanks!

right i dont understand...here's what i dont understand:

 

coldplay changed the release in the UK to 12th june to keep it with the global release dates...but how come its not released in america till 5 days later?

OR June 17th!!!! Dont forget us yanks!

 

the week before it releases here in the states, i'm gonna have to stop coming on here. i know it will leak and also our british friends will be going crazy over it.

No filler. I like the sound of that.

wow this article got me really excited for the REAL lovers in japan and strawberry swing. really good review.