CP-EST

I'd like to think we'll have one more single coming out quite soon, in fact almost together with Let Somebody Go. Either Humankind or People of the Pride. It would be quite similar to Mylo Xyloto. They made Princess of China a radio single on 14th February and also Charlie Brown was released with video and having single status in February-March. It was quite messy with release dates actually, but the point is that usually after 2nd single the release schedule is quite messy and mixed up with different songs in different countries and platforms. That's what I could think of, because there have been a few similarities with release schedule so far and also between songs. Like Let Somebody Go being Princess of China on MOTS and Humankind being Charlie Brown of MOTS. These songs don't have potential for massive mainstream success, so it would make sense to put Let Somebody Go and Humankind out there to circle together and have videos as well at some point. Anyway, let's see

FFTF being a musical is also a possibility. Basedon information we have, it still could be anything. So all the theories are alive still. At least musical is confirmed. Just not the name and release date of it. Compilation of unreleased/reworked songs is still a speculation, but I would say there a few strong facts supporting it already. Phil said Us Against the World is already recorded again as fans call it "Silver Bird version" and just waiting to be released. So I don't know what else it would be part of... Let's see🙃

Well, BTTF and FFTF are indeed similar acronyms. Also the common element is a car in this case. It's difficult to guess the exact meaning of FFTF - there is quite many possibilities. What exactly was your guess? 😁 Mostly fans seem to agree it's a hint about some release in 2024. I think it's not related to MOTS actually. Also 2024 is quite far away, so I would think we have some other releases to speculate about before that... If I really have to guess, then I would say it's "Finished for the Fans", coming out it 2024 and consisting of unreleased/reworked music, like you actually guessed in your post in October. 😉

When we take into account the ending of AHFOD era where Chris said "it's a last chapter of a certain story and now we will be full of surprises" and also the recent comments of finishing their discography in 2025. My interpretation to all of this is: 1) From Parachutes to AHFOD it was about completing the journey of becoming a band they dreamed of. 2) After AHFOD until the album "Coldplay" it seems to be about making their discography complete in their minds. 3) Future after "Coldplay" will be about satisfying their creativity with projects and collaborations without having pressure of fitting into any catalog. Also they can afford touring with just enjoying privilege of being the biggest band of this era. So, to make some predictions,I imagine a big tour 2026-2027, but after that I don't really see them stopping writing and producing music actually. It will just be with a different mindset. As musicians they will definitely feel liberated after the "completion of discography". I'm seeing Chris probably co-writing and co-producing for some other artists. I can't imagine him releasing solo album. Other guys might contribute here and there in different projects. As a band Coldplay, it will be probably quiet for some years. They will not release music in a format they have done so far. If they release something, it will be something distinctively different, possibly something like a collaboration with orchestra etc. Also the process of release and marketing will probably be more free, not having some certain schedule with singles and going on tv shows. In terms of touring it's difficult to predict. They might have some big anniversary tours and maybe some little exclusive tours for certain new projects.

I think they will tour for MOTS project also in 2023, if they can and then the next big tour will probably start in 2026, after the release of album Coldplay. So this leaves 2024-2025 to finish and release the rest of the "things". I don't see them having tours for whatever they release during between MOTS and Coldplay. We're not even actually sure how much they will release, at least I'm confused. I'm still thinking that MOTS will have at least one continuation EP, but then they will release three more albums. Just quoting, what Chris said in December to Jo Whiley "we are working on this album Music of the Spheres and THEN we have three more things after that." So in addition to "musical" and "Coldplay" there might be one more album, which I think might be a collection of unfinished/unreleased and reworked songs, which they have collected over the years. These are just my guesses, based on the information I have read or heard. I wrote about it in here also: https://coldplaying.com/forums/topic/82093-three-more-coldplay-albums-to-come-last-one-in-2025/page/2/#comment-5764096

Somehow I'm starting to draw more and more connections to this rumoured, but scrapped Wedding Album idea which turned into Mylo Xyloto at that time. This was also supposed to have a video companion to it. So I think this musical idea probably has at least some seeds from Wedding Album. Anyone else thinks that?

I would say, AROBTTH is the masterpiece that made Coldplay. The first part of the album is probably their strongest combination of songs ever. Such good riffs, melodies and songwriting, which made them a stadium rock band. Politik is still one of their most epic songs. But VLV with Brian Eno and Markus Dravs is the real masterpiece for me still. There is no point on the album, where I can say songwriting is weak. Great arrangements, great production and the whole album just feels complete. Big sounds and epic from start to finish. Everyday Life is not as epic, but it's their best since VLV. It feels kind of effortless, pure and down to earth, that's what I really like about it. Saying "It just is what it is" goes best with it. It might feel uneven, but I would say this is also the magic of this album, this feeling of collection of fragments. Parachutes is a great start, enjoyable listen from start to finish, showed their potential as songwriters, but lacks epicness as whole. Everything's Not Lost is a masterpiece from this album for me. On all the other albums I can find some weaknesses, questionable songwriting and production in places - more or less. I might look at their discography differently in future though.

We will see, probably not before the start of tour, but might be in the middle of tour. I remembered this interview with the bosses of their record label https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/parlophone-s-mark-mitchell-nick-burgess-on-coldplay-the-band-s-bts-hit-and-joining-the-100k-club/084566 Some fragments from it: "we'll go with another single early in the new year" and "So we will carry it through until the tour dates and then we'll look at what's [next]." I think they have a clear vision with their label and follow this. So, we can expect a new single soon, but the possible vol. 2 of MOTS will be arriving in the summer the earliest probably.

Happy new year! It's very subjective, what you call sounding better. Live mixes are always different and have some little rearrangements compared to studio versions. You can't really compare a live mix you are hearing at actual concert and the studio version. First of all you don't have such sound system at home and secondly there is a magic of actually seeing musicians play and hearing that sound coming out. It is totally different energy and mixing of sound because of the concert environment. I can imagine for example Guy's bass on Higher Power thumping through whole body of everyone in live concert and just giving everyone a rush to dance. Seeing and feeling songs live may often change your perspective of songs totally. But you can compare a recording of live version and studio version to some extent, but still these sound deliberately different. Studio versions are always more detailed, polished and more comfortably and easily listenable, while live versions are more raw, heavy and with more dynamics, because the idea is to give you a feel that you are at the concert. So far what I have heard and seen from videos of MOTS songs performed live, they all look and sound great. The whole package with visuals is great and I imagine it comes across even better, while being there in audience. It seems to be a rule that Coldplay songs are great in a big live environment with fans and I can't see a reason why it would be different this time.

Why don't anyone speak about the thing, that Chris said "they are working on this album Music of the Spheres and THEN they have three more things after that." This clearly means, that first there is some more to come for MOTS, I suspect it might be just EP or two EPs. They seem to call MOTS as one project. And after that 3 things. The last one is just Coldplay, back to basics. Classic sound, no fancy production, just pure amazing songs. Before that the one thing is musical, which will be quite interesting. But for third thing, there is no information, which leaves room for a speculation. There is a possibility it might be some reworks and songs, which have been circling around for a long time and fans are crazy to hear these. This idea is certainly supported by the story that they have recorded Us Against the World again as Silver Bird version. Also some other stuff like UFO. So people might ask, how they find time for all that? Knowing how prolific songwriters they actually are, it won't be surprising that some ideas have been floating around for many years already and when songs are good and musicians are focused, things come together very fast. So all these projects might be already very close to completion actually. Of course I might be totally wrong, but this is just how I see things.

So, they are still working on Music of the Spheres continuation pieces, but after that 3 more albums? This means all the volumes of Music of the Spheres will eventually make up one album? Anyway, that's a lot of music coming over the next years. If everything will go as they planned then 2025 Christmas will be quite an emotional time though...

People paying and making money with knowingly stolen stuff and even talking about it. When did this become ethical? There is no way, anyone can justify this. ?

If I may add, I have tons of theories. Maybe we've already had MOTS vol 2 and vol 3. They just released them backwards. Look

Whoever is responsible for leaking had to feel safe enough that anyone doesn't find out about this act, unless it was leaked deliberately or accidentally. Is it known at this point, what was the source behind Viva era leaks? There are so many things, what can go wrong with storing digital files, so let's just hope Chris' iPhone is safe. ?

If you don't want to upset anyone, then the right thing would be to keep quiet about, not doing your "option-weighing" publicly. I mean it like a very polite advice. Remember, we are talking about the stuff, which are not supposed to be heard by wider audience at all and not even known about really.

Although hearing leaks is always interesting, for me judging leaked demos feels a bit weird. It's commenting on something that wasn't ready to be heard by wider audience or not belonging in the group of songs that were supposed to be released at certain time. It almost makes me a bit cringe thinking what Chris as a perfectionist might feel, when he gets to know that thousands of people listened to some mumbled unfinished early idea haha.? All I can say after hearing these leaked demos is that this gives us the proof again that they are very prolific songwriters and might have tons of great songs and ideas which they haven't got right yet or which haven't found a place in any of the albums yet. Seems like this is what the album called Coldplay will become: a collection of the great Coldplay songs, which just didn't and will not fit that well into any of albums' concepts thematically or ended up sounding too different or just didn't fit into album tracklist.

Exactly that! Even if the audience for each show is new, they can still sense the lack of spontaneity or improvisation. They are a great band, but recently hiding too much behind the hit songs, which they have perfected in every way (visually, choreographically etc).

I didn't have so much problem with the songs individually actually. Just the general approach to playing these small shows seems to be too much a comfort zone for the band. Not changing anything, makes me wonder if they actually can enjoy playing the same hit songs in a certain order in a form they have been playing for a long time. They have a lot more good older songs than just 4-5 to choose from. Changing and playing different songs avoids it becoming too robotic. I understand that setlist for tour becomes quite fixed from the start already and this is fine, but for smaller shows it doesn't have to be like that, I think. Now talking about these songs. Clocks actually works very well in MoTS era context indeed, I imagine it will be played quite early in touring setlist also. I see Higher Power-Clocks-Humankind or Higher Power-Humankind-Clocks as quite good opening for show, but they might have a better ideas. Fix You and VlV will fit in touring setlist also eventually - these are important songs in their catalog and include audience for massive singalongs. I'm sure they have a good setlist in mind where these will fit in perfectly, but it would be interesting if they rearrange old songs sometimes as well.

A Sky Full of Stars and Coloratura is the best combination to finish concert for now. For me A Sky Full of Stars has been getting more and more enjoyable, it has aged well and finally fits perfectly. On the other hand Clocks-Fix You-VlV combination after Higher Power in this era feels very uninspiring and they seem like a programmed machine when they play these. Are they lazy, ashamed or afraid to try something else? This feels too much like a comfort zone. Other artists and bands change setlist up way more and rearrange songs a little. The most interesting pieces in setlists this era have been Everything's not Lost and Nothingman cover in Seattle. Also the acoustic version of Yellow has been great, but they should experiment with changing songs up and mixing setlist way more. I understand, that in each show 99% people are new and hearing that setlist might be a fresh experience, but for the band playing same old stuff like robots has got be boring. I'd like to think they keep all the great fresh ideas for the upcoming tour.

I doubt, that the concept of MotS volumes has ever been to produce same kind of stuff X 3. I don't see any reason at all, why they would do it. There is certainly something different coming up with possible next volumes. But indeed, nothing official about the vol 2 or vol 3 yet. Just some pieces of information, which can be interpreted in different ways and some wishful thinking from fans is what we rely on. At least we know that this release so far was Vol I. From Earth with Love. So far seems like Vol II has been From Critics with Hate. Anyway, I see some exaggeration with criticism and negative ratings at this point. The situation is actually roughly the same as AHFOD, it takes a stadium concert to make these songs shine.

I have never been hating, I'm just pointing out a few things here and admitting I might have way different standards of quality performance compared to people who go to this kind of events. The moral from me with this song is: Yes, there are difficult loves, like this song is trying to present and it's nice to see the overcoming of all the borders with this song, but in the end band should to have some self respect as well. Although studio version and Coldplay alone performing it works alright, this "randomly jumping around with kids shouting" was something, what was really very wrong by Coldplay standards, in my opinion. It seemed like a not rehearsed and uncoordinated mess from two bands, whose style of performance is completely different. While BTS can be excused, Coldplay was really lost in that performance.

Yea, in phone recordings it was just buried in this noise, how shit this performance was. And it's not all about a sound, it's just the whole package, it was a total mess by Coldplay standards, this shouldn't happen again.

Although studio version is ok and Coldplay performing it alone has been pretty fine actually, is this the most embarrassing performance ever for Coldplay? I mean all the instrumentation is barely audible and then there is just 7 guys jumping and saying something randomly into microphone like monkeys. Please, Chris you are 44 already, one of the best frontman in the world, what are you doing in the middle of these unprofessional performers?

Although X&Y is great album, songwriting is very strong throughout the album and Chris has a lot to say lyrically, I feel like there isn't much enjoyment shining through it (which was the actual case as we know). It almost feels like the ideas and the sounds were forced out and creatively doing a favour for someone else. Chris' singing on it and all band kind of starts sounding monotone very soon for me. It's very catchy, but it wears out and begs for change. It goes in a pattern of fast song->slow song->fast song... until at some point it kind of gets all samey. Luckily there is Til Kingdom Come at the end giving a bit different tone. All of it isn't necessarily a bad thing, the same things actually contribute to this album in a good way also, making it a good coherent listen. But it's a sound of great ambitious band put in a certain box, writing great songs and producing them in a very restricted way. Almost like having the actual ideas of a full songs beforehand and then violating the song ideas until they please someone else. In the end delivering an album, which ends up sounding perfect, but which doesn't actually bring that many new and different sounding songs for live performances. In summary, X&Y is something to listen, when I want to feel in a certain spacey comfort zone and listen to good music, which doesn't change much for an hour. Don't get me wrong, I think it's one of their best albums, but I'm very happy, that as band they found a way out of this era and became creatively more free and happier. Making live shows as great, diverse and energetic as they can and bringing people together seems to be the main thing driving them still. So, we're lucky, that they still have some ambition and creativity in them to change and progress, not going into comfort zone and sound like a nostalgia act. In a nutshell, is X&Y better album than MOTS? Absolutely. But could it deliver anything interesting to their live shows at this point like MOTS did? No. There are still some X&Y songs, which have much potential to fill some spaces in setlist, when reworked a bit. But you've got to accept, their new stuff has different kind of catchiness, which becomes way more alive in live performances. While the catchiness from most of the X&Y songs is very static and doesn't transform into live performances that well.

I do agree, that at the beginning MOTS seemed like it will be some connected concept story in space. The marketing turned out to be a bit confusing. Eventually it turned out that the Spheres are only a safe space to express themselves about experiences and issues on Earth, nothing more. Although this is also potentially a good concept, I would have expected a bit more controversial and deeper thoughts to be said in songs. So far with vol1 they haven't used the actual potential of this concept. Also the connections between the planets and songs are too vague indeed. It's just a bunch of love songs, like Chris said. On the other hand, sound and atmosphere of this record has quite strong spacey elements and vibes. So production actually achieves the potential of connecting the music and the concept throughout the album in my opinion. I don't have too high expectations for possible next volumes having more depth in songs. Still it will be interesting to see if next volumes will be extension further into space and becoming more bold and experimental or it will be some kind of response to the songs on vol 1. What I actually hope for next volume is some outrageous and weird space musical, just because Chris in one of the interiews or podcasts talked about potential musical and new song called "Weirdo" for it. Vol2 - From space with rage!