Zero Theory

The Stargate effect. 'Church' and the AHFOD title track are both some seriously great opening tracks that have been pulverized by Stargate, the use of a cheap Yamaha keyboard drumbeat demo, and making Jonny (arguably the highlight of each song) almost non existent in the recording. It boggles my mind how Coldplay continue to work with Stargate. (Maybe Church was leftover from the AHFOD era, but they still wish they'd never been working with them in the first place) Imagine if Eno had produced either of those tracks...

MBDTF is an all-timer. Kanye's magnum opus. 10.0 is justified imo.

This guy does a lot of Coldplay reviews and has a pretty large following for a YT music critic channel. I agree with a lot of his sentiments and disagree with some others. Worth a watch (will spoil album if you haven't listened yet)

I agree about the Grammy's point- this is their best shot since MX to win an award or 2. This won't fall into any of the mainstream categories, but definitely can see it making a run at best alternative album(?) I do think some critics will find the album a bit all over the place. The weird thing is that the album is all over the place musically, but has a pretty coherent lyrical message. In that way, it kind of works. I normally don't care about awards and that stuff, but there is something very satisfying about Coldplay getting critical recognition. I think it's because they get slagged off and they deserve so so so much more respect than that.

I don't get it either. There are quite a few musicians that I don't like or music that I really can't stand, and I can't see myself ever having the desire or time to bash them on random articles and video lol

Which is exactly why I think it has a chance to be Coldplay's highest rated Pitchfork album- because it's the least mainstream of any album they've done. But since it's Pitchfork, and they fancy themselves quite a bit as having musical superiority to the rest of the planet, it could totally backfire and they could give it a 2 or something for some very specific reason that they deem important.

The first several times I heard this song, I legitimately thought Chris was saying "but I'll stand before conquistadors till I'm jackin' off the world"

*waits anxiously for Pitchfork to chime in* This is an album where I feel they could either give it a 7.8/10 or a 2.8/10. I think on the shear idea that Coldplay pushed themselves and tried something (mostly) drastically different on this album while making a coherent politically-charged statement, that Pitchfork will like it much better than GS and AHFOD (so higher than 4.8/10). If they don't take offence to how eclectic/diverse/self-indulgent the genre of songs are on the album, then surely they will see this higher as Mylo Xyloto, which they gave a 7.0 and still bashed as being generic arena poprock. I'll go Pitchfork give a 7.2/10.

It's very possible Jonny does some of the acoustic work (and I'm guessing he will have no choice but to be doing a lot of acoustic live for this album?) But I think it's pretty clear that Chris wrote the acoustic for WOTP/POTP, since it sounds like Chris felt a song "come through him" (as he would word it) and pulled out his cellphone to record a demo of it and that's what we hear on the album. Also pretty clear that Guns and Old Friends is just Chris on acoustic I would think... Jonny definitely has quite a few good electric guitar bits on the album that are clearly him, like Church, Trouble in Town, Orphans, and Champion of the World. Maybe that little acoustic riff in Eko was written by Jonny? And then Chris mirrors the riff on the piano? I'm not sure. But again, a song like Eko is so minimalist that it really seems it's mostly Chris, especially since he writes the melody and lyrics 95% of the time. But if Jonny plays some of those songs live on acoustic, that doesn't necessarily mean he wrote it instead of Chris. I'm curious to know.. would be a good question for the band.

1. AROBTTH 2. VLV ... 3. X&Y 4. Parachutes 5. MX 6. Everyday Life .... 7. GS ... 8. AHFOD I will say, it takes Coldplay songs/albums a LONG time to grow on me. A lot of it depends on how good the live performances are. Since this album has so many good musical bits and is unique, there's a chance it could move into 3/4/5 for me. But I don't see it touching AROBTTH or VLV. The album feels a little disjointed at the moment to me, and undeveloped. We went from way way too overproduced on AHFOD to a bit underproduced on EL. Having said that, Church, Trouble in Town, Arabesque, Eko, Daddy, COTW, Old Friends, and Cry Cry Cry are really good. I wish When I Need a Friend was a bit longer and fleshed out because it's so good. (On second thought, there is something to the shortness and simplicity of it) But WOTP/POTP should be a fully recorded song with the whole band, like wtf. It sounds good but it's like I'm trying to hear my mom over the phone. Like what is he saying, it sounds good but I want to HEAR the song. The acoustic guitar is so good on this album. Unbelievable work from Chris, that we've never really seen before. I really admire how much Chris pushed himself on this album. And Guy too. I just wish it had a little more flow and more Jonny.

First impressions of Sunrise- Sunrise -Beautiful instrumental, really epic classical/Viva vibes. Great opening Church -I'm surprised to see mixed reviews on this one, because I think it's absolutely brilliant. I'm unsure yet about the drum production if I really like it or not. But Chris' vocals I think are outstanding and unique. It gives me some floaty X&Y vibes with a modern twist. Trouble in Town So so so cool and unique. The only song on the album that has a true standard rock feel (at the end after the police interaction sample thing?). Jonny and Guy really stand out on this song. BrokEn -Obviously very different from anything they've ever done. It's basically a standard gospel song, which is not necessarily my type of music. But Chris manages to make a catchy tune out of it. I dig it. It's very interesting that Chris would do a song like this that is obviously very based in the Christian religion. I think he just appreciates all religions and cultures, and is inspired by beautiful music, and gospel music is certainly beautiful. I see this song as Chris acknowledging and appreciating Christianity, and specially traditional black gospel music, as a way people cope with the troubles of the world. Daddy -An absolute treat for Oldplayers. This has like pre-Parachutes vibes, and is better than anything they released pre-Parachutes. It's on par with the sound and quality of For You/Gravity. Extraordinarily sad song, but beautiful. WOTP/POTP -First let me say I like the melody and overall tune. But this one frustrates me a bit. I appreciate the attempt to be organic and obviously this was recorded not with the intention of being a studio recording. Did Chris record this outside and just kind of mumble along? It's almost as if the studio recording of this song was of Chris trying to write the song and figure out the lyrics. The song has great potential, I just wish they had fleshed it out with a little more clarity and actual production. They could still make it sound organic and raw (which was clearly the intention), but put a little more production into it. It's like a combination of Jack Johnson, Bob Marley and gospel? Arabesque -As some critic said, it's probably the most interesting thing Coldplay has done in a decade (not so coincidentally, the bass/guitar/percussion is from Viva sessions with Eno). It continues to grow on me and I can't wait to hear the live performance of it. Really powerful lyrics from Chris. When I Need A Friend -Love it. I remember reading a few weeks back that Jacob Collier worked with the band on this album, and I started to get into his music a little bit recently, and if you listen to his music, it was immediately noticeable that he's very prominent on this song. Very cool stuff. Only complaint is I wish the song was a little more fleshed out. The bones of the song are so good that I'm left wanting more.

Nice to see you as well! I'd love to be as active as I was a couple years back, but my time has been swallowed up by a new job. . . . I wonder, will this be a full 20+ song set? I certainly hope so. But we are a long ways away haha. It's very likely that they play even newer songs beyond LP8 by the time that gig rolls around, and sort of brush LP8 to the wayside by then. It really depends what the other dozen songs sound like on Everyday Life (some are quite short and some are not really suited for a big live show, like Guns). But at the very least they will play Orphans. I wish Arabesque too, but I'm curious how that song will work live (guess we'll find out in a little over a week!). And I'm sure there will be another 1-2 songs on the album that emerge as hits that will be staples at live shows for the foreseeable future.

I didn't say it was boring, I think you are misconstruing what I said. I'm just saying the typical argument from people who hate on Coldplay, or are indifferent to the band, is referencing their slower songs as being boring, and their upbeat songs to be mainstream sellout pop. (To which I disagree with both points, I'm just saying how those people feel). And the title track (although I find it beautiful, especially the studio version) is certainly an expected Coldplay sound from a neutral point of view/someone who is aware of Coldplay but doesn't actively listen to or love them. And I think Arabesque on SNL would've been a cool opportunity to do something different and kind of catch the eyes and ears of non-Coldplayers in a great way. As we all know on here, Coldplay are incredibly talented and have the ability to spit out a standard pop rock hit, as well as write deeply moving and creative music. But the mainstream doesn't see that, so it's like my life goal for everyone to know that oh wait, Coldplay are actually one of the greatest bands of all time.

I think there will be many more Coldplay shows before this and possibly even another album in the works come this gig :rolleyes:

1. AROBTTH 2. VLV 3. MX 4. X&Y 5. Parachutes 6. GS 7. AHFOD At the very least, I expect EL will be above GS and AHFOD. I have a hard time seeing it having a chance to go above 3 for me. VLV and AROBTTH are too special. I think EL will fall somewhere between the 3rd and 6th spot, for me. But let's hear the other 13-14 songs first :joy:

A few positive and negative thoughts Pros -Orphans is really catchy, I quite like it. Great energy live too. Even Guy was visibly into it- a rare occurrence these days. -This title track is one of the few occasions I think the studio version is better than the live performance, but maybe they'll bring the full on strings/everything else for the Jordan performance of it. -I like Chris' shirt and the whole aesthetic of the era. Curious to see if they'll wear the tux/bowtie thing for concerts, or the more casual style like the SNL performance. Cons -The title track is beautiful, but I think it's missing a huge opportunity for one of those trademark bending, drawn-out-note solos from Jonny, like the style of Moving to Mars or True Love. The live performance lacked so many of the good parts that are in the studio version. -I think Coldplay blew a huge opportunity to play Arabesque and blow the mainstream away. The title track, upon first listen (which for me, was the SNL performance), felt like it was easy for critics to validate how insipid some Coldplay songs are. They could've played Orphans, which satisfies the mainstream pop category, and then Arabesque as something to make people think "wow, this band truly does have something special and different". I can picture people sitting there after hearing Everyday Life and going "meh, that was boring". But of course, us Coldplayers find the "boring" stuff to be beautiful emotional masterpieces. -Although Chris' voice sounds much better than the end of the AHFOD tour, unfortunately, he is really slowly starting to show his age in his voice. You can hear it strain and crack a lot more than it used to, and he clearly tries to avoid his upper register in Orphans for the "I wanna know, when I can go..."

I wonder if for the Jordan concerts, they'll be wearing the outfits they wear on the album cover/wore for the interview skit. (Not sure if that's considered a tux and bowtie or what)

Well of the 2 songs we've heard so far, they sound like they will be exceptional for a live show, so I would think so! It's crazy- assuming the rest of Everyday Life is great, we are reaching a point where Coldplay will have to cut big, popular, iconic songs from their tour shows. How do you fit Yellow, The Scientist, Clocks, Fix You, VLV, Paradise, Charlie Brown, ETIAW, Magic, ASFOS, HFTW, AOAL, SJLT (i wish not) along with several new songs, and still please Oldplay fans? And it feels like that every tour, that they have to cut legendary songs, like Politik, Shiver, In My Place, Lovers in Japan, LiT, Warning Sign, etc etc

I would still interpret that report as meaning they are going to release a more conventional album by the end of next year and a tour following it. I don't think the fact that this album has 16 songs takes away from the report saying that they are working on another album for next year that will have a tour following it. This feels like a GS/AHFOD style where they won't tour Everyday Life (but do some shows here and there and radio/tv interviews), so they can work on a more mainstream album that is suitable for a stadium tour. My guess is over the next several months they promote this album by doing some TV and small shows while working on another album that they will release in about a year and tour in 2021. And maybe they do some festivals this summer (and that Global Citizen gig in September) and preview some possible LP9 songs. But... let's just enjoy Everyday Life for now because this is shaping up to be a truly special era for the band.

Could we get something? Maybe even just 30 second clip of Chris and Guy in studio at midnight??

Man it kills me that I've been sucked into work and being busy. I got really into the band in late December 2015, and this is my first experience of the hype leading up to a new era. Very very exciting times and it just makes me so happy- I cannot wait for the music but I could honestly stand another week of teasers!

Is Solar Eclipse too corny of an album name, I ask myself. Then I remember, nope this is Coldplay we’re talking about here.

I personally don’t mind the Kirboh thing haha. It’s almost more fun now that we don’t know the track list. Coldplay are still dropping teasers obviously and there is something coming very soon.

I feel like this upcoming album has been in the works for a long time. I bet they worked on it throughout the AHFOD tour, and have spent multiple years working on it as sort of a "side project". Since it's an experimental album, they wanted to take a lot of time to get it right, then probably started to put it together and finish it earlier this year. Mat Whitecross talked about doing something surprising basically during the tail end of the AHFOD era... and of course Chris' comment at the last show about only being full of surprises... Then the more mainstream album they are preparing for 2020 they probably just started working on recently, and will release mid-late 2020. It probably won't take too long to put together, assuming Chris has a handful of ideas accumulated over the last couple years in various stages of production with the band.

IT IS HAPPENING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN