Personally my only dislike for it is how over produced it is but other than that it's a great album. Why does everyone hate it?

I don't hate it. When I'm full of adrenaline and energy after a rugby match it's my main album to listen to

I don't hate the album. I love how it transferred to a live setting - Coldplay have never sounded better on stage but on record it was a MASSIVE disappointment. It's an album that doesn't flow well compared to their other 5 albums. They front loaded the album with the BIG hits, a marketing ploy you feel rather than an artistic choice. And it is poorly produced with the exception of Paradise which is s beautifully produced. It pulls the same tricks as Viva La Vida where, despite A LOT going on, it is neatly packaged without overflowing into a mess in the same way DLIBY did. HLH doesn't have the driving hard guitar sound it did on stage which makes it woefully light in comparison. Charlie Brown is similar but this time it's the vocals that are the problem - you feel Chris could have BELLOWED it out more to give it extra oomph AND that his vocal line didn't dominate the couple of harmonies within the song. As well as that the acoustic, more downbeat songs are poor. UFO and Up In Flames are utterly forgettable and Us Against The World is a decent (no more, no less) song ruined by the immediate introduction of Jonny which destroys the build up and tapestry of the song.

 

The melodies are just not memorable and the album lacks the profound, heart on your sleeve vocal performances that comes naturally with Chris's voice. It's these two problems that lie at the core of the album's faults. That said the album has it's moments. Major Minus is an excellent foray into proper rock and Up With The Birds is a lovely, refreshing closer - an antidote to much that went on before.

I agree! I think it was a very strong album. The album was very cohesive, and the concept was cool! I think the lyrics and overall sonic timeline and textures were done very well! It was also the most fun concert they've ever produced (and i've ever been to!) Then, looking back at my life as MX came out, I found myself heavily relating, and growing while listening!

 

My thought is that music is supposed to change, it's an ever-evolving being...and sometimes it'll take a while for people to appreciate. I'm a huge coldplay fan; I was with them ever since they started, and I'm proud of my large collection of their music, demos, concerts..etc.... so from my years of listening, I have always found a way to appreciate their albums. But naturally, some songs don't resonate with me - and some albums don't provide me a certain gratification as others have! To me, this is beyond okay! Normal, even! Coldplay didn't make music to just satisfy "The Fox".

 

But since you bring it up...allow me to relate.

I personally don't understand why people come up with the reason to hate and shortly say, "I'm embarrassed to be a Coldplay Fan because of ____". MX brought a lot of that. And it still comes up. And it bothers me, still.

 

Saying something like that (IMO) is not even worth the debate - and I LOVE debating about musical opinions. I battle with someone on another music board all of the time! It's healthy, and you learn something new at the end of the day, and maybe have a new artist to look into!

 

Hell, I even accept "I just don't like it..." as an argument, because that can bring good conversation. Even I do that! I don't get embarrassed because a song by a band isn't to my taste, I just brush it off. I thought Major Minus wasn't great at all, so I didn't listen to it. I didn't like it. BUT! Months later, somehow, I was playing drums to it. And "howyousawtheworld" I really appreciate your post!

 

If you call yourself a fan of art (IMO), you look at the new experience with your own blank canvas. Have all the opinions you want - that's your right, and that's what makes art interesting...

If you call yourself a dedicated fan of art (of course, IMO), you encompass the above, but then also learn about why people are reacting the way they are, to gain an even better worldview. Revisiting something you didn't appreciate before should be a pleasure, rather than a burden.

 

I really appreciated MX. I know other people did as well - maybe even more than me! Then, I'm glad people didn't appreciate it as much...because everyone is different, and we learn when there are differences. But it puts a bitter taste in my mouth to read about curt embarrassment. There are other things to be embarrassed about in this day and age.

It took me about a year. I didn't love it at first, but a year later I listened to the whole thing through, and honestly, it was amazing. I really love this album. The sort of things others don't like were my complaints but became my loves. Sure, it is poppy, very over the top, very produced. I think people need to embrace that though. If I am in a good mood, I just turn that album on because I can dance to it, I can sing along to the massive explosive choruses, and I can put on headphones and pick out all the little details that are hiding in each song (because the production is amazing!!!)

 

MX, like every Coldplay album, has a certain taste to it. Its taste in particular though, is one of their strongest. They really went all out on it with the style they were going for, and some love it and others don't. I don't blame people for hating it. I mean, I still am not a huge fan of POC or Up In Flames, I think they are weak Coldplay tracks. MX is not as great for me as Viva, A Rush, or Parachutes, but then again, it has fresh sound, it is extremely bright, it rocks out occasionally, and it is incredibly unique sounding. That is why I love it.

 

Now I am waiting for the flavour of GS to settle in....hahaha

I appreciate this thread/posts so far. I was actually planning to write an extremely long essay in the GS forum about why I like MX better but I'll just summarize since I should really study for exams rather than try to impose an opinion on others.

 

-Cool cohesion, lyrical themes, mythology, outfits, visuals. The lyrics in particular - some people give them a lot of shit about it - but MX is very clever. References to many things, cool imagery, but still heartfelt in many ways. I think it retains the sophistication of the VLV era but takes it in a slightly different direction that's very modern and cultured. The "comma rather than full stop" line is actually really cool when you think about it - it's about continuity and relevance and fighting to the end rather than bowing down to oppression. UATW has fantastic lyrics too. The literary and biblical references in that song + Major Minus are pretty cool. I think all of it is a lot more subjectable to analysis than the pure and simple heartbreak of Ghost Stories, which is a valid direction to go lyrically but not one I enjoy as much.

-Best guitar lines in all of Coldplay's discography. HLH, Paradise, ETIAW, Major Minus, DLIBYH in particular. Even the repetitive-not-that-innovative stuff was good - Charlie Brown, UATW, POC. In other words, even though Jonny is a big deal on GS for playing keyboards and things, Jonny does a great job of playing interesting and engaging guitar lines in EVERY song (except for UFO).

-Great instrumentals from everyone all around. Guy has good basslines in Paradise, ETIAW, Major Minus. Will's drums are phenomenal in every song.

-Great vocal delivery from Chris and Will in particular (UATW, Paradise).

-Excellent stylistic mix. We got a couple pump-up rocking songs, a couple synth-poppy songs, a couple acoustic songs. I will also say that I think Up in Flames would've been a great song to have on Ghost Stories. I think UIF fits the mission statement of GS excellently - simplicity, heartbreak, electronic drums. It's very minimalist but has a great piano line, a nice harmony from Will. The bass and guitar parts are not out of this world but they're nice and they add the texture and contribute to an overall build/climax that isn't indulgently cathartic the way Paradise is. In fact, I would've rather had UIF on GS somewhere, and then have MTM on MX.... :lol:

-Most of the songs are a bit more coherent with regard to who's playing what. I find Ink to be very all over the place. The fluty-guitar in the choruses, the synths, the "doo doo doos" are all very disparate. Whereas with most of the songs on MX (with the exception of HLH's studio version maybe) I get an easier sense of "this is when Guy will walk onto stage."

 

I will agree with howyousawtheworld's criticisms in a few places though - HLH, CB, Major Minus, and UATW are all way better live due to more clarity in who's doing what. Jonny has more defined guitar lines, MM has a great guitar line in the verses. I will disagree about UATW - I like its hourglass structure. Start with everyone, dial it back, then bring everyone back one by one. It's pretty unique since many a Coldplay is Chris -> then bring everyone.

 

MX is targetable because it seems "overproduced" but I don't find it more produced than any other album let alone Ghost Stories. It's just produced in a way where the production is meant to be visible through synths and vocal effects and things. But I don't think it gets in the way of my enjoyment of the music because the Coldplay I know and love is there and I can tell every decision they made was to make the music better.

One thing I will add though - I really don't like the music video to Charlie Brown. It's just a slew of flashy images of dancing and sexual things. It was close to having a story but instead was just...too self indulgent I guess. It kind of went against my image of the story that the album portrays.

^Definitely their worst music video to date. Charlie Brown is not a rave song for me, it is an alternative rock dance song. This video felt like Rihanna's We Found Love video but for tweens. Didn't enjoy it at all.

Many people know that Mylo Xyloto is an amazing album, it's mainly "Coldplay fans" who hate it because they're stuck in the 2000-2006 era and waiting for an album like those under those years, rest of the world loves it. MX is one of Coldplays best albums, the only weak thing is that yes, it was a bit overproduced, but other than that it was and still is amazing, catchy and beautifuly colorful

I don't hate the album. I love how it transferred to a live setting - Coldplay have never sounded better on stage but on record it was a MASSIVE disappointment. It's an album that doesn't flow well compared to their other 5 albums. They front loaded the album with the BIG hits, a marketing ploy you feel rather than an artistic choice. And it is poorly produced with the exception of Paradise which is s beautifully produced. It pulls the same tricks as Viva La Vida where, despite A LOT going on, it is neatly packaged without overflowing into a mess in the same way DLIBY did. HLH doesn't have the driving hard guitar sound it did on stage which makes it woefully light in comparison. Charlie Brown is similar but this time it's the vocals that are the problem - you feel Chris could have BELLOWED it out more to give it extra oomph AND that his vocal line didn't dominate the couple of harmonies within the song. As well as that the acoustic, more downbeat songs are poor. UFO and Up In Flames are utterly forgettable and Us Against The World is a decent (no more, no less) song ruined by the immediate introduction of Jonny which destroys the build up and tapestry of the song.

 

The melodies are just not memorable and the album lacks the profound, heart on your sleeve vocal performances that comes naturally with Chris's voice. It's these two problems that lie at the core of the album's faults. That said the album has it's moments. Major Minus is an excellent foray into proper rock and Up With The Birds is a lovely, refreshing closer - an antidote to much that went on before.

Thoroughly agree with all you said.

 

My anger with the album lasted for quite a while but its over now and we can all move on. Ghost Stories was a turning point for the band.

MX is one of their best albums despite the naysayers here - I don't know what the others are thinking, but it's probably one of the most cohesive concept albums they've made with a great story/universe built through the song sequencing.

 

I really wished they had played this album through like they are doing for Ghost Stories, they could have the animation along with other made up clips (like they did for Ghost Stories). It would have been a Coldplay rave of sorts but with actually good music than a droning of repetitive bass and drum.

MX is one of their best albums despite the naysayers here - I don't know what the others are thinking, but it's probably one of the most cohesive concept albums they've made with a great story/universe built through the song sequencing.

 

I really wished they had played this album through like they are doing for Ghost Stories, they could have the animation along with other made up clips (like they did for Ghost Stories). It would have been a Coldplay rave of sorts but with actually good music than a droning of repetitive bass and drum.

 

Indeed...I wouldn't mind 45 minutes of fuzzy rainbow man!

Nahh, MX is one of the best albums they ever made, the concept was just superb, lyric wise but didn't have enough chemistry between songs. It starts off really good with Mylo Xyloto/Hurts Like Heaven until Major Minus. After those tracks, it doesn't sounded really good enough, just a mixed unnecessary tracks but I adore Don't Let It Break Your Heart and Up With The Birds.

 

Mylo Xyloto was my 3rd best album of Coldplay btw.

Wow I completely agree with you

I enjoy the album, don't get why certain people hate it. They had to do something new after huge success with Viva la Vida. This direction seemed like the only way to turn.

it was a bad

it was a bad

 

u mean it was a ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-aaad

It's my least favorite, and I really Can't stand Rihanna. But I don't hate it. Their weakest album is still better than a lot of bands' best. It's part of the evolution that gave us Ghost Stories, and if it made them happy, That's all that really matters to me.

u mean it was a ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-aaad

 

You mean tell me it's bad, if you don't then liiiiiiiiiiiii[...]iiie.

I don't hate the album. I love how it transferred to a live setting - Coldplay have never sounded better on stage but on record it was a MASSIVE disappointment. It's an album that doesn't flow well compared to their other 5 albums. They front loaded the album with the BIG hits, a marketing ploy you feel rather than an artistic choice. And it is poorly produced with the exception of Paradise which is s beautifully produced. It pulls the same tricks as Viva La Vida where, despite A LOT going on, it is neatly packaged without overflowing into a mess in the same way DLIBY did. HLH doesn't have the driving hard guitar sound it did on stage which makes it woefully light in comparison. Charlie Brown is similar but this time it's the vocals that are the problem - you feel Chris could have BELLOWED it out more to give it extra oomph AND that his vocal line didn't dominate the couple of harmonies within the song. As well as that the acoustic, more downbeat songs are poor. UFO and Up In Flames are utterly forgettable and Us Against The World is a decent (no more, no less) song ruined by the immediate introduction of Jonny which destroys the build up and tapestry of the song.

 

The melodies are just not memorable and the album lacks the profound, heart on your sleeve vocal performances that comes naturally with Chris's voice. It's these two problems that lie at the core of the album's faults. That said the album has it's moments. Major Minus is an excellent foray into proper rock and Up With The Birds is a lovely, refreshing closer - an antidote to much that went on before.

 

THIS.

I enjoy the album, don't get why certain people hate it. They had to do something new after huge success with Viva la Vida. This direction seemed like the only way to turn.

 

I think Viva proves that reaching success is also possible by producing artistic music, and not only by some kicks & claps in FL Studio.

It's my least favorite, and I really Can't stand Rihanna. But I don't hate it. Their weakest album is still better than a lot of bands' best. It's part of the evolution that gave us Ghost Stories, and if it made them happy, That's all that really matters to me.

 

Couldn't agree more :) I don't hate MX, it's allright... but I do hate some of the songs in it :laugh3: can't stand Rihanna either :\

You mean tell me it's bad, if you don't then liiiiiiiiiiiii[...]iiie.

 

Made some music and the words are ALRIIIIIIIIIIIGHT.

For me I think it was a breath of fresh air after the more down-tempo albums they've released in the past. It's really helpful to me - because I don't really listen to anything except Coldplay, majority of the time - because sometimes I want to listen to something more upbeat and poppy and fun, sometimes I want to dance, and THIS is the album I'll put on. I listen to it every day as I'm driving into work because it makes my mood a little better before I go to work for however many hours. I don't really understand all the hatred for it, at least it's something different y'know?