nathondetroit

Regarding the crappy piano sounds... I've noticed the pianos in general sound more lo-fi on this album. That's not a bad thing necessarily; Chris chose to tour with a keyboard sound from 1999 (kawaii mp9000) from 2002-2012 on his yamaha Gt20 controller. The real upright piano they use now doesn't sound better or worse... just different. I'd say it's an artistic choice on these recordings and it doesn't really bother me.

AHFOD: Leak Hunting Thread (Status: No Leak Reported) MX was the first leak I followed and that whole summer drove me crazy. From the ditched Eno sessions, to the scrapped acoustic album, to the discarded animated film, and finally the surprise drop of ETIAW... even then the torture persisted. I saw Chris perform POC on June 3rd 2011, and it wasn't played again live until just before the October release. UWTB was on the original set list for Glastonbury that summer, and was omitted entirely from live act. That year was a whirlwind on anticipation—A Head Full of Dreams just feels like a new pop record. Completely beautiful, and utterly predictable.

It looks like Andy Serkis' Imaginarium in London... I wonder if Simon Pegg connected him with the band after trolling the Star Wars set.

When I watched the album release, I categorized these lyrics in the same place as all the words that show up on Coldplay's stage, instruments, and clothing. Sometimes it felt like the Viva guitars were repainted every show... not to mention all the stuff hidden on the MX wall:)

Imagine this: Chris’ computer malfunctions and the movie studios get sent the wrong file. By some luck, this gloomy war movie ends triumphantly with Car Kids. Now that would be a Miracle.

It looks like there are some tabs and lyrics floating around. Is it safe to assume these are fake? http://www.guitaretab.com/c/coldplay/174295.html http://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/coldplay-miracle-chords-s190773

Coldplay are definitely entering an age of maturity and precision when it comes to production. Despite the solipsism surrounding Chris' lyrics and songwriting, this record features a surprising amount of experimentation by the full band. Each and every song features some unique offering from each member. I think the most interesting are Will's contributions. The variety of electric and acoustic drums—almost all of which he plays live—make for a completely new pulse on this album. I agree that the blatant an easy criticism is the lack of human element. The truth is that as the boys get older, they'll want to be involved in the industry in many ways. Just as Guy as has done some producing himself, I imagine the rest of the band will also work in the studio as mentors in various ways. Ghost Stories, along with Mylo Xyloto, are models of expertise that show these guys know how to make grammy-winning rock albums. Having all that said, there's no doubt in my mind that Coldplay will be back with something with a bit more depth and vigor!

Haha that was worse than Pitchfork...

This would have been better with Simon Pegg on Harmonica.

Is there an official acoustic version that leaked??? Like PoC and Lost?

Haha I love the title "ASFOS Apologist"! It does feel like a daunting task sometimes, explaining why Coldplay have earned the right to do that song. I think the biggest idea people have to grasp to appreciate modern music is the path every band takes to get to their present sound. I feel that without a strong back catalog of rock songs, bands haven't really earned the right to mess with synthesizers and electronic drums. I'm sorry, but Kid A wouldn't be Kid A without Pablo Honey, and MX & GS wouldn't work without Parachutes and Rush of Blood. Bands that start there just don't have the depth or raw emotion that comes with these great "modern" records.

One of the understated ways that Coldplay has grown is the range of style/colors in their sound. Although Parachutes and Rush are the foundation to their sound, I find it much easier to play those albums in the background. Viva, MX, and Ghost Stories feel more like theatrical productions that can't be ignored. Honestly, I'm really glad that Radiohead didn't recreate their first two albums. You may not like all their records, but at least they each had their own soul. And for that matter, I don't think Coldplay has ever put as much heart into their music as now. Cheers to the vibrant future:)

While these "Ghosts" are loosely defined as people and experiences from the past, you're definitely right that Chris throws in a ton of religious stuff. I really wish he would talk about it more; perhaps at some point he'll reminisce about Viva in an interview. He must have a bunch of ideas about "God" and what that means for people around the world. One cool hint is that he said on Howard Stern that he doesn't believe in a hell—although this album is VERY dark!

I'm calling NUTELLA ALBUM. Let's make it happen!

What's even more of a coincidence is Up With the Birds. Does anybody else think its creepy that UWTB and O have the same exact message? Instead of "float all over the world just to see her again" its "Maybe one day I'll fly next to you". It's the same exact ending though: "This relationship/breakup has made me grow as a person, and the only way I'll get another shot is if we're apart for a while." Its almost like Chris wrote his own history. Kind of weird, no?