gentleparachute

If you've read the thread for XMTS, you know my thoughts on this song... I've said elsewhere that people who think the lyrics are terrible are missing the point of the song... It's not the lyrics that are the focus - everything is in support of that BEAT! CM's "ba-boom, ba-boom, boom" line, the falling synths, that aggro dirty riffy guitar... it's all in service of that beat, and works to emphasise and amplify it. Will does it to perfection - it is sooo catchy, and full of life. I love that trap music sound effect, and how the music really "pops" and makes you wanna move... Army of One is quite sophisticated in its own way... those synth background effects to lift that organ sound, the syncopated beats, and the lyrics just soar! It is CM (on behalf of the band) singing to the world what they are about, and that they believe in music and the "you" could well be their music fans around the world - in the end, each and every one of us is an army of one! Their heart truly is their gun!

I like it myself, but I think some people feel it lacks melody

^ I think they are all a lot more involved in the band and in making decisions than most of us give them credit for... Every one signs off before it goes unto the album. The only thing that can be argued I guess is no one feels they can do better than CM, so maybe something that he has responsibility for (eg lyrics) gets included even if it is not the best... I wonder whether anyone has the power to tell him, "this is not good enough, go rewrite..." :P

The initial waltz at the start is beautiful, but has anyone noticed it then transitions into 5/4 time signature once the poem + accompanying piano actually starts... It feels so natural that you don't even consciously notice it until you start counting the beat!

There is plenty of classic Coldplay in there... the busy-ness of the music (ie plenty of layers although the sound is more pop in this album), the hooks (more so in the bass + beats in this album), the music is always moving towards something (even if it's a sudden stop in Birds or a detour into XMTS after Army of One) - sometimes it frames something eg the pealing piano by J+G before Chris starts singing in HFTW or Chris' ho-hum lyrics + singing together with the dark synth lines playing into the trap beat in XMTS. They have just morphed these into other less familiar sounds... and we just have to open our ears and keep up with what sounds they're trying to point us to

I tell ya, it's the kids... :P

:lol: I think he is singing "feeeel this, feeeel this, feeeel this" (or feelings) really fast... He says this in the next verse - "feel this together" Although it certainly more accurately sounds like "fajitas"... :D Sometimes I feel Chris trolls us fans just for fun... I'm sure they get occasional (or frequent) laughs out of our lyrical interpretations. Maybe this time he's had enough of wrong interpretations that's why the lyrics are published for the first time :P

^ I even like "my heart ba-boom, ba-boom, boom!" It's not typical Coldplay, nor any sort of insightful lyrical genius, but it is so in the moment in the song! It fits it so well - people who complain about the line just don't like this style of song / have difficulty accepting that the song was made in the first place... If you go by the premise that they were making a song that sounded like this, then that ba-boom, ba-boom, boom line wouldn't be an issue.

^I'm thinking he played the first one coz the slide is a bit more blurred than usual... I'm used to Jonny playing crystal clear notes. Then again maybe it is J doing his Noel-y impression :) They might well have had all the stuff but at least no punch-ups, public spats, people leaving the band / not speaking to each other... And if there is such a thing as moderating substance use, I have a feeling no one really went out of control

I think they wanted someone who sounded "important" / authoritative... Coleman Barks fits that well, and the flow goes very well with the piano... But yeah it's funny - I'm getting a riot of emotions with this album... Mostly positive and happy, but the later albums do lack the freshness that make me want to go back and listen obsessively to their new output - it may be that overall, music plays a less important part in my life now, and also that I've got more exposure to music in general, so nothing's that fresh anymore. AHFOD feels almost like homework in a sense, which is not great given it is supposed to draw you back for more listens, to tease out the details... Although I'm always pleased afterward that I put it on in the first place... It's almost a bit like having a bit too much chocolate, I feel a bit sick afterward. It is interesting, because I feel like their actual musicianship / instrument playing has improved... so it's a bit strange hearing something that sounds better, but not wanting as much of it. I also think my response to the album is also reflective of my own pre-existing emotions at the time... When I'm bright and full-of-energy, it feels like such a beautiful album, but it sounds a bit dull when I am in a more tired / jaded mood. Their previous albums didn't seem to do this, and brought your emotions to a certain place...

Some of ya's are real sticklers for pain, aren't ya? :D I suppose it takes contrast to tell how big any given difference is...

I'm still giving the album time to sink in... For me, it's often a confused tangle of conflicting emotions when I first hear a new Coldplay album, but usually after awhile, every one of them eventually settles in, and then with time, I get a sense of where the album sits in their whole discography... I was so crestfallen when X&Y first came out, but then rediscovered it sometime later... disliked MX initially but then reconnected when I saw it in context of their touring, even Viva wasn't easy to digest for awhile... So I am going to do my usual, and give it time... In saying this, a few of their songs are more immediate and accessible than usual, and I usually rely on these to help me sink my teeth into the whole album and keep me interested :)

This is EXACTLY WHY I love this band to death... I'm glad they're coming to terms with it, and almost "coming out" (in a sense) - they are finally getting to a place where they are not afraid to show who they are any more... I love that they are not afraid to be uncool, I love that they still try to be somewhat cool / want to be loved and accepted and still try to do so, I love that they appreciate the people who do love them, and I love that try to do their best at what they think they are good at, even if they misjudge it sometimes. And I love that they are finally shedding their labels, particularly about what they sound like and what they should be... I always knew the band (and especially CM) had diverse musical influences, and wondered how they would sound like if they allowed themselves to do other genres of music - I am not disappointed! And boy, do I love that they reward their fans in concert... It's one of the best experiences on earth that you can have with your fellow human beings - thank you Coldplay for building that, and making it your aim to make that experience as joyful as possible!

Which version of this album did the Pitchfork reviewer write from? I hope it wasn't one of those god-awful quality leaks he/she got it from, otherwise what a disservice, and how unprofessional... I'm just surprised they got the Japanese edition.

Yup, that's another one... It's one of my favourites... Pure bliss!!! Again, no lyrics, but the instruments are just, wow!

Yeah, right??? The lyrics for this sort of song was never going to be genius... They're a bit too obvious for that, haha! But yeah, it is so listenable... I find I keep getting back to listen to it repeatedly... I do wish it was it's own separate track... it'd be so much easier for repeats :)

Still too soon for me to rank the new one... Still absorbing the details :D

Who doesn't have Facebook? I don't!

That's fair enough too... I'd be more than a little miffed if put myself out there that much and then the band I loved changed into something I no longer felt proud about. I guess they don't need torch-carrying fans anymore?

You were brave. I suppose they are no longer revolutionary enough to do that for now...

I'm not here to judge who the band want to be / what they want to achieve... Mine's just a purely "enjoy their music and enjoy them as people where I can approach" while they are still around and do what they do - they won't always do things that I like / can relate to, and that's ok. As Chris says, feel free to leave it... but I respect them enough as people and a band I love to keep an open mind and be supportive in my approach. I also trust them enough as fully grown, emotionally mature and assured men to have enough judgement not to embarrass themselves in an irredeemable way as people... Tacky, yes; corny / tired, sometimes; but not behaving badly / in a damaging way to themselves / the people they care about... So on that note, they are free to do Superbowl if they wish... Good that they have things they still want to achieve, even if some fans don't approve. I'm just mindful that in the end they are still people and individuals with feelings behind that band, so try not to be too directly / overly critical in my approach

That is exactly right... Much rather have a good night's sleep and wake up refreshed and enjoy it first up with a happy vibe the next day :)

Might be a long night... :P I suppose it helps that I've lived through a few of their album releases - still excited ++, but not crazy enough to stay up all night... they'll still be there the next day and my mood and functioning is more important :D

This is the right era for them to do Superbowl (half-time)... they've never been this mainstream-sounding / popular, and they're finally achieving the sound and vastness + popularity that will allow them to do Superbowl without any issues... I know a lot of us miss the old sound, but hey, one of the perks are they will be able to do stuff like Superbowl, and the Olympics, etc and pull it off with acclaim :) I am glad for them in this!

^ Thanks guys... Funnily enough, the tracks that are most immediate and catchy for me (of the ones I haven't heard) are XMTS and HFTW... They have a pretty good go of it, and the production for these are good! I already like AOAL, Amazing Day, Everglow + U&U... I'll wait until later when everyone's had a listen before posting more details of my impressions of the songs