Chris Martin isn’t coy about it. He freely admits Coldplay gathers its strength from Radiohead the way Superman draws his powers from our yellow sun.

 

Recently asked how much he paid to download Radiohead’s pay-what-you-want release “In Rainbows,” Martin explained he dropped 10 British pounds three separate times trying to get the album onto his hard drive. Finally, he gave up and bought the vinyl.

 

“But I don’t mind,” he said. “I owe Radiohead a bit more than 30 pounds. Let’s face it. We owe them a career, really.”

 

Monday, Martin and pals bring Coldplay’s Viva la Vida Tour to the TD Banknorth Garden. The following week, Radiohead plays the Comcast Center in Mansfield. It’s a perfect chance to see Britain’s biggest rock exports of the last decade, but it’s not likely many fans will be taking in both shows.

 

Both bands began with ubiquitous pop hits - Radiohead had “Creep” in ’92; Coldplay scored with “Yellow” in 2000. But Radiohead has since almost disavowed its straightforward beginnings in favor of arty opuses, while Coldplay has wallowed in plain pop. And their fans have become like rumbling Sharks and Jets.

 

Or so says common wisdom.

 

Actually, the bands’ aesthetics are getting closer. Radiohead seems to be running out of sounds to experiment with. Coldplay has begun in earnest to deconstruct the pop that made its members superstars.

 

http://news.bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/general/view/2008_08_01__Brit_band_beat-down/srvc=home&position=7

Why Radiohead is the past

 

Radiohead, what have you done for me lately? Oh, right, you released “In Rainbows”- one of the coolest albums of last year. Yet it’s not the coolest.

 

There was a time when a Radiohead release was a shoo-in for album of the year. But lately the band isn’t as exciting as it once was. Compare anything off “In Rainbows” to “Airbag,” “I Might Be Wrong” or even Coldplay-template “Fake Plastic Trees.”

 

Radiohead has entered its “Zooropa” phase, while Coldplay’s firmly in its “Unforgettable Fire” growth spurt.

 

Let’s not go crazy. Creatively, melodically and lyrically, any Radiohead album stomps any Coldplay album. But that may change. Bands in decline rarely rebound - still holding out hope the theme song from “Armageddon” didn’t signal Aerosmith’s artistic Armageddon?

 

Radiohead became post-grunge’s first, maybe only, epic rock band, then banished the guitar crescendos that made it epic. But they still managed to make amazing, tech-y minor masterpieces.

 

Now the band’s filling in the spaces between epic and slight, organic and synthetic, guitar-fueled rock and Mac-made sonicscapes. Soon all those spaces will be filled in. Then what?

 

http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/general/view.bg?articleid=1110260

Why Coldplay is the future

 

Coldplay’s success attracts armies of haters. And it doesn’t help that Chris Martin has that wussy falsetto, a superhot wife and a kid named after the world’s most prosaic fruit. But Coldplay hasn’t given up the dream of transcending today’s pop into timeless rock art.

 

Purportedly the band’s “experimental” album, “Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends” doesn’t tinker too much with Coldplay’s established, superpopular, nonthreatening style. But there are amazing moments. “42” begins as a typical Martin piano ballad before crashing into an “Airbag” burst of jagged guitar and angry strings; salvation comes with a bright, upbeat, totally anti-Coldplay (and Radiohead) bridge.

 

From there the band repeatedly breaks with its Radiohead-lite formula: They pinch from the Beatles’ “Fool on the Hill” and “Lady Madonna” and delve into Eastern European melodies and neo-classical, Chopin-does-Britpop bits.

 

And let’s not forget. Every time you hear “Violet Hill” on the radio, remember what you’re not hearing: James Blunt. Don’t think there’s a difference? You gotta listen to “Viva la Vida” (or be reminded just how bad “You’re Beautiful” is).

 

It’s shocking, but Coldplay is one of the most dynamic bands on pop radio. And the band is getting more dynamic. That’s a good thing.

 

Coldplay, with Santogold and the Luxury, at the TD Banknorth Garden, Monday. Tickets: $47-$95; 617-931-2000.

 

http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/general/view.bg?articleid=1110347

Interesting reviews, thanx:)

COLDPLAY the best

And let’s not forget. Every time you hear “Violet Hill” on the radio, remember what you’re not hearing: James Blunt. Don’t think there’s a difference? You gotta listen to “Viva la Vida” (or be reminded just how bad “You’re Beautiful” is).

 

I like James Blunt... am I a bad person? :\

No, I have one of his songs on my iPod shamefully enough, but I'm cool :cool:

I have Back to Bedlam, i am still cool, whatever :cool:

coldplay is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chris Martin isn’t coy about it. He freely admits Coldplay gathers its strength from Radiohead the way Superman draws his powers from our yellow sun.

 

This is giving me some really weird mental images...:P

Interesting thanks.....

 

Speaking of Radiohead I'm presenting the Top 100 as Voted Radiohead songs today and tomorrow on atease. http://www.ateaseweb.com/mb/index.php?showtopic=235049211&st=0

Have the 51-100 posted. Nothing wrong with liking both bands for what each of them do best. Radiohead gives me dense, cryptic, and challenging Indie/Electronic rock. Coldplay gives me catchy,optimistic, and passionate Alternative Pop. They each are masters of their own subgenres.

 

Chris Martin isn’t coy about it. He freely admits Coldplay gathers its strength from Radiohead the way Superman draws his powers from our yellow sun.

 

 

I give 42 million props to anyone who create a picture/wallpaper/image depicting this event.

i hate this thing about writers and blogs on internet.

 

For every single thing about a band they've to write about music and performance,but eventhough there's a necessity or not they'll peep in Chris's wife and kids into middle.

 

Then why're not they even bothered about other band members wifes and gfs too if they're doing that with Chris then?:rolleyes: