Here's my review (co-posted to r/Coldplay!)

'm nearly done with Coloratura which I've listened to plenty of times, so here's my initial review. It's short—like curiously short. I'm surprised at how, I guess, incomplete it feels even though it's definitely an experience from beginning to end.

That being said, I enjoyed it more than I anticipated earlier this year when we got news about BTS, etc. The only dud for me so far is Let Somebody Go; Pride of the People will have to grow on me too.

But, the standout tracks are really, really good. MOTS is an excellent instrumental opener, Humankind blew me away, Biutyful somehow works with its high-pitched tuning, and Infinity Sign is a killer Jon Hopkins track that really sets the mood for what I wanted from the rest of the album.

Oh, the production is legitimately great. Max Martin really, really impressed me with that. I expected a muddled mess a la Ghost Stories/AHFOD, but I'm glad to be wrong.

I'm not going to try to rate or rank it because it's too early. But I thoroughly enjoyed it. It feels much more put together than AHFOD (or the entire era) ever did, so I personally feel it isn't fair comparing those two albums.

Ok now this really sucks... In Spotify is not even there yet... And YouTube we have each song individually uploaded so I won't avoid the ads and the pauses between songs... Someone really messed it up...

1 hour ago, eddmen said:

Ok now this really sucks... In Spotify is not even there yet... And YouTube we have each song individually uploaded so I won't avoid the ads and the pauses between songs... Someone really messed it up...

It's on spotify here, which country you're in?

Brilliant

Coloratura 10/10

Music of the Spheres 9.5/10

 

Great

Humankind 7.5/10

People of the Pride 7/10

 

Good

Human Heart 6.5/10

Higher Power 6/10

Infinity Sign 6/10
 

Eh

Alien choir 5/10

Let Somebody Go 4.5/10

BAD

Biutyful 4/10

My Universe 3/10

MOTS2 3/10

On 9/10/2021 at 13:07, 42JTR said:

 

Edited October 15, 20214 yr by Dherlax

The hype already wore off to me since I listened to the album early and well... People are either completely loving or completely hating the album, I feel weird for being in a middle ground. Not their best effort but far from being their worst.

18 minutes ago, Famous_Old_Painter said:

It's on spotify here, which country you're in?

Mexico here. Looks like it was due to time zone, not sure... The banner on Spotify said Now Available since 10/14 11 PM but the album wasn't there, it was until past midnight... Good thing I'm now playing on repeat.

I’m digging it less with every listen, it has to be said

 

At least we have Coloratura

Coloratura still the man who walks around owning the freaking lot... People of the Pride comes next and I'm really surprised by MOTS, great intro and it has those space vibes to me. Also I really liked ♾️, I was hoping to hear some lyrics, but the song is a mood booster to me and is one of my favorites kind-of-instrumental Coldplay's songs (1st place goes to Chinese Sleep Chant). I enjoyed the album, not a 10/10 to me but it has really good stuff in it and we have outstanding material for a world tour.

1 hour ago, The_Blue_Room said:

Maybe once someone shares a CD rip I can download that instead.

I can confirm the CD has the correct versions.

Also special thanks to the people behind the visuals we have on YouTube for each track that's just a piece of art. Is a different experience watching those along with the music. I hope we get the full video as in Ghost Stories era (I still enjoy watching it every once in a while)

41 minutes ago, Dherlax said:

Brilliant

Coloratura 10/10

Music of the Spheres 9.5/10

 

Great

Humankind 7.5/10

People of the Pride 7/10

 

Good

Human Heart 6.5/10

Higher Power 6/10

Infinity Sign 6/10
 

Eh

Alien choir 5/10

Let Somebody Go 4.5/10

BAD

Biutyful 4/10

My Universe 3/10

MOTS2 3/10

Kinda agree with this.

Humankind is a real grower, think it's gonna be number 2 after Coloratura for me soon. But I think they should have swapped places and have it straight after the intro.

I think MOTS is on par with AHFOD. It has definitely better production, but on the other side, MOTS feels just like a collection of songs that band recorded over time and decided to put together on one album. Album is not cohesive, most songs feels out of place. Chris vocals are fantastic ( i will not comment Biutyful, really hate this type of vocals/music), but what bothers me is that the other members of band are really left behind on MOTS. Apart from Coloratura/ Humankind / POTP Jonny's contribution is almost non-existent. Guy's bass is very casual throughout album. But the biggest problem for me is Will's drumming. Even on Coloratura, he is playing so safe that i started wondering what has happened to him. On many songs he is using electric drums, which i really hate - OneRepublic started to use electric drums almost on every song and look where are they now, almost nobody cares about 1R in 2021. I must say i am really disappointed. No doubt World Tour will be great and one could say that album was made just for it. Song like Humankind and POTP will rock hard on crowded stadiums and it will be great spectacle to watch. I still have hopes for their next album, but they will need different producer and spend more time locked in studios together.

Guys need to go back to their roots at this point. Give us something like Champion of The World

Edited October 15, 20214 yr by ColdMartin

We got the most brilliant closure they’ve ever done with infinity and coloratura but unfortunately in a forgettable album. 

For me most of the songs are good, just good nothing special except People of the pride. 
 

Edited October 15, 20214 yr by Essam

Ok I finally listened properly to the whole album. The premise is that now I have mixed feelings about MOTS as a whole: some songs have grown on me immediately, others I doubt will. I'm not gonna give grades to each song and I'll try to put into words some personal thoughts, especially about the songs we haven't listened before.

What strikes me the most is Guy's description of how they came out with Coloratura: with a minimum involvement of Max Martin. This makes absolutely sense as there is an incredible distance between that song and the others on the album. And I'm not saying this in terms of "Coloratura is better than the others", but in terms of "behind Coloratura I recognize the band of EL, of the first albums, of Moving to Mars etc..." even though, of course, the style is quite different because they have evolved. Coloratura also works well in counterbalancing the "poppiest songs" and to me is one of their best songs on their catalog.

I'm a bit disappointed by the studio version of People of the Pride, it lacks the energy which I definitely feel in the live performance. It is the same problem that to me has a song like Amsterdam: when you listen to the live, you ask yourself why the studio version is "watery" in comparison. However, I would be glad if they recorded a live version of People of the Pride on tour to overcome the issue. 

Humankind seems taken from MX era, and it surpassed my expectations; it reminded me DLIBYH in a positive way. I can imagine it played in a stadium, so I expect it to be on their setlist for the tour.

At the moment Biutyful hasn't grown on me, but maybe over time I will change my mind. It's just a matter of personal taste because I don't really like that effect with Chris's voice; I prefer the part where there is the harmonization of both voices. 

Among the three big collabs with female voices, Let somebody go is the one I prefer. It is not my favorite song on the album, but it works. 

Infinity sign: I can't understand if there are lyrics in the final part and If it is so, what are? 

MOTS I seems good, but the last interlude is too abrupt. I wish they managed to make these interludes more significant, because they have already proved in the past to have the potential to do it.

I wasn't expecting anything much different to what I've listened to (the real surprise was Humankind), because the direction of the album was clear since May. Overall it is not my cup of tea, but I have to recognize that they have made some steps ahead since AHFOD. I'm curious to see how this Vol 1 fits into the whole project of 3 volumes

Edited October 20, 20214 yr by only.your.imagination

4 hours ago, The_Blue_Room said:

Wow, so that's why I can't find a proper version! Unbelievable that they'd screw something like that up. Maybe once someone shares a CD rip I can download that instead.

I contacted Coldplay HQ, they answered that they have reported the issue.

Havent been here in 6 years. 

Just finished my first listen. I love it. It will never top my favoruite albums but Coloratura and People of The Pride can be compared with my top songs. Somehow the album gives me that Coldplay feeling I had looong time ago. I really liked Everyday Life, but as some of you said since the hype I havent actually listened to it. This one feels different. 

2 hours ago, alexix7 said:

I think MOTS is on par with AHFOD. It has definitely better production, but on the other side, MOTS feels just like a collection of songs that band recorded over time and decided to put together on one album. Album is not cohesive, most songs feels out of place. Chris vocals are fantastic ( i will not comment Biutyful, really hate this type of vocals/music), but what bothers me is that the other members of band are really left behind on MOTS. Apart from Coloratura/ Humankind / POTP Jonny's contribution is almost non-existent. Guy's bass is very casual throughout album. But the biggest problem for me is Will's drumming. Even on Coloratura, he is playing so safe that i started wondering what has happened to him. On many songs he is using electric drums, which i really hate - OneRepublic started to use electric drums almost on every song and look where are they now, almost nobody cares about 1R in 2021. I must say i am really disappointed. No doubt World Tour will be great and one could say that album was made just for it. Song like Humankind and POTP will rock hard on crowded stadiums and it will be great spectacle to watch. I still have hopes for their next album, but they will need different producer and spend more time locked in studios together.

I'm very surprised by people saying MOTS doesnt feel cohesive. The common thread to me is that space sound- so many of the songs have prominent synths in them and there's this very humanist message on many tracks like Human Heart, Humankind and Coloratura about (you guessed it) the nature of humanity and acceptance of the self and others. Even People of the Pride has that, though I will admit that song seems out of place musically with how guitar-centric it is.

Ghost Stories has Midnight which sounds so different from everything else in its soundscapes, I was so hyped when I heard that as the first single and then disappointed with almost every other song on it. ASFoS is this super upbeat EDM track that is just a completely separate outlook and vibe. I know it's only on there because Chris insisted it be. 

AHFoD too! I complained about how jarring the difference between Birds and HftW was one right after the other and felt dismissed with "Well they do that on purpose, silly boy." Those two songs shouldn't even EXIST by the same band, not least on the same album. But they're right next to each other. It wasn't a problem then, why is it now?

MX did the same thing with PoC and UFO. That whole album was part acoustic, part alt rock, part pop. Like three completely different things in one. Loved the acoustic and alt rock parts and not more pop sounding ones.  

People can believe whatever they want but it doesn't make sense to me. I think it's cohesive but if it's not, this isn't exactly new.

 

 

Let Somebody Go, My Universe, Infinity Sign and Biytiful all use a drum machine I believe, though I'm not a percussion expert. Drums vs drum machines sound different. That's almost half the album. Not ideal. That said

I think every single song on GS used one, I can't think of any song on that album that had what sounded like actual drums. I do love the percussion on AiMH but I'm not convinced it's a drum set.

Pretty sure AHFoD, AoAL and Birds were drums but again, don't think anything else was. Can't tell with Amazing Day because Stargate ruined that song. I think the live version is drums and the studio version is a drum machine. Up&Up I'm blanking on. 

My point in this regard is not that it's good, just that it's not something new as it sounds like you're suggesting. Coldplay would have to fall into a volcano and be spit out into pieces to sound like new OneRepublic. Sidenote- Will's drumming is one of the main reasons I like MX as much as I do, despite the prevalent opinion about that album. I think it is both Will's and Jonny's best album, musically speaking. Will and Jonny on Hurts Like Heaven is awesomeness. 

Edited October 15, 20214 yr by HowCouldIForget

The main thing is that people associate Coldplay's interested in pop as a way to earn more money and be more successful. You know how Chris like Bob Marley songs, and that his ultimate goal is to make that kind of simple songs that are as direct and last for ages. Of course, sometimes the songs only turn out a little bit more simple they should be or whatever but that is the way it is. If you listen really without prejudices, you feel he feels inspired in every one on these songs, even on MU, where on the chorus part you can really feel it, he is inspired to sing it. The rest of it is for us to decide, after few more listens, what did they eventually make, but they are still very inspired and not worn out as some crictics suggest making false storylines in their heads as they swap coldplay ambiotion to make timeless simple tunes with ambition to make more money.  

Just finished my first listen and I HATE that Apple Music screwed up the song transitions - especially because the interlude tracks clearly flow into the next song on the tracklist. That aside, I really like this; it comes across as the band reconnecting with their pop instincts but it's a boldly experimental record even within those confines. Absolutely adore Coloratura and I'm glad I waited to hear it in context.

Humankind is going to be MASSIVE live, I feel like it could have worked as a single but I get why we only got two proper ones. Excited to listen again later!

A lot has already been said, so I’ll just give some quick thoughts :

• I’m baffled by some of the reviews on this album. Only 5 reviews in on Metacritic, but FIFTY ONE? Less than the horrendous mess that was AHFOD? It’s not the quality of Everyday Life by any means, but at least it has a top notch production on almost all tracks and is IMO way more interesting than AHFOD. I also like the singles more.
• I read a lot of thoughts on the album length, which is interesting given it’s not shorter than Parachutes or Ghost Stories and barely shorter than Viva. But I understand the record may suffer from the Coloratura effect (both its length and the fact it’s been released two months ago). It could have benefited from one more full song and scrapping the useless transitions that are Alien Choir and MOTS 2.
• I still need time to assess Humankind. I like Chris on the chorus. Looks like it might become a fan favorite from the latest records.
• Let Somebody Go is fine as the corny ballad we're used to on their recent records. Everglow/Fun with good production, though I prefer Fun overall (liked Tove Lo here). One think I like on this track is the Now My Feet Won’t Touch the Ground vibes on Chris vocals!
• People of the Pride is a letdown, given the hype after the live performances. Frustrating, but I still like the vibe overall (thanks to The Man Who Swears).
• I really like the dynamics between Angelina and Chris on Biutyful. Works better than the voiceover thing on Cry Cry Cry, looks like a proper duet with a fun bass (and again that very clean production). A nice surprise.
• Infinity Sign!!! Now that’s an instrumental.

In brief that’s a fine album. Something like a 6.5/10. It’s not Everyday Life, but I did not expect more. Coloratura is one the best Coldplay songs in their discography and that record should translate well during the World Tour.

On to the Vol 2!

S - Viva

A - Parachutes, AROBTTH

B - EL, X&Y

C - GS, MX, MOTS

Z - AHFOD

Edited October 15, 20214 yr by VCF

Couple of thoughts after a day of listening to the album:

The songs I have on repeat are Humankind, POTP, Biutyful and Infinity Sign. 

Just out of curiosity, I gave Life Is Beautiful another listen, and it sounds exactly like Humankind. I also can't help but notice the elements of the song in Infinity Sign, it actually sounds like the instrumental is building up to LIB / Humankind, try to follow them in a playlist and it's like the perfect match. Why is it not a hidden track to it at least? Arghhh it bugs me so much...

 

Here's a quick, rough pitch-corrected edit of Biutyful with the chipmunk voice mitigated as much as I was able to.

Hopefully that gives a slight bit of peace of mind to those who hate the chipmunk voice lol. Personally I don't mind it at all, and it's one of my favorite songs off the album!

Is there a recording of iHeart album release party? Or if it still available to watch? I can't find it