Now the title sounds cringy, but hear me out. When someone thinks of the Coldplay sound, and I'm not talking about the supposed "haters" who say Coldplay has no sound or its way too mellow or whatever, what are they talking about? We all know Coldplay isn't the most original band ever, and that's fine, no band is ever truly original imo. But what is Coldplay's trademark sound? The thing is that Coldplay changes its sound so much, that its hard to pick the common multiple of every album.

 

I think we can all agree though, if one thinks about it enough, the trademark sound isn't a sound at all. It is the accessibility of the sound that makes Coldplay, Coldplay and not Radiohead or U2 or whatever the people compare Coldplay too. Coldplay beats those bands when it comes to going straight to the people and saying this is for you. And critics have learned to hate it.

 

Ghost Stories is unarguably about a breakup. Every song we've heard is about a break up. Even the lyrics of ASFOS has break up stuff in it. Coldplay hasn't really done this type of personal album before. They've done concept albums, but this really isn't a concept album is it? And people connect to break ups and personal, real things. Its why break up albums like Red and 21 are so popular.

 

So do you guys agree with me thinking that this will be the most accessible/Coldplay-ish Coldplay album to date? And with that, perhaps, potentially the biggest album they might ever release because of that fact. Maybe today's gotten me too hyped, but I think this might sell more then Viva or even X&Y did.

I agree with you 100%-- marketing aside, I think this is going to be not only their best selling album, but also their most critically acclaimed.

i hope so!

I agree with you. Coldplay's accessibility is what makes them such a popular band and that is not a bad thing. People who discriminate against popular music are only missing out on what other people are enjoying and so I feel sorry for them. Personally I love every Radiohead album to death, doesn't mean I have to compare! Coldplay are a quality outfit that has evolved and successfully adapted multiple sounds to their own musical style, they are a quality rock/alternative/pop band and it is foolish to deny it.

 

I think Ghost Stories, from what we have heard so far, is going to be a culmination of this fact. So far we have heard electronics, acoustics, emotive atmospheres, simple but appealing and sincere lyrics, and from what the rumours say, ASFOS could be that explosive sing-a-long that they do so well. Perhaps Ghost Stories could have been a self titled album in some respects. Especially after hearing Oceans, it really feels to me like this album, more than MX, will be a honed, definitive LP that can maybe silence some of the hater's by solidifying Coldplay as a master of popular hits as well as a critically respected outfit on the "quality" alternative scene.

The break-up itself got so hyped and reported upon , that no matter what Chris writes people will look into it and analyse it from that point of view. The album also seems to be very personal. And the thing I commend Chris Martin for is that he has managed to turn, from what we have heard so far his moment of great pain and sacrifice into a creative moment of great beauty and brilliance. The pain is very evident from all the songs but are exceptionally beautiful and has a kind of positivism. I don't care if it is critically acclaimed or wins Grammys (Bob Dylan has only 10 Grammys people, it doesn't matter), I just hope that this album makes Coldplay attain a new maturity and people like it.:)

I'm a huge Radiohead fan too, but I still listen to more coldplay simply because of accessibility.

Radiohead and Coldplay are on the same level to me.

They both create wonderfull music, but its true, Coldplay reaches a larger audience.

I agree with you 100%-- marketing aside, I think this is going to be not only their best selling album, but also their most critically acclaimed.

 

+1

 

It's shaping up really well.

 

 

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Radiohead has reached a level of artisticl value that coldplay will never reach, and not because they're not capable of it, because they can and we've seen it with songs like A Spell A Rebel Yell, but because they use their music to send a message different form what radiohead wants to do with their music. So in an artistic way Radiohead are better than Coldplay, but Radiohead will never be as good as them at senging messages to people, radiohead fans sometimes ignore lyrics completely because they are so difficult to interpret that they fail to find a message that has sense, this will never happen to coldplay and i'm fine with it.

 

 

By the way I agree with you that this album will gain coldplay all the respect and maturity that they lost with MX

From the tracks we've heard so far I can sense that this album will bring elements from every album they've already done

Something tells me Pitchfork's gonna love this album! :lol:

Truth is that - at the end - the boys have never disappointed me with an album.

to people[/color][/b], radiohead fans sometimes ignore lyrics completely because they are so difficult to interpret that they fail to find a message that has sense, this will never happen to coldplay and i'm fine with it.

 

 

By the way I agree with you that this album will gain coldplay all the respect and maturity that they lost with MX

 

These are exactly my thoughts and the perfect definition of them. I think that those 4 guys met and created Coldplay to send us all A Message in form of music. It was their fate.

I'm a huge Radiohead fan too, but I still listen to more coldplay simply because of accessibility.

 

I've grown to admire Radiohead and their artistic merit but rarely do they merit a time or a mood where I think 'This calls for a bit of Radiohead'. They're like the Spain national football team - I admire them, but I don't love them. Hugely successful and technique far beyond many of their peers but there remains something a bit too unspectacular about them...and at times, well, boring. They lack passion, drama and ultimately fascination which others can offer in greater abundance. It stops them from becoming a truly great band.

I think every Coldplay album is pretty accessible on all fronts (maybe not as much with Parachutes). Ghost Stories feels like it could be especially well received by fans and critics alike, which does make me very happy. As for being their "biggest selling album" I am very skeptical of that. For Ghost Stories to even come close to rivaling Viva La Vida, A Sky Full of Stars needs to be really, really, really good. I hope it will be, and from what we've heard it very well could be, but I have my doubts that it will reach the heights that Viva or Paradise managed to achieve.

GS will be less accesible.

The Ghost Stories sound definitely is the coldest that I've heard, so I think this album will live up to the band name "Coldplay"

Same though here. I think GS will be loved by both their fans and the critics. But I don't think GS can sell more than Viva. Viva la vida is massive.

 

I think every Coldplay album is pretty accessible on all fronts (maybe not as much with Parachutes). Ghost Stories feels like it could be especially well received by fans and critics alike, which does make me very happy. As for being their "biggest selling album" I am very skeptical of that. For Ghost Stories to even come close to rivaling Viva La Vida, A Sky Full of Stars needs to be really, really, really good. I hope it will be, and from what we've heard it very well could be, but I have my doubts that it will reach the heights that Viva or Paradise managed to achieve.

Radiohead has reached a level of artisticl value that coldplay will never reach, and not because they're not capable of it, because they can and we've seen it with songs like A Spell A Rebel Yell, but because they use their music to send a message different form what radiohead wants to do with their music. So in an artistic way Radiohead are better than Coldplay, but Radiohead will never be as good as them at senging messages to people, radiohead fans sometimes ignore lyrics completely because they are so difficult to interpret that they fail to find a message that has sense, this will never happen to coldplay and i'm fine with it.

 

What you said. 100% correct.

 

I adore Radiohead nearly as much as I do Coldplay, but in the end, I always prefer Coldplay. Musically, Radiohead is farther advanced and pushes themselves to new boundaries with each album because they have more of a cult following. Thom doesn't want to please anyone. Chris doesn't want to please anyone. Both of them make music because that's what they do. The only difference is that one band appeals to the masses, and the other does not. (And can I just say Radiohead fans are some of the most pretentious music fans out there?)

 

You could say Coldplay creates simple music, and that would mostly be true. But Coldplay has almost personified simple music and made it their own, something that Radiohead will indeed never be able to do, just like Coldplay will never be able to hit the stage of artistic ability Radiohead has made their own.

 

That said, Ghost Stories is going to be incredible. I can just feel it. I've had a good feeling since before MX was on its way out. Midnight and Magic took some getting used to, but now that we've more of the album, I'm convinced those are going to be the two weakest songs. And that right there is saying something. Always In My Head and Oceans are currently my two favorite, and according to those who had seen the private LA shows, these two songs weren't even the highlight of the evening.

 

I just really, really want Ghost Stories, right now.

I agree with you. Coldplay songs are very relatable and that's not a bad thing. But I don't think this will be their best selling album. I would love to but album sales have decreased A LOT. They would need to do a lot of promo and have one or 2 big worldwide smashes.

I agree with you. Coldplay songs are very relatable and that's not a bad thing. But I don't think this will be their best selling album. I would love to but album sales have decreased A LOT. They would need to do a lot of promo and have one or 2 big worldwide smashes.

 

You are right about sales. It would take a miracle for it to happen. But I feel like if ASFOS is a big hit, like viva, (plus magic has been a decent hit too) and then the big prime time on NBC... idk, they won't get a million sold in the first week obv (that WOULD be a miracle. Is it even possible?) but something like 500,000 sold albums I see happening if it all works out. And I know I'm being an optimist. But who couldn't with material like we are hearing.

GS will be less accesible.

 

Please don't confuse accessibility and artistry. I do think GS will be more experimental and darker and minimalistic, but Magic is pretty damn accessible. Always in My Head has some of the most beautiful simple lyrics I've heard since Amsterdam. Yeah, Midnight is a bit weird, but so is Chinese Sleep Chant and Twisted Logic and Spies. From what I've heard, everything is being pulled apart and assembled in away that allows the audience to really soak in the message and the tone of each song. It's why, personally, I seem to be repeating GS songs more than MX songs or X&Y. Simplicity is where the accessibility will allow GS to become a top album this year.

Please don't confuse accessibility and artistry. I do think GS will be more experimental and darker and minimalistic, but Magic is pretty damn accessible. Always in My Head has some of the most beautiful simple lyrics I've heard since Amsterdam. Yeah, Midnight is a bit weird, but so is Chinese Sleep Chant and Twisted Logic and Spies. From what I've heard, everything is being pulled apart and assembled in away that allows the audience to really soak in the message and the tone of each song. It's why, personally, I seem to be repeating GS songs more than MX songs or X&Y. Simplicity is where the accessibility will allow GS to become a top album this year.

This.

But Midnight isn't that weird, it's pop if you compare to some of Radiohead's really weird stuff for example

Both are brilliant

lol, I agree 100&. There are some tracks on Kid A and Amnesiac make Midnight look pretty soft, thought thats not a bad thing when we are comparing it to a song where Thom sings backwards

it's weird for a band as massive as coldplay to release a song like Midnight, this feels like 1999/2000 again, after Ok Computer no one expected something like Kid A, Radiohead at that time was like Coldplay, they had big big hits, but they got tired of it and they dropped Kid A. But Coldplay are not tired of their popularity, maybe one day they will, but for now they are fine to accept their mainstream status as long as their chemistry and values remain true