That looks so wrong with the Parental Advisory sticker. It's like they became rappers.^^

 

To me Arabesque sounds like a mixture of Stand up by the Prodigy, Flick of the Finger by Beady Eye and Love spreads by The Stone Roses.

Even though I don't mind a bit of swearing in songs, I'm glad they are also releasing a clean version of the album, to still keep it family friendly as well.

I wonder if the clean version will go on Spotify or not?

 

For the clean version you need to listen to the leak i guess :laughing:

This is nowhere near pop. Yes, it’s Viva esque, jazzy and all the things people have mentioned.

 

What no one has mentioned yet, is that this is innovative indie rock/alternative/britpop whatever you want to call it. That is what that genre of music aught to sound like in 2019.

 

I hope that the rest of the songs on the album will follow suit and be absolute bangers. I’d be happy for them. This album could genuinely be the best since X&Y.

 

Oldplay is back!! That’s the headline here

While I disagree about it being nowhere near pop, I too heard vibes of Manchester Orchestra, Lumineers, Mumford and Sons and even a little Revivalists in Orphans. I really could not stand the “woo hoos” and usually that’s true for me of that phrase all the time. It didn’t bother me at the end of AHFOD, probably because of the added “ooo”s at the end. I haven’t heard Arabesque.

So we know the album is 53m

 

9m from Orphans and Arabesque leaves 44m left

 

Let's assume there's 2 tracks that are 1m interludes.

 

That's 42m for the remaining 12 tracks and I bet you one will be a 6m epic like Hypnotized or Up and Up (Probably Everyday Life)

 

That leaves 35m roughly for 11 tracks which equates to a little less than 3m per track give or take.

That looks so wrong with the Parental Advisory sticker. It's like they became rappers.^^

 

 

Agreed. I'm so proud of Coldplay for manning up and finally being able to swear in their lyrics, but this just looks so wacky for a Coldplay album to have a Parental Advisory sticker when they have a reputation for being family friendly :joy::joy::joy::joy::joy:

So we know the album is 53m

 

9m from Orphans and Arabesque leaves 44m left

 

Let's assume there's 2 tracks that are 1m interludes.

 

That's 42m for the remaining 12 tracks and I bet you one will be a 6m epic like Hypnotized or Up and Up (Probably Everyday Life)

 

That leaves 35m roughly for 11 tracks which equates to a little less than 3m per track give or take.

he said in interview was 'short' double album

Agreed. I'm so proud of Coldplay for manning up and finally being able to swear in their lyrics, but this just looks so wacky for a Coldplay album to have a Parental Advisory sticker when they have a reputation for being family friendly :joy::joy::joy::joy::joy:

 

I've read here that there also will be a 'clean' version of this album....

But will this also come out as physical copies (CD/LP)?

Love Arabesque. Such a different style for Coldplay, although it's no surprise it comes from the VLV era then. I like how they mix that old style saxophone with some newer production qualities such as the ambient textures created by the guitar and whatever else throughout the song, as well as the street intro. I also like how the end just builds up to an energetic climax with more emotion being released through the spontaneous use of swearing. Lyrics are sparse but effective.

 

Orphans is a little more what we expected from Coldplay, although it still has some interesting production qualities that make it stand out from previous Coldplay works: specifically, it sounds like a song more from an indie rock band, rather than the mega pop sound of AHFOD. Lyrics are definitely sub par, with them recycling their beat to death "woo hoo"'s (which isn't necessarily a bad thing if it sounds fun, which it does) and that they want to know when they can get drunk again or whatever, which is suspiciously reminiscent of HFTW's cringy lyrics (both in chorus). Other than that it's an innocently youthful pop-rock song, nothing that we haven't heard before though. I do like this song too all in all. A nice bass groove to go along with, I'm noticing Guy has a stronger influence in these two songs at least than most of Coldplay's music. Nothing wrong with having yet another fun happy-go-lucky mini pop rock anthem for my playlists. :)

 

Now let's just hope Arabesque isn't a one off as we've seen too many times with previous Coldplay albums, and that it's the rule as opposed to the exception (which might be a little more likely seeing as their album cover reflects this kind of music.....)

Holy s**t

 

They did it. They actually did it.

 

Apart from Midnight, these two tracks are the most inventive thing they've done since... I daresay 2008.

 

I'm not sure which track is better. Orphans is like Lovers In Japan meets Strawberry Swing and ETIAW. But with more of a world music kind of beat, and with a more infectious chorus than either of those two songs. The song is catchy and fun, yet... so meaningful. It doesn't manage to be too sappy. I wasn't sure what to think when I saw a few of the lyrics, but it makes so much sense in context. And having the kids sing that chorus works so well. I've listened several times now and I still have nothing bad to say. Maybe it should be a bit longer, but that's really all I would change. Listen to Guy... :heart_eyes:

 

Arabesque is what happens when Yes meets Cemeteries of London and we throw in extra Arabic music. That rhythm is so badass. Listen to that French verse. Listen to that saxophone, that guitar tone in the background of the solo, listen to Guy and Jonny, whose parts are honestly the foundation the song is built upon. Listen to the hints of shoegaze in the outro. It's all so daring, it reminds me of Viva yet at the same time it feels new. It feels like a bold new step into uncharted territory. And it somehow manages to be darker yet fun at the same time.

 

Gosh, I have nothing bad to say about these tracks. Listened a few more times just as I was typing this out and I still have no gripes. This pair of songs is something very special.

I've read here that there also will be a 'clean' version of this album....

But will this also come out as physical copies (CD/LP)?

 

Yep. I prefer music with explicit lyrics if they have them there though, but it's good to know Coldplay will still retain their family friendly sound for those that consider them a safe choice because of this.

That looks so wrong with the Parental Advisory sticker. It's like they became rappers.^^

 

Lol yes but in everyday life one could need a little parental advisory. Speaking of families. :)

Listen to that French verse.

 

Another thing I forgot to mention. For Coldplay to experiment with different languages is something, well not unprecedented per se as they've been becoming more of an international act in recent years, but this is something unheard from them before and I totally agree this is still something very unique for them.

 

Listen to that saxophone, that guitar tone in the background of the solo,

 

I know right? Just having the sax solo wasn't enough for them, they even threw in some ambient guitar texturing to round out the sound. This is something I totally wouldn't have expected from them anytime soon. I'm so so glad they didn't follow the Los Unidades sound for this album. I am SUPER hyped.

 

Listen to the hints of shoegaze in the outro.

 

Totally rounds out the song IMO. It would have been decent without it but this totally just completes the song and is my favorite part to have an energetic outro like that. I was looking at the length of the song and was wondering what was so special they could have introduced to make the song a little longer than a few verses and a couple choruses, and when this part hit it did not disappoint. This song would not be complete without this part and I'm glad I heard this in here. Props Coldplay.

MY BODY IS SO READY FOR THIS ERA

Not crazy about either track. Orphans is veryyyyyy Mylo era and Arabesque is something all on its own. Having said that, I do appreciate the general idea and ethos around the sound and am looking forward to hearing the remainder of the tracks on the album. As as always music is subjective and I hope everyone else is in love with these tracks -- so happy our boys are back! Happy Coldplaying!

So far we cannot complain one bit. It's still Coldplay, but Arabesque could have been anyone else! Brian Eno's magic is present 10 years later as a product of his ideas since rhythm for Arabesque is just the three guys without Chris.

I get U2 vibes off Orphans!

But both songs are amazing in their own way.

The more I listen to the songs the more I am excited for what’s to come! Keep in mind Annie Mac said what her top five favourite songs of this album are, and these two aren’t even on that list! So I’m assuming we can expect some pretty crazy and amazing stuff moving forward

I like Orphans in a number of ways, but I’m really unsure about the ‘fun’ musical quality of the line ‘bombs go boom ba boom boom’: it feels really trivialising (for a song about orphans of war), or just weird? Am I missing something?!

You know something I didn't really want more of from Coldplay until now? Long instrumental sections. Arabesque executes that perfectly.

 

Arabesque came when Brian Eno kicked out Chris from the studio!

 

Brian Eno is fucking genius!

I had really hoped to hear more material with Brian Eno. I hope he's credited at least on this track.

 

I know right? Just having the sax solo wasn't enough for them, they even threw in some ambient guitar texturing to round out the sound. This is something I totally wouldn't have expected from them anytime soon. I'm so so glad they didn't follow the Los Unidades sound for this album. I am SUPER hyped.

Yeah, there was some concern that they'd go with more of the Los Unidades sound since after all it was world music-inspired pop. This is harder hitting, less simplistic, more bold.

 

Gosh I can't get enough of these tracks. I notice something new every time. It's those little things that help give the songs so much replay value outside of just how catchy the melodies are.

Concerning album length:

 

Chris mentions in his interview with Annie Mac that there are "voice memos" on the album. I wonder if "Daddy" is a 30-60 second recording of one of their kids saying "daddy"? And then maybe "Guns" or "Eko" are recordings, or short instrumentals as well. That would help cut down more time for the remaining tracks. Sucks it's not longer, but I ain't gonna complain about 50+ minutes of new Coldplay!

I like Orphans in a number of ways, but I’m really unsure about the ‘fun’ musical quality of the line ‘bombs go boom ba boom boom’: it feels really trivialising (for a song about orphans of war), or just weird? Am I missing something?!

 

Yeah I don't know. Like I think he's getting at the fact that everday life includes bombs and war, BUT the people that are victims of violence also have hopes and dreams and that's worth celebrating. However, I'm concerned the lyrics on this song don't maybe do enough in 3 minutes to say that in a more nuanced way. But maybe on the final album it will make more sense.

The more I listen to the songs the more I am excited for what’s to come! Keep in mind Annie Mac said what her top five favourite songs of this album are, and these two aren’t even on that list! So I’m assuming we can expect some pretty crazy and amazing stuff moving forward

 

Keep in mind music is subjective, so for some the songs we heard will end up being our favorite, but I suppose out of that many tracks there must be at least another which is better. Only time will tell. Those 5 tracks will be at the bottom of others' list's, who knows?

 

Yeah, there was some concern that they'd go with more of the Los Unidades sound since after all it was world music-inspired pop. This is harder hitting, less simplistic, more bold.

 

I guess that's half the reason they released it under a different name anyhow. This sounds like "world music-inspired pop" too but with less of a focus on the mainstream pop elements and more of a focus on experimental soundscapes and alternative textures, has more of an indie vibe to it.

 

Gosh I can't get enough of these tracks. I notice something new every time. It's those little things that help give the songs so much replay value outside of just how catchy the melodies are.

 

Yep. That's why much of pop music is so forgettable these days, there's nothing extra in the production quality that makes it replayable and it just gets boring and stale after a while. But the best music I find has those different aspects that keep it not only replayable and fun but fresh for years to come. Like years after I heard Paranoid Android I heard a very very subtle robotic voice in the background, like it's musically freaking ingenious (nothing surprising from Radiohead).

Concerning album length:

 

Chris mentions in his interview with Annie Mac that there are "voice memos" on the album. I wonder if "Daddy" is a 30-60 second recording of one of their kids saying "daddy"? And then maybe "Guns" or "Eko" are recordings, or short instrumentals as well. That would help cut down more time for the remaining tracks. Sucks it's not longer, but I ain't gonna complain about 50+ minutes of new Coldplay!

Only two Coldplay albums have surpassed the 50 minute mark: AROBTTH and X&Y. It has been rare to get more than 45 minutes of music from the band at a time during their career but I'll take it!

Brian Eno brings out the best in them. He takes them from the straightforward Parachutes/A Rush Of Blood band and channels that raw talent for song making into the likes of Arabesque, VLV, Violet Hill, Cemeteries of London etc.

200 pages coming up btw. Can't believe it rushed from somewhere around page 46 to 200 so quickly. (was it 46? I'm too lazy to bother checking)