Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto CD Album Review

 

Rating:

 

It seems like an age since Coldplay last released an album. It’s actually only been three years since Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends was released, but three years without a fix has been a wait that’s seemed much longer for Coldplay addicts. However, they should be used to waiting this long – every album that Coldplay has released has been two or three years since its predecessor. It’s hard to believe that Mylo Xyloto is the band’s fifth studio album. It seems as if they’ve released much more, but this is mainly due to the undying popularity of songs such as Yellow, The Scientist, Speed of Sound and Viva La Vida, to name just a few.

 

Their first album, Parachutes, was released in 2000 and I don’t think I’m wrong in saying that it seems they’ve been around for much, much longer. Again, this is more than likely due to certain songs still feeling as fresh as the day they were recorded and being so popular that they’ve lasted through the years. However, another reason it seems they’ve been around for much longer than 11 years is that since their inception in 1996, they’ve been making such an impressive mark on listeners, critics and on record sales worldwide. 11 years is a very long time for a band to still be together nowadays, and for a band like Coldplay, who create music on such a well-received, engaging scale, this makes it all the more impressive. Every album is nurtured and maximised to its full potential, and the love that the band put into crafting the music emanates through to the listener.

 

The band has sold over 50 million records worldwide and has won various awards. These include 6 Brit Awards, including winning Best British Group three times, and 7 Grammy Awards. Their debut album, Parachutes, was nominated for the Mercury Prize; their second, A Rush Of Blood To The Head, won NME’s album of the year; the third, X & Y, was the best-selling album worldwide in 2005; and the fourth, Viva La Vida…, earned several nominations and wins at the 51st Grammy Awards. The band is also known for its support of a number of political and social causes: Oxfam’s Make Trade Fair campaign and Amnesty International are two examples. The band has also performed at events such as Live 8, Band Aid 20 and the Teenage Cancer Trust. Chris Martin is seen as an advocate for Fair Trade and has been on trips with Oxfam, has appeared in its advertisements and is also know for wearing a Make Trade Fair wristband on his public appearances, including at concerts.

 

So, as you can see, Coldplay aren’t a band who are just interested getting their music across to people. They use their celebrity status to further the knowledge of poverty, poor economic climates and of countries in need. Coldplay is an important band of this generation, and love them or hate them, you cannot say that they haven’t made a mark on popular culture and, indeed, on people’s opinions and knowledge about social and economic problems worldwide.

 

 

The band has stated that Mylo Xyloto is going in an industrial rock direction – very different to past Coldplay releases. Martin has also said that the main themes are of ‘love, addiction, OCD, escape and working for someone you don’t like.’ So, on the basis of these statements, the album is set up for a very intriguing and diverse listen. It could also be absorbing and rewarding for the listener. If the band play it right, they’ll have an album of magnificent magnitude – one that is sure to earn them some more awards to add to the collection.

 

Hurts Like Heaven has a delicate guitar that is full of melody and rhythm and a drumbeat that’s hard not to nod along to. Martin’s vocals glide over the track and in the haunting resonance he leaves behind, you may find the silence that bridges between the next track a little bit evocative. It is a song that in true Coldplay style, lingers in your head and you’ll find yourself humming or singing along to it long after it’s finished.

 

Angsty titled Us Against The World has a sombre, almost anguished opening. The slow, sweet guitar, accompanied by Martin’s gloomy vocals, make for a listen that is distressing but stirring at the same time. The lyrics, especially, highlight this point: ‘And tonight / I know it all has to begin again / So whatever you do / Don’t let go’. It’s a track that will, in particular, appeal to the legions of fans who love Coldplay for their poignant, meaningful music but it’s also a song that may be the soundtrack to a day when nothing is going right.

 

Up In Flames is a track that has romantic connotations and a feel of unparalleled emotion that can only be obtained when a song is written about something true to life. Martin’s repeated chorus of ‘Up in flames’ hammers at the heartstrings and embeds itself in your mind. It’s a simple track, but elegant in its own way. It is a song that grows on you, and that’s what makes it so strong.

 

Up With The Birds, the final track, utilises the most of Martin’s poignant vocal style and the keys that filter in are a striking addition. They are what the song relies on to fulfil its potential until the folk-esque acoustic guitar comes to the fore. The guitar and the keys, together, grab the listener until the end and Martin’s vocals hover effortlessly over the music. It isn’t the strongest track on offer, but it is a stable ending and in its almost burgeoning stillness, it entices the listener to start listening to the album again. An intelligent ending.

 

Though the industrial rock theme may not have been fully realised, this is an album with Coldplay stamped all over it and, once again, shows why they are one of today’s most enduring and popular bands. It’ll be an album that we’ll hear plenty about upon its release.

 

http://whatculture.com/music/coldplay-mylo-xyloto-cd-album-review.php

Album review: Mylo Xyloto by Coldplay

 

 

THAT feeling you got when you eagerly listened to Coldplay's Paradise and realised you wanted to like it more than you actually did? Welcome to Mylo Xyloto.

 

It's not terrible at all, but Coldplay should be releasing jaw-dropping albums at this stage, not ones that leave any room for disappointment. Especially after the creative watershed of Viva La Vida triumphantly rebooted the band after the overblown stadium-rock-by-numbers of X&Y.

 

Chris Martin is his own worst critic, so it's odd Mylo Xyloto sounds less like the concept album he promised and more songs they had ready to record. Even Brian Eno's input sounds minimal, beyond a few digital squiggles and interludes.

 

First single Every Teardrop is a Waterfall remains the best song here, a bona fide modern anthem that pushed their usual boundaries by tapping into club culture, not just old U2 albums. How was it not a massive, world-enveloping hit? Paradise seems too classy for radio in 2011 and there's no Viva La Vida II here.

 

Hurts Like Heaven is great, even if the bridge sees them recycle Viva's wonderful 42 (the "You thought you might be a ghost" bit).

 

Charlie Brown has good ideas, but few you haven't heard Coldplay do already. Major Minus has a nice bluesy swagger to mix up the '80s U2 feel. They revert to the innocence of their debut Parachutes on the sea-shanty-as-played-by-The-Edge vibe of Us Against the World, or the even more simple UFO. Up With the Birds features Australia's Juanita Stern (Howling Bells) on guest vocals in the mix.

 

The album's big money shot (at least for radio) is the Rihanna duet Princess of China. It's a hot mess. Part stomping electro, part moody Sigur Ros sample and part thrilling pop song. It kind of works - Rihanna virtually steals the show in her parts, which is no mean feat.

 

It's still a strong album, just a slight side-step after Viva La Vida's creative leap.

 

Stars: * * * 1/2

 

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/music/album-review-mylo-xyloto-by-coldplay/story-fn7oonq8-1226171632495

 

wow, that herald sun review really annoys me........ETIAW the best song on the album? Are you kidding me?!?!

Even though I really enjoy the album I actually agree with the HS one, apart from the ETIAW comment.

 

This is interesting though: Up With the Birds features Australia's Juanita Stern (Howling Bells) on guest vocals in the mix.

I usually agree with Cameron Adams reviews but this one has left me feeling cold. That and I haven't heard the album yet so I can't yet give my own judgement.

well, ETIAW is the best song for me... I mean all of them are so good they are all best!!

MTV's review was glowing.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1672756/coldplay-mylo-xyloto.jhtml

wow, that herald sun review really annoys me........ETIAW the best song on the album? Are you kidding me?!?!

 

 

I KNOW! As soon as a read him saying ETIAW was the best track I wanted to stop reading. I realized the guy doesn't know what he's talking about.

Don't get me wrong, I love that song but come on... is it better than UATW?? I don't think so!

"It's not terrible at all, but Coldplay should be releasing jaw-dropping albums at this stage, not ones that leave any room for disappointment. Especially after the creative watershed of Viva La Vida triumphantly rebooted the band after the overblown stadium-rock-by-numbers of X&Y."

 

Pretty much my thoughts exactly.