Shiver091

Not keen on the intro, but everything from the climax on is just fantastic.

You should ask here: http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=28

I prefer Parachutes to VLV, but prefer VLV to AROBTTH. Guess I can join. Parachutes. :heart:

Usually what I do with leaks depends on how much longer it is between the leak and the album's release, along with my interest in the band. I was bored today so I just gave in without thinking about it. Had it leaked, like, this Sunday, I would have waited.

Yes Life In Technicolor Lovers In Japan/Reign Of Love Lost! 42

Yes, without question. Violet Hill is definitely the weakest on the album, but still pretty good.

"I'm out." Good luck to the rest of you. :D

Well, this thread has gone a bit off topic, hasn't it? :P 1. Life In Technicolor - 9 2. Cemeteries Of London - 8 3. Lost! - 8 4. 42 - 8 5. Lovers Of Japan - 9/Reign Of Love - 7 6. Yes - 10 7. Viva La Vida - 8 8. Violet Hill - 7 9. Strawberry Swing - 8 10. Death And All His Friends - 8 8.4 overall.

Hello fellow Coldplay fans of the world. I have been listening to this band as a fan since 2004 and was there when AROBTTH was picking up steam, so I feel I have a good handle on the context in which this album was released. I'll be blunt; I hated X&Y. Hated it. It felt drab, watered-down, and overcooked; a completely failed record in every respect. It had no percussive backbone, the lyrics were lacking, and the album just floated along in an uninteresting manner until it eventually came to an end. This was especially disappointing because, like everyone here, I thought the first two records were absolutely fantastic; subtle, bewitching melodies were crossed with a certain epic bombast that made the records more than just "pretty". Parachutes will likely always be my favorite; there isn't a weak track in the bunch, and it felt personal. Very personal. AROBTTH was like Parachutes, but on a larger scale. I didn't dig it quite as much, as it didn't cohere in the same way and it just felt to me like a bunch of (often great) songs on a piece of plastic. That and I've heard Clocks too damn much. But I still think it's great. With that in mind, I listened to the recently leaked VLVODAAHF (it's going to be quite wearing typing that out time and time again...) today, and kept hope in spite of the fact that X&Y was one of the more disappointing outings from any band I've come across this decade. As you can see by the thread title, it was a successful listening experience. On a base "are the songs good" level, the album certainly succeeds. Like Parachutes, I really can't name a weak song, though if pushed I would have to say Violet Hill, an unfortunate choice for first single that has some rather daft lyrics and lacks a strong hook. Also, Cemeteries of London hasn't grown on me yet. But it likely will. However, everything else is off-the-charts, and thrills me deeply. Life In Technicolor reminds me of Bowie's Speed Of Life, but less abrasive and equally intoxicating. Lost! just owns, and contains some of my favorite Will Champion percussion of all time, something that was sorely missing from X&Y. Yes is the best of all; it rivals Shiver and God Put A Smile On Your Face as my favorite Coldplay song. Its gorgeous and choppy string arrangements are contrasted by an epic, guitar-heavy coda that is just awesome on so many levels. I had no idea they had it in them. Also, like Parachutes, this album coheres very well. Yes--->Viva La Vida is a particularly great segue, but the whole album is a very strong listening experience. For everyone who hasn't heard this album yet: be excited. This record has strengthened by fandom greatly. What a knockout of an album.