lennyrott1

Indeed, Radiohead was one of the few bigger alternative/pop rock bands in the nineties to really go 180 degrees on Kid A (and parts of Ok Computer) In my opinion, they never quite got back to their poppier, more accessible self until In Rainbows. And you should try them out Midnightspies! I was into Coldplay first because they are less harsh and alternative, but the albums I mentioned above I would consider absolute masterpieces, truly beautiful music. To briefly weigh into this smallish debate, however, I think it is a difficult conversation to have about Coldplay because they mean different things to different people. I certainly beilieve that Coldplay is a top 40 band but also a solid alternative act. Why Top 40? Well the facts are that every young person has known Coldplay over the past 6 years for their smashing singles. Every tween probably loves ASFOS, while every teenager loves Paradise, and every early twenty something loves VLV. Of course, us Coldplayers love every album and every track that these folks have never heard. I think it is really cool Coldplay can be as popular as Rihanna but also have an alternative listening audience. The next album, with the trends they have been setting, I personally believe could be their poppiest to date. I mean, MX was a pop-slposion,, but at least it had a distinct electronic quirkiness and rock-ability to it. I just hope that if they go for a pop-tacular, that it has an alternative and quality edge to it (which I would argue MX mostly does.)

Awww yeah. That would be awesome if they just came out with something extremely creepy (: I am thinking stuff like a combination Where Is My Boy, Cemeteries in London, Midnight and A Whisper, Major Minus, A Spell A Rebel Yell!! Crying guitars, pulsing electronics, minor chords plucked on an acoustic, punk-fast metal drumming, funky fuzzy basslines, throbbing and hypnotic. That is my dream. VLV really balanced some darkish themes but kept things pretty fun and poppy at times. Ever since then the themes in songs have been soooo cut and dry. One song is happy, the next sad. You're in love, you're out of love. Moody or fun. And while MX and GS are great, don't get me wrong, they really serve up some complex or interesting emotions.

I agree with you here. I am betting as well that we will be hearing new material live rather than the premiers of songs like Midnight and ETIAW. Playing live I think helped give the them the confidence in the songs before launching a world tour during the MX era, and if LP7 is a return to the "epic," then this would make sense for them.

^Great work!! Thank you! Your logic is sound here and I bet you aren't far off from the truth. :D

y'all make me panic every time I get on the forum and see so many replies in LP7!!!!! Haha So quick thoughts and questions.. We know they were in the already partially in the studio over the summer because of some the interviews, and if we take this evidence of Chris at the bakery, we can maybe assume they are still in a recording process for something. My questions are : On average, how long are the boys in studio for their LP's? How long after putting the finishing touches on an album must we wait for a single/announcement of the record? I know this is very variable, but I know some y'all have taken careful note of this for past records.

^I just wonder where it would have fit in. I think the album flows really well as is, and maybe they just couldn't contextualize it within the all the electronics. I personally like it as a B-side because for me it is just too acoustic and guitar slappy to fit in. Plus, and I know I am a minority hear, I just don't think the song is fully fleshed out. I haven't really returned to it as much as I thought I might, Chris' falsetto just kind of annoys me. Instrumentally and production wise, it is a great track though.

^We haven't heard too much about this recently, but yes they were rumoured to be one of three artists who were asked to "pay to play" the supberbowl. While I don't think that they will end up playing the halftime show, you make a good point. The primary reason any artist plays the Superbowl is to promote upcoming tours, which is exactly what Bruno Mars did last year. And I think it is safe to also presume that if they have an upcoming world tour, that there will be a new record. So if we hear about who is playing the Superbowl soon (which they should decide on soon) and if it is Coldplay, that would be a really good indicator of new material at least around February, before or after. Edit: I also should add: very rarely do single artists perform anymore. Usually multiple groups of similar genres like to play together..which makes me wonder...Maybe Coldplay will play with Rihanna? This would make it less expensive for both artists to "pay to play" and they have already shown the can perform together. They could play PoC, some Rihanna songs, a Coldplay hit like Clocks or Viva, and then maybe an LP7 track that features RiRi. Thoughts anyone?

^Cheers! And yeah, it would probably be awkward if they did that. I just want any excuse for LP7 to come sooner rather than later :) And I completely agree. I have never given Kings of Leon a fair try, but from what I have heard from them, they are a solid rock band, and Chris has always been a fan. It feels like this is the first time in a while we have heard of Chris Martin being involved/appreciating a musical group that isn't top 40, which is always a good sign. I wonder what the other boys have been listening to? I always have liked interviews where the whole band talks about what new sorts of music they are liking. We have had too much of Chris discussing One Direction and Ariana Grande recently....:\

I really really really had a hard time answering this question, but I ended up voting "without." I won't lie, the sudden rush out of Oceans into the upbeat, emotive chords of ASFOS is amazing! It is a surge of ecstasy that I love every time. I even have come to like the lyrics for just being so damn earnest. The problem is that when the synths come surging into the dance beat of the song, it does suddenly seem really jarring. Every time I listen to that thumping part I think back to Oceans and am like "really?" Had they all decided on a different, less bombastic EDM version of ASFOS that was still really optimistic, poppy, and fun I would be all for its inclusion. Those synths sandwiched between the soft waves of Oceans and the angelic piano of Fly On? Just doesn't work, though I really appreciate the effort.

Which special are you referring to? Maybe they could use it as a launch into the next era? I could see them doing a TV concert and at the end whipping out a new single that blows all our minds and then it is already for purchase on itunes or something. Hey a guy can dream, right?

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I could go for a good 80's vibe! A ton of popular bands have been taking this route recently and I generally like the resurgence. A lot of Coldplay's inspirations come from the 80's, with fun and basic synths and atmospheres, cheesy piano and guitar. I think they could pull it off well! After years and years of debating what my favourite Coldplay song is, 42 always ends up on top. It is absolutely perfect for the reasons you describe. The song is original and beautiful, and the funk, shoegaze middle is one of my favourite instrumentals of all time, from any band (and I usually wouldn't expect this from Coldplay, save a few tracks.) The end of course, with Jonny and Chris dueling guitar and piano solos has to be the biggest soul lifter ever. ahhhh. The good old days... I want more guitars too, but used differently, in ways we haven't seen before. Maybe Ghost Story as a B-side showed us where they might go? Their B-sides have sometimes hinted at where their interest might be heading, in my opinion. Prospekt's March has hints of MX in it, while some of the AROBTTH era b-sides were heavier and poppier like X&Y. Moving To Mars even has that offbeat electronic, darker tint to it that we got in Ghost Stories. (maybe I am stretching here a bit.)

^This is tough... are you going to include Pour Me?

Even if it is fake, we know a world tour/festival appearances are coming. The question is, when will we start the new era? These next few months? Or 2015?

sepulcher

^^Well my friends let us hope for an album that surprises us!! I also think that the next album is looking to be yet another pop explosion with innumerable hooks, singalong chants, and overly simplified lyricism, but we really don't know yet. We all are probably right to some degree, Coldplay was able to pack a lot of genres into the GS era that slightly pleased all of us (Midnight and Magic being my two favourites) Butwe won't know until we get new material what the next era has in store. Who knows, maybe they will go acoustic, ditch electronics, or go back to more alternative britpop! They could do anything at this point, but I think we all know, as per Coldplay album, we will have some immense top 40 loving jams, and some more alternative, exploratory tracks. Every album demonstrates this, difference is that the last two heavily catered to the top 40....which is....subpar.

^I completely agree with these reviews and pretty much fall in the same place. Well said!

Both points are completely valid. Everyone here as made a good point, but I fall with Grids on this one. I think we who were fans of their earlier works haven't been as fond of GS or MX, so my argument is heavily opinionated to a different generation of listeners. Both these albums are great, but it doesn't take much to see that they are far more pop and radio friendly than all preceding releases. Here is just a list to prove it: MX has Paradise, Charlie Brown, PoC, , Up In Flames while GS boasts Magic, Ink, True Love, Another's Arms, ASFOS. Don't get me wrong, I adore most of these tracks, but they are heavily pop oriented and very accessible. Ultimately, they really draw from top 40 radio music to certain extent, and lyrically that doesn't feel like a stretch. I love pop music as much as anyone, and Coldplay has done it from day 1 better than almost everyone else. The issue for me is that once you start following trends as a band, it feels unoriginal and uninteresting. Look at Maroon 5, for example, who has become more of just Adam Levine striving for every pop trend available. They used to be a solid rock band. Anyways, to quit my rant, I love MX and GS, but they don't have the staying power for me that the other albums have. I too am afraid LP7 could finally see Coldplay transform into band that writes only trend-worthy numbers, drawing inspiration from Ariana Grande rather than a fresh new indie artist (like they used to.) There is just a lot of evidence showing Chris is more keen on doing this while songwriting...

Postcards From Far Away...

^I agree, I overall enjoy Ghost Stories but as far as Coldplay releases go, but it is harder to revel in it since the whole era has felt kind of quiet. For me it really peaked with the NBC concert, which was great, but afterwards the videos that followed (ASFOS and True Love) and some of the live performances were kind of weak IMO. Overall this era put out only twelve tracks, thirteen if we want to count Atlas, and no alternative or acoustic versions. (I don't count remixes) For those reasons GS was smaller, like it was intended, and that is why I have been able to move on so quickly in wanting LP7. Imagine if MX was released without the Paradise video, the comics/HLH video, or the massive colourful tour, for example. I think all of us back in the fall of 2011 would then be pining for another album if that was the case.

Does anyone else also think that this video "live" version is way better than the studio version??? The strumming pattern in the video is way more folky and less clangy, and the synths and drumpad come in a lot softer and more moving. This music just feels more raw! Almost considering making a rip and replacing it in my mp3 album, but I am afraid it will screw up the whole transition into ASFOS.

^RIGHT?! Easily the prettiest thing they have ever done...

This Is All Yours is streaming in certain locations around the globe and subsequently leaked!!!!!!!!!!! My initial review is very positive! The album is distinctly what we all know and love about Alt-J! Really gorgeous songs with folky guitar and vocals, really strange tracks that have a lot of unique and diverse samples and instrumentals, and really unique lyrics!! Not to mention a lot of them are catchy as hell! Anyone else heard it yet? What do you think? My favourite tracks right now are : Intro, Nara, Every Other Freckle, Warm Foothills and The Gospel of John Hurt.

If you guys like beautiful electronic music along the lines of Radiohead, Portishead, R&B type stuff etc, My favorite albums of the year of been "The Moon Rang Like A Bell" by Hundred Waters, "LP1" by FKA Twigs, and "What Is This Heart," by How To Dress Well. Also someone already mentioned Rustie's new LP up above. Also really good and worth listening to!!

I am looking forward to this album too!! I was a huge MCR fan back in the day, and in retrospect they were a great alternative rock band!! I really like No Shows too and the whole Britpop/shoegaze theme Gerard is going for! Hope the album pans out to be a solid pop release! I would love to hear more music like this on American Radio (which is his goal.)