lennyrott1

^is it possible before June that they decide to add more tracks? I mean, we know there were many more tracks recorded for this era, probably GS too. I really doubt this could happen, but maybe they release a deluxe AHFOD that has a second disc (EP) with some MORE bonus tracks.... Sorry, got a head of too many dreams. I am super, super happy to have these new tracks dropping soon, but am also bummed we aren't getting some alternate versions. I mostly just want to replace Fun and Army of One on the album's track listing...Hypnotised is a perfect replacement for Fun. One thing that has been clear since GS is that Chris has said in interviews Digital music allows the release of music "in new ways." I take that as say, Ed Sheeran, who releases new stuff constantly and has big albums every few years. I wonder if EP's and random collaborative singles will make a comeback for Coldplay when they are done touring but too busy to record a new album. just some thoughts.

Obligatory Review-- Coldplay continues to confuse me with their genre choices, but in a good way. This track is Dream/Glam pop, very reminiscent of 80's ballads in its atmosphere, but also very Beatles-esque. The swelling synths and looping xylophone are beautiful and punctuated by some hard-hitting piano, even if a bit reminiscent to Atlas or Amazing Day. The intro to the track is jangly, dreamy, amazing. Perhaps the best intro to a track in the AHFOD era. Jonny's guitar is perfectly mixed throughout--sounding like Coldplay in 2004 between AROBTTH and X&Y. Guy and Will provide a great rhythm-scape that is classy AF. And that outro...wow. Davide Rossi must have provided those strings, they are just stunning... My only big complaint of this track is Chris. I like how they mixed his voice, but lyrically it is very worn, just like Fun or Miracles. He doesn't use one new metaphor in this track: rust, rain, car broken down, soaring as a bird, eyes causing you to feel. The only new lyric is "learnin from the news, a guidebook to the blues." If you are wondering where he got that, its from a Freddie North Song and later sampled by Kanye and Jay-Z on Murder for Excellence (great track btw). It is cringy. Also is he referring to Trip as in "tripping" as in drugs? Finally, during the epic swell at the end of strings, guitar, synths, etc., Chris is hooting and hollering (as usual) and distracting from the great music--why???? I have this complaint about songs like Amazing Day and Miracles and pretty much everything post AROBTTH. Try finding one Coldplay single without whooo hoo hoo, or oooh ooooh oooh. It is a great pop trick, but sometimes, you just got to let it rest and let the music do the talking. Favorite Part: When Will's drumming just slowly thumps in after the first chorus and fills your headphones with classy cymbals. Least Favorite: Chris repeating chorus one more time when strings come in (I want to hear those strings more loudly!) A very welcome first taste of the Kaleidoscope EP. Not a perfect track, but overall love this thing. I could see it on an album with All Your Friends, Ghost Story, Miracles, Amazing Day, Up & Up, Fun, Crest of Waves. Definitely classic Coldplay in its structure and tone. Sounds like Radiohead's A Moon Shaped Pool but the pop version haha.

Bittersweet looking at the track listing, if we wait til June 2nd I would have hoped for more "new" tracks, but that is being greedy. But when you only have 5 tracks, why make two of them songs we have already heard and divided about? Also, sounds like Prince inspired the names of these songs haha WHERE IS KALEIDOSCOPE EXTENDED LIKE THE LIVE VERSION??--- 1. All I Can Think About Is You---Not loving this title, but as the intro to the EP I got big hopes for something long and pretty. 2. SJLT--Why god why. Why does this track need to be on a Coldplay and Chainsmokers release...This will be Chris' lovechild for the next tour I suppose....Best case scenario, it is an alternate Coldplay version, but that seems very unlikely. Please be the only dud. 3. Miracles 2-- ehhhhhhhhhhh I can't say I am interested to hear this. Miracles 1 was just okay, scarred by Stargate in my opinion. If its acoustic orwith a bunch of atmosphere and ambiance like the wonderful Batman edit, then I'm on board. But why not just put a new song out? Seems lazy. 4. A L I E N S-- My only hope on this EP for the bizarre. I'd like something dark, fast, and rocky. But I am concerned this one is most likely to be a short interlude, maybe its just the UFO, MMIX in me. 5. Hypnotised-- Digging it. A good B-side for AHFOD. Absolutely gorgeous production.

Looking at the release radar for this Spring, next week or late March look like the best times to release it. If they are trying to release an EP that will actually sell, there isn't much in the pop or alternative rock category over the next month being released. You have Spoon, Father John Misty, Depeche Mode, Fleet Foxes, The Shins, and potentially Arcade Fire dropping something new this month. In pop we'll have Chainsmokers in April and Ed Sheeran soon... It has to be released this month before their tour, imo. Towards summer, U2 and Killers might be releasing stuff so I don't think they will drop it before their 2nd American Tour... http://www.metacritic.com/browse/albums/release-date/coming-soon/date

Recently on Atlas Project... Chainsmokers did an interview about SJLT, and it sounds like this song was more originally a Chris song than Chainsmokers song, which seems about right. They weren't even sure if Coldplay were going to let them have it. The most disturbing part to me is that according to Chainsmokers, Chris said he had a great feeling about the song, similair to Yellow or to The Scientist--classics of their time and classics always. This means one of two things to me, or maybe means both things: Chris really, really, really wants to write today's biggest most universal EDM dance songs (which is a lost cause in my opinion since the world is saturated with it) or.. Chris wrote this song with the Chainsmokers in mind, so he dumbed it down for an EDM audience...he also was just being really nice to them and decided to bring the band on board because 1) "Coldplay" brand makes more $$ than "Chris Martin" brand, and 2) This gets Coldplay publicity before KEP Hopefully soon we will get the full story of this song in an interview with Coldplay...Remember that ASFOS and HFTW were tracks that Will and Guy were skeptical about putting out. So what happened here?

The thing about Coldplay--what keeps us coming back--is how they surprise you as a fan, regardless of what you like. After MX, which I overall loved, I was pretty worried Coldplay would fall off the deep end and follow Maroon 5. But then they dropped Midnight, a dark atmospheric gorgeous song, and then Magic, a sexy indie-pop tune with great production. Then us Oldplayer's got Oceans and O. But that came with.....ASFOS.....and then Miracles, a great tune tainted with bad production. So I didn't have a ton of hope for AHFOD, but then I really enjoyed AOAL, Birds and Up&Up....but then HFTW..... Fast forward and we are excited and speculating on a alternative EP, but then they start off their 2017 with a Chainsmokers collab. The point I am trying to make is Coldplay is crazy unpredictable. They followed X&Y's somewhat generic and mopey space rock with a baroque pop/shoegaze album for heaven's sake. We have no idea what the EP will sound like, other than it will share some characteristics of AHFOD. The whole thing could be produced by Avicii, Stargate, Chainsmokers, and Timbaland for all we know. But it also might bring back Brian Eno or Jon Hopkins and feature Arcade Fire and Jack White. No mega-band like Coldplay has ever been more divisive and unpredictable with their direction. I bet we'll be getting a KEP announcement in the coming weeks, maybe a single, riding the coattails of SJLT. Maybe one day we'll look back at 2017 as the year Coldplay fully commits to mainstream pop music with nothing dark, alternative, or brooding ever again. Or maybe it will be quite the opposite.

^ Ehhhh. I mean, I still want the Coldplay rockier/acoustic version of ASFOS too, but I can't really imagine Coldplay singing the lyrics to SJLT on their own record...they are slightly laughable. Musically I can see what you are saying. But I'd really like to believe the Chainsmokers were the primary writers of this generic track, not Coldplay.

^And hopefully they prove us pessimists wrong on KEP... But just to throw more fuel to the fire, here is a summary of the music media's response to the track after I read a bunch of reviews this morning: Woe the apocalypse: The sappy Coldplay bros team up with the terrible Chainsmokers bros to make a ridiculous track. Its cute in a bad way: The lyrics are absolutely ridiculous and drops generic as can be, sounds like "Roses" Its okay: We all agree we don't like either group, but admit it, the song is catchy. Why Coldplay: We have defended you guys in the past but this is the last straw. Sounds a lot like the forums here. I saw one positive review. Critics were all slightly nice to the earnestness of AHFOD, but here they are back in full form bashing Coldplay. I kind of feel bad for them, but I also think they have the hate coming....

This is the source of my pessimism as well. When Chris says "Up&Up" is our career defining song, I am heartened because I have come to think its a masterpiece of rock/pop. But if AHFOD, their weakest album as a whole, is where they want to be, I'm scratching my head. It is such a hodge-podge of genres. I can't imagine why other than Chris legitimately wants to make music that is MORE universal. But the Chainsmokers? I don't know... I am trying to imagine myself in their shoes: You have made 7 great records. You have dabbled in rock, hip-hop, electronica, pop, alternative, shoegaze, folk. You've collaborated with rock legends and pop sensations alike. You're a millionaire with kids approaching their teens...Maybe you don't want to spend two years tirelessly producing another AROBTTH or Viva. What's in it for you? You're so experienced and have so many resources that writing a song with the Chainsmokers would take a week or less and earn you tons of publicity. They have always said their music is what is good live, and frankly HFTW and ASFOS, songs I dislike in the studio, are great fun at a show, so that probably has helped convinces Guy and Will to just play along. SJLT was really fun at the Brits honestly, and Will's added drumming was great. It looked like the Chainsmokers were jealous Coldplay was slaying their song haha. Who knows. Maybe they did it out of sympathy, or they see the brash immaturity of their old selves in those guys and figured "why not?"

At the end of the day...... This is a Chainsmokers produced track on a Chainsmokers album. I am torn because I despise the Chainsmokers as humans and am frustrated that an all around nice group of middle-aged Brits would collaborate with a couple of frat kids who started making EDM music to "get more pu**y". But I also can't help but love the pop appeal on this thing. And besides, its a win-win. Coldplay will now be in the Top-40 for months to come (hype for Kaleidoscope EP) and The Chainsmokers just expanded their brand and possibly, their acclaim for working with real musicians. OLDPLAYER REVIEW/RANT: I feel the pain of all of you that miss the Viva and before days. I get it. But this has been our reality now arguably since PoC. Coldplay will collaborate whenever possible to make something they like. We got to get over that. It took me a long time to get over ASFOS, but when I did, something weird happened. I came to actually like it. The Chainsmoker's are trash musicians and that is readily apparent here. The synth programming is amateur at best. I have buddies that make better EDM than this in their mom's basements in one night. On top of that, they can't sing. So they brought in Chris and I think it goes over nicely. This isn't Coldplay style vocals, but Chris doing a rather boyish EDM impression. Lyrically, I don't really know what this message is. Girls don't want superheros and guys aren't superheros? I don't know. But Chris sings with typical passion and that gets me paying attention. I think his vocals are great. Musically its a mixed bag. The EDM drop is utter rubbish. Boring chord progression. But towards the end of the track, I love the chord mix up and the bass swell. Its quite lovely, especially with the twinkly piano and added layers. The climax is great. I love Jonny's guitar solo and the added textures. Jonny has a tendency to save these mediocre one-offs (i.e. Atlas, Miracles). Not sure what Guy or Will add, other than the live show. Maybe production on the drum pads? Do I want Coldplay to ever do a song like this again? Heck no. But it is another genre bender to their repertoire. Hopefully the EP will have more Oldplay fan service, but I am happy to have anything new from them. This track could have been a lot worse (imagine no solo) or it could have been a lot better (imagine no Chainsmokers). Anyway, rant over.

Regardless of what we get at the BRIT's it should be great. I don't like Fun, but it would be cool to see it performed live for the first time. Covers are always magical, and a new EP track/announcement would be mind blowing! And yeah, the Davide Rossi track is probably solo material. I don't think Coldplay would be down with him previewing stuff like this, but he was in London a week ago. Who knows. It sounds like it could possibly be a Coldplay track--similar tone to those soundchecks at the Rose Bowl? Sounds like a cheesy movie soundtrack towards the end haha but that drum machine is very Will-esque recently. Also "The Wheel Breaks the Butterfly" is one of the most headscratching Coldplay lyrics to me, but we know how obsessed with certain metaphors Chris can be, Under the Wheel is a possibility.

Coldplay's Facebook Post: A Head Full Of Dreams has just reached 60 consecutive weeks in the Official UK Charts Top 40. Did you know there are cars on the album's cover? I don't think I need to say the words.... Why else would they take the time to tell us there are cars in the cover? Is that a tease?

New hope for Kaleidoscope EP: Protest song. It has been a weird/scary week in the U.S. with Trump and a lot of artists are responding with protest tracks, including a huge Coldplay influencer Arcade Fire. I know the message of AHFOD was "peace, love, togetherness, hope" which is awesome in its own way right now, but every once and a while I think you just need to release something that is "f**k all" Its mostly been hip-hop and and more alternative artists protesting--but Coldplay could actually reach more people with their biggest-band-in-the-world platform. I don't know, maybe that would ruin the tone of AHFOD--but this era didn't get an angry song which are usually my favorite from Coldplay, so what do you guys think about a protest/anger song? Should Coldplay finally go punk/metal :) ?

Is it harsh to say that The Chainsmokers' are not only the blandest most derivative form of EDM pop on the market but also very, very crappy young men? Closer is catchy, but there is a string of evidence that these guys are really crude and sexist. Still anxious to hear a Chris collab--someone with a real voice and talent might help them.

Okay, I hate music awards, but I do like top lists for the year because they included a lot of music. UP&UP MUSIC VIDEO IS MOST SNUBBED OF THE YEAR! It is nominated for the Grammy, but I couldn't find it on one Top 10 or even Top 20 lists. I believe the video is not only mind-blowing but really, really emotionally resonant for the year 2016. Formation by Bey is awesome and Leon Bridges' video is heartbreaking. Always lots of good videos every year, but come on! Not even an acknowledgement of its existence is an insult.

My two cents, which may or may not matter to you at all :) 1. Everglow--A nice version, but nothing here is much different from the studio version in the end. This track has so many versions now that I am pretty satisfied with it. 2. Viva--I am glad this finally got put to recording. The piano/guitar combo really matches the Viva era well. I am not particularly fond of Will's percussion choice here. He would have sounded much better used on acoustic guitar, but that is a minor complaint. 3. AOAL--Not sure why this song would ever need an acoustic version... it just doesn't sound any different in this style than the studio version save the drums. AOAL is groovy but doesn't really carry itself all the way into a 4 minute song, the beat just isn't dynamic enough. 4. Yellow- No complaints. I love the way Chris starts with piano and how Jonny's guitar has a ton of room to shine. Great version, but I still prefer their 2011 Live Acoustic Version which is more atmopsheric, and where Will can come in on acoustic guitar though. 5. Christmas Lights-- Quite lovely and fitting. Suits this EP well! As a die-hard fan, this EP is just okay to me. None of the versions are drastically different enough for me to be like "whoa! I need this in my collection." The song choice is very safe for casual fans and none of the songs are even all that "acoustic." I am still hoping Spotify will release acoustic guitar versions of ASFOS and HFTW in the near future since those were performed during this set. Their studio versions were so bombastically produced that a stripped/raw versions would be very desirable.

Okay...glad this was released...but the only two songs I was anxious to hear acoustic were ASFOS and HFTW because the recent performances of those acoustic were amazing...and both of them didn't make this EP despite being performed at the London show. Super disappointed.

Its meh.... Like most things with Coldplay it feels like a PG rated version of something else--in this case Nick Cave's most recent album/dvd which is all performed live in black/white or those videos from Radiohead recently. Adding Jonny would have made it a lot better. Do love the Ali inclusion though, that's the best part easily.

Hmmm...... I do like the new tracks by J Cole personally, but Come with Me now is an obnoxious rendition of one of my favorite genres--like the whole song he just yells "come with me now" it is the EDM format applied to soul rock/southern rock. That Melanie C tracks is kinda just okay indie house. Love Dire Straits always! And the East 17 is kinda hilarious choice, but it is a catch song and good (ironically). As always, Chris' picks have me completely divided. He has a taste for bad indie-pop in my opinion when that is one of the richest new genres.

^Yeah this is their first album not nominated for something? The Grammy's are basically a record-label circle jerk on what made the most money, so we shouldn't be that upset... But when you have Blink-182, Disturbed and Twenty-One Pilots over Coldplay, you have to scratch your head a little. Sure AHFOD was a bit genre bending, but California was the most buy-the-number's album I heard all year (despite a few good singles). Excited for Radiohead, Bowie, Beyonce, Chance the Rapper, and Sturgill Simpson though. If you haven't heard Sturgill, look him up. I saw him live recently and it was incredible.

I have warmed up to the album but wish I was an expert sound editor at this point so I could fix the album for myself! Here is what I would change: 1. AHFOD-- Extend the ambient intro and include "The Dictator Speech." Add another verse that uses that saxophone sample again to make the track longer and more epic. Extend outro to include the "sparkles" used in the live show (they are magical). 2. Birds--I love this track. No major edits except maybe make the string section at the end mixed in better while toning down the drumbeat. 3. HFTW-- I really like the song except for the horribly mundane, cliche chorus. I'd like to hear a rockier remix with acoustic guitar like that on Conan, a new chorus that includes that horn section of the bridge, and then a better guitar solo at the end. Keep that groovy percussion though. 4. Everglow--I am tempted to put the acoustic version here instead, but I do like some of the rich production on the album version. I say do a new mix that is mostly just piano but with few percussion and string accompaniments (like Oceans) and then definitely keep the spoken word outro. 5. AOAL--Song needs to be a touch shorter with a longer, rockier outro. Love Jonny's solo at the end here, but the song thinks that the initial beat is good enough to carry it for 5 minutes...not the case. I personally like the edited vocals :) 6. Fun--ermmm, cut it? Put something else here? Maybe another version of Miracles? I just don't like the melody of Fun. I'd prefer they put Luna or Famous Old Painters here. 7. Kaleidiscope--Make it longer! Add more ambiance and classical piano. Add more of the poem and have a more complete version of Amazing Grace at the end so it feels less random. 8. Army Of One-- A version with more vocal samples and lots of guitar--like the live version. Go all out synth-pop over produced with Jonny bringing in beautiful chords. 9.XMTS--Put it on the single for HFTW as a B-side. 10. Amazing Day-- Tone down the bass drum a bit, turn up the string section at the end and extend it with a symphonic outro. There is some beautiful work by Davide Rossi underneath this track that is barely audible. 11. Colour Spectrum--A new song that has new ambient ideas. Maybe more sparkles. Don't just repeat the intro to the album Coldplay, that is lazy and frankly infuriating to me still. 12. Up&Up--Love it. Leave it alone except for maybe the bass drum could mixed a bit quieter...

Agreed on both ends. To be sure, the band is always due for several big "poppy' singles on every LP, whether we consider that LP to be alternative or otherwise. And I also believe that once you get to a certain level of stardom like Coldplay has, there is no going back--when you're part of the pop scene you are going to emulate those sounds and whats gonna be commercially and universally accepted. HOWEVER, Coldplay is in a very unique position now. They have very much ingrained themselves in working with Stargate, Beyonce, Avicii, and other big "pop" names. They have played the Superbowl and likely every continent by the end of this tour. They simply can't get any bigger. We know that their contract is about up which means they could go full on Radiohead and do independent releases, not having to worry about having chart-toppers. So naturally they have to find other avenues to stay relevant, right? Sure, I said this after MX, but now more than ever they have the chance to go back to either go back to more rock-driven music or do something completely different. I personally believe that making something indie-rock or surprisingly non-commercial (folk, ambient, soul/jazz) would woo some older fans back and possibly, just maybe, bring in alternative listeners too. Of course, as Chris says, they don't have to prove anything to anybody. They could call it quits. But with this EP--you have the guys jamming on the road, using guitars and drumkits, nothing fancy. It reminds me, too, of the Viva era and all previous. Chris says songs are coming in on guitar. I think we are in for a surprisingly alternative treat SANS Stargate production. My final (very hopeful prediction) is that the EP is released in February, it will have six new songs and a couple remixes. Then, in the summer, A Head Full Of Dreams Deluxe will be released, just like Viva Prospekt's addition or Arcade Fire's Reflektor Deluxe.

^I agree that if you want to get a hint at Coldplay's future work, you have to look at b-sides and EP's. Towards the end of the How We Saw The World Tour, they were performing a slinky, rebellious guitar number called "How You See The World"--that hinted at Viva in my opinion. With Prospekt's March, we got some heartfelt ballads and some digital atmosphere. That transfered over to MX to a degree (with Brian Eno). Then, of course, Atlas hinted at the moody atmosphere of GS, and then I would argue the track Ghost Story and Miracles slightly hinted at the production route for AHFOD. It's hard to say where this new EP will take us though over a year later.

Let's hope some elements of the Viva era find their way back! I am not so sure. This sounds like an awesome jam session and warm-up before the show, but that doesn't mean it is a b-side. For all we know Will could have started a drumbeat and then Jonny and Guy just threw in some jammin for fun! Sounds good enough to be a real track though!

Yeah, The fact that the performed Christmas Lights makes me thinks they will release it sometime in December. Typically they are released on Tuesdays and Fridays, so I would guess the 2nd or 6th. It would be a good way to up some hype before an EP release.