Counterpunch.org

 

The importance of any given artist is dependent on only one thing. You can chart their lasting effects, the people they influenced or the new techniques they pioneered, but when you get down to it all that matters is how much they care. Great artists give everything they have as honestly as possible at every show and every recording. That’s where Coldplay's newest record Viva La Vida falls short; it doesn’t sound like they give a shit.

 

Since their breakthrough album Parachutes in 2000, Coldplay has been making music that sounds big, and Viva La Vida sounds huge. The album seems like a cohesive work because of the epic feeling Brain Eno’s production lends to it. An enormous budget and very good players make every song a titanic construction.

 

But this is all overcompensation. It doesn’t sound like these big arrangements were meant to complement the vocals, but rather to hide them. Chris Martin’s voice squeaks from behind all this, in a way that’s more pathetic than endearing. He’s going through the motions, hitting high notes when he wants to be exciting and falling down to a whisper when he tries to be intimate, but it’s all just a scam. No vocal tricks or big production can conceal his faults. He sounds too self-conscious, too controlled, and too rigid to be truly earnest.

 

But maybe it’s overly demanding to ask for honesty from everyone. True, it’s a difficult thing to really bare yourself for everyone to see. There are undeniable benefits to playing music in a way that feels comfortable, and maybe that’s enough for some people. But it all feels like a waste of time. If I choose to sit down and listen to what Chris Martin has to say for 45 minutes, the least I expect is honesty. The least I expect is to feel like he’s concerned with the things that he’s saying. If Martin doesn’t care, then why should I?

 

 

 

 

 

My own words....

Well first of all, Coldplay, my favorite band and the biggest band in the world of music for the past decade has been sued. To me, the lawsuit is just Joe's opinion. The two songs dont sound at all alike except for maybe 1.5 seconds of the song. Which can be entirely coincidental like Coldplay stated. And why the fuck did Joe wait till December when the single came out in June. This is my opinion but i think most of you would agree. Coldplay has accomplished a hjell of a lot more than Joe. Joe cant even write lyrics. Also, since Coldplay is being sued, why do they continue with the jokes about them plagiarizing. Like that last attempt of Jeff Buckley. I saw this coming from the very first time they started telling those jokes. I really think that Chris Martin needs to back off with the plagirizing jokes. I started crying when i heard about the law suit awhile ago. Just imagine if Joe were to win. All of Coldplays money they earned from Apple and other things would be gone. I dont even think the song would be played on the radio...basically there was never any "Viva La Vida"

 

Thats all i have to say.

Good Luck Coldplay. Im still your biggest fan.:(

Why don't we just listen to their music and enjoy it? I heard them giving a shit for the first time since X&Y in Viva La Vida, and especially Prospekt's March. People need to stop analyzing everything to the point of utter irrelevance. It takes all the joy out of the music and removes the point. Coldplay are just making the best music they can. They aren't 'trying' to be 'intimate' or 'edgy' or whatever the fuck. They're just being themselves and don't take themselves very seriously and people need to get over it. 'Viva La Vida' is a great album. I may not make ponder the world or existence itself, but it makes me feel good. It makes me smile and shake my head and think that this is the Coldplay I wanted. And, after all, isn't that the point?

This is a pretty good topic. The legal stuff is a mess, but I wish that they would take more of an "I don't give a shit" attitude. All of the surface "stuff" is nice, and I would like them to continue to receive it. But honestly, I don't care whether they win a Grammy or their album is in the Top 10 on some magazine's list.

 

Sometimes I get the feeling it is not very fun to be in Coldplay. I wouldn't mind them taking the attitude of bands like Pearl Jam or Radiohead. Who cares what others think. Just worry about making music that you feel good about, and most of the fan base will still come along. And those who don't, you're probably better off for it.