bn22my

I think they need to toughen up their sound a bit - not like Metallica style exactly, but I think they've rested too much on their big sing-along songs, and have lost their way a tiny bit since AROBTTH.. I think Jonny and Guy need to 'weigh in', Coldplay is carried by Will Champion's drumming, and by Chris' on-stage enthusiasm. Jonny and Guy seem to lack the confidence they need to really haul ass. The nearest CP have got to this would be live versions of 'Talk' and 'Sleep Chant', but they now need to turn it up to 11, so to speak. Coldplay should be primarily led by the lead guitar (stadium rock band n' all), but unfortunately they're lead by the drums at the moment. I think Coldplay need to leave EMI and all the corporate stuff behind, and actually do what they want, rather than trying to please the men in suits. They're all multi-millionaires, so it's not like money is a problem. They could do whatever the crap they wanted, but I don't know if Chris is willing to take that risk, he's too much of a perfectionist. There are many emerging bands out there who already have a more intelligent and coherent sound than Coldplay, but nothing like the stage presence or 'heart' that CP have won so many over with. Coldplay now needs to think less about pleasing others! And I want Jonny's guitars to melt my face a bit! I always thought Coldplay could have been a brilliant cross between U2/My Bloody Valentine-kind of thing, like a wall of sound with heart..

Chris' vocals? Is it just me or was Chris' singing a bit 'off' at the AMA's? I love Coldplay, but I think his vocals (live) have got progressively worse over the years.. kind of lets down the rest of the band who are flawless. He often misses cues, can't hit the high notes, and yelps like Michael Jackson in between lines.. I don't get it. If you listen to him singing 'See you soon' on their 2003 Live DVD, his voice sounds incredible.. is he just struggling with nerves maybe? I hope he gets it together..

erm.. first video is way too slick looking.. not sure it suits.. second video.. Anton Corbijn is an amazing photographer, but he makes Chris look like a bit of a plonker in this, no?

strange.. but you have to wonder what the BBC cut from the interview.. I think the interviewer kept going on about the morbid thing, and maybe because a lot of CP's critics often wrongly accuse them of being 'depressing' etc, Chris probably got the knives out, so to speak. The whole point of the album is that it's meant to deal with issues that effect us all (good and bad), but in a hopeful kind of way, rather than a negative one.

agreed.. yeah I was worried they might have gone off the boil, but amazingly they have produced another amazing album, stronger than 90% of what they've done before. I think this one will silence many of their critics.. I find it amazing that Coldplay have been so consistently good, even the greatest bands have produced stinkers of albums/songs, but I can't think of a single time I've listened to them and thought 'oh no'.. I kind of get the impression on VLVODAAHF that they're all doing what they want musically, it's so much more confident, and more guitar-heavy which I always thought CP should be, Jonny is a great guitarist. I love the way the songs are so gentle and held back one minute, and then there's a snap change into strident, fast moving stuff. Brilliant indeed. Only problem is, other music seems a bit shit in comparison.. :)

looks like VLV to me.. also looks as though they have an entirely new set-up (which I thought they would do, always played too far apart from eachother in my opinion..), maybe C-Mart's upright piano with the 'Make Trade Fair' logo on the back is a thing of the past.. Jonny's guitar is sweet :)

I've been wondering about this for a while.. of course everyone has likes and dislikes musically, but it seems to me that much of the vitriol directed at Coldplay is due to pretty transparent reasons.. Coldplay are unusual (and maybe have less edge according to some) because they haven't adhered to the rock cliche of having drug problems, going off the rails, and fighting continually etc- but that's because they just happen to have their heads screwed on, and besides I always thought music is about doing what you want, not caring about image etc. The slew of current nu-rave bands that I'm sure can't stand Coldplay claim to not care about their image, but it's obvious they're the ones who care about it the most- Coldplay are only being themselves, so surely they're a ton cooler than those 'I do loads of drugs' kids whose music will be forgotten instantly? I've met 1/2 of Coldplay (Jonny and Guy), and my friend knows C-Mart from their time at University together, and they are exactly as they come across in the media- totally down to earth, charismatic, nice fellas. They've worked so hard to get to where they have, and have progressed their sound as opposed to many bands who churn out the same old crap. Plus the millions of bands who copy Coldplay are so depressingly lame in comparison, it makes Coldplay stand out all the more. Surely they deserve a break from all the personal and musical bashing that's directed their way? Ok rant over :)

I've been wondering about this for a while.. of course everyone has likes and dislikes musically, but it seems to me that much of the vitriol directed at Coldplay is due to pretty transparent reasons.. Coldplay are unusual (and maybe have less edge according to some) because they haven't adhered to the rock cliche of having drug problems, going off the rails, and fighting continually etc- but that's because they just happen to have their heads screwed on, and besides I always thought music is about doing what you want, not caring about image etc. The slew of current nu-rave bands that I'm sure can't stand Coldplay claim to not care about their image, but it's obvious they're the ones who care about it the most- Coldplay are only being themselves, so surely they're a ton cooler than those 'I do loads of drugs' kids whose music will be forgotten instantly? I've met 1/2 of Coldplay (Jonny and Guy), and my friend knows C-Mart from their time at University together, and they are exactly as they come across in the media- totally down to earth, charismatic, nice fellas. They've worked so hard to get to where they have, and have progressed their sound as opposed to many bands who churn out the same old crap. Plus the millions of bands who copy Coldplay are so depressingly lame in comparison, it makes Coldplay stand out all the more. Surely they deserve a break from all the personal and musical bashing that's directed their way? Ok rant over :)