HowCouldIForget

Love Noel's new stuff, especially Blue Moon Rising. His guitar part on Up&Up was excellent.

Do you mean fans posting here or musis critics? If the latter, I'd be curious to know who because clearly they never listened to Magic. That was SHOCKINGLY bad to me. If you had told me during the Viva era that they would come out with a song I'd hate so much I never would have believed you. Never. That's not even Coldplay to me. That's a really bad R&B impression by some British bloke on the radio.

Niall Horan (I'd say Thom Yorke but I dont think he would ever) Big fan of Heartbreak Weather, my album of the year last year. Would love to hear some of his Fleetwood-Mac-loving influence on a Coldplay song. Maybe a second bassline along with Guy since he does those amazingly well. His lead guitar playing is already so much like Jonny's I don't know how much he could add there. Fireproof might as well be a Coldplay song with that shiny riff.

I can agree to an extent. I think Blinding Lights has helped reinvigorate that 80s sound, charts wise. I think it's important to remember that this has usually been the case with Coldplay, though. I always hear Oldplayers say how Coldplay used to be so much better but I think people forget that Parachutes and ARoBttH was a very mainstream sound in the early 00s. Absolution by Muse and Hopes and Fears by Keane were popular in the post-Radiohead OK Computer wave and there was a lot of alt-rock on the radio. I'm not saying Coldplay isn't original (I love the first two albums) but we're all influenced by what we hear around us. I think the only albums I heard and thought "wow, this is way different than anything out right now" are Viva, MX (outside of Paradise and PoC) and Everyday Life.

Yeah, I always wonder about this. I think there was only like 50K waiting to hear the song that I saw. Which seems awfully low for Coldplay. As a comparison, when I was waiting for Choker by Twenty One Pilots to come out last week, there were 125K people waiting to listen. Not sure how accurate YouTube metrics are, though. On the one hand, I want them to succeed the best they can (as long as it's not something like Magic). But personally, I'd rather have something I really enjoy and have it be a moderate success. I don't need them to be Adele-level breaking records. I just want them to be happy with what they're doing. I'm sure they're not hurting for money.

I just did the rank every Coldplay album song thread (would recommend) and I'd say ~8.5 out of 10. I like Jonny's riff peeking out near the end. I also like that the end of the chorus lyrics don't rhyme. I think about something like Swallowed in the Sea and I'm glad Chris doesn't force it anymore. Ever since GS, every time I hear a Coldplay song and it doesn't have those garbage Adam Lavine wannabe vocal acrobatics (like at the end of Adventure of a Lifetime) I'm happy. I was afraid this would be super pop and cringy but it's not and I definitely like the 80s-style keyboards. Just a reminder of past opening singles Shiver In My Place Speed of Sound Violet Hill ETIAW Magic AOAL Orphans/Arabesque I'll take this over those last three (minus Arabesque) any day of the week. I also like how the chorus is a little different every time. A little flat at first but gets better with each repeat, rather than just a chorus for the sake of having one.

htps://www.facebook.com/coldplay/videos/1113459642508675 Just saw this. Looks like 7 pm Eastern. Maybe Higher Power comes out then? Yeah...12 am UK. Thinking it's gotta be. Can confirm. Just saw Coldplay YouTube channel has Higher Power set to premiere at 7 Eastern. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXgf5smLEgQ

Sorry, double post.

I think this way of rating makes GS feel too high, relatively speaking. And that's saying a lot, as it's last. Still too high. Everything else is spot on. I love the concept album feel of MX. Viva is my favorite and ARoBttH used to be. Everyday Life was much needed after GS and AHFoD. 1. Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (9.15) 2. A Rush of Blood to the Head (8.95) 3. Parachutes (8.77) 4. Mylo Xyloto (8.50) 5. Everyday Life (8.28) 6. X&Y (8.08) 7. A Head Full of Dreams (6.95) 8. Ghost Stories (6.72) All-time top scored album songs a.k.a. dream setlist: 1. Death and All His Friends (10) 2. Clocks (10) 3. The Scientist (10) 4. Cemeteries of London (10) 5. Sparks (10) 6. Viva la Vida (10) 7. Birds (10) 8. U.F.O. (10) 9. O (10) 10. Arabesque (10) 11. Us Against the World (10) 12. Eko (10) Parachutes Don't Panic (8.5) Shiver (9.5) Spies (8.5) Sparks (10) Yellow (9) Trouble (9.5) Parachutes (8) High Speed (8.5) We Never Change (8) Everything's not Lost (8.5) Life is For Living (8.5) Total score: 8.77 [96.5) A Rush Of Blood To The Head Politik (9.5) In My Place (9.5) God Put A Smile Upon Your Face (8.5) The Scientist (10) Clocks (10) Daylight (6.5) Green Eyes (9) Warning Sign (9.5) A Whisper (8.5) A Rush Of Blood To The Head (8.5) Amsterdam (9) Total score: 8.95 (98.5) X&Y Square One (9) What If (6) White Shadows (8.5) Fix You (7) Talk (9) X&Y (8) Speed Of Sound (8.5) A Message (9.5) Low (8) The Hardest Part (7.5) Swallowed In The Sea (6) Twisted Logic (8.5) Til Kingdom Come (9.5) Total score: 8.08 (105) Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends Life In Technicolor (9) Cemeteries of London (10) 42 (9.5) Lost! (8.5) Lovers In Japan (9) Reign of Love (8.5) Yes (9.5) Chinese Sleep Chant (8) Viva La Vida (10) Violet Hill (9) Strawberry Swing (9.5) Death And All His Friends (10) The Escapist (8.5) Total score: 9.15 (119) Mylo Xyloto MX/Hurts Like Heaven (9.5) Paradise (6.5) Charlie Brown (8.5) Us Against The World (10) M.M.I.X/ Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall (9.5) Major Minus (9) U.F.O (10) Princess of China (4) Up in Flames (8) AHT/ Don't Let It Break Your Heart (9) Up With The Birds (9.5) Total score: 8.50 (93.5) Ghost Stories Always In My Head (9) Magic (3) Ink (6.5) True Love (4) Midnight (9) Another's Arms (6.5) Oceans (7) A Sky Full Of Stars (5.5) O (Fly On) (10) Total score: 6.72 (60.5) A Head Full Of Dreams A Head Full Of Dreams (9) Birds (10) Hymn For The Weekend (4.5) Everglow (8) Adventure of A Lifetime (8) Fun (8) Kaleidoscope (5.5) Army Of One (6) X-Marks the spot (1) Amazing Day (9) Up & Up (7.5) Total score: 6.95 (76.5) Everyday Life Sunrise (8.5) Church (8.5) Trouble In Town (9.5) BrokEn (6) Daddy (9.5) WOTW/POTP (7.5) Arabesque (10) When I Need A Friend (7.5) Guns (8.5) Orphans (6.5) Èkó (10) Cry Cry Cry (6.5) Old Friends (8.5) Bani Adam (8) Champion Of The World (9.5) Everyday Life (8) Total score: 8.28 (132.5)

I usually agree with you. This time I'm mixed. The music is definitely generic 80s but that Will beat is growing on me and I'll take generic 80s over the sound of any other decade. I love 80s music. I actually think the lyrics are somwhat unique. Saying you're lucky to be alive at the same time as someone else isn't a sentiment often expressed in pop music. That's too deep. Usually they just say they're lucky to be with the person. I like the higher power lyric. Rather than being sappy and cliche by saying they have magic (and I hate Magic) they're almost saying the person is God-like which, again, is unique. A different enough sentiment to be interesting. I was expecting this to be a religious song like Church or Eko with that title but it's not.

Just noticed the end of your post Lenny. This is a good point, though. Blinding Lights and Last Friday Night definitely do have that 80's sound to them, a big part of the reason I love the former. Don't know much about Taylor Swift's album personally. I'll add that the lesser known Save Your Tears and In Your Eyes from After Hours have that same 80s sound.

Yeah, I'm very curious about the producer after they worked with Stargate on A Head Full of Dreams. Max Martin is known for working with Brittney Spears, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, Katy Perry and Taylor Swift on several #1 hit singles that I happen to despise. His most recent stuff has been with Ed Sheeran and The Weeknd (Blinding Lights, of course) and the songs in question I like a lot. So I don't know what to expect at all. I genuinely wonder if Coldplay is working with a pop producer again because they like pushing themselves and the producers to do things they haven't before (like with Stargate to some extent) and they learn a lot that way or if the label wants them to work with these people. Ever since Parlophone was taken over by Atlantic their music has shifted in a more pop direction generally and I don't think that's a coincidence, somehow. Not to say that Coldplay don't have say in the music, of course but Atlantic is no Capitol. I read Max is actually one of the producers with the most #1 songs in history, twenty something. I wonder if this is a one-off for the first single for the album to do as well as it can or if we'll have another Stargate situation. I don't think pop music is inherently bad (I like Ed Sheeran and The Weeknd like I said) and I was a big fan of Church on Everyday Life which we know Stargate did. That said, I think anyone hoping for a rock-return to something like Viva or even EL may not turn out happy, myself included. But this is all speculation at this point. Coldplay never does the same album twice and I love that.

I just want to thank Coldplay for putting this album out. They had to know it wouldn't be a chart-topper, very few songs on here are typical pop fare that they've kind of become known for. I know Everyday Life still charted #1 in the UK but it was only #7 here in the US, their lowest showing since Parachutes and I wouldn't be surprised if it's their first album not to go Platinum here. There's so much beauty in the restraint, relying on acoustic guitars and pianos instead of bombastic choruses and synthesized drum beats. I cherish this Coldplay and I hope with everything I have that we'll see more of them in the future. This is the first time I've been proud to be a Coldplay fan in probably ten years. I loved most of MX and that came out in 2011 but I was mortified by Paradise being everywhere. I still can't stand that chorus. I was worried that the Coldplay I knew and loved was gone forever after two disappointing albums and a decent-at-best EP. They proved me wrong. <3

I just picked up my copy today. I feel bad because people here are trying to do the right thing- give Coldplay as much of the pie as possible. But between the shipping costs and all the delays I thought I was better served picking it up at a store.

This album gave me what I had wanted from Ghost Stories. By that, I mean it's stripped down but not stripped of their talent.

I love Jonny's riffs and the lyrics in particular. A standout track, for sure.

They ALWAYS do this. They leave the best songs off the albums! -MX (Moving to Mars, Christmas Lights) -GS (Ghost Story, All Your Friends) -AHFoD (All I Can Think About is You, ALIENS) Flags is way better than Orphans. Man, I swear.

Old Friends and Champion of the World have been growing on me

Does anyone know why there's a clip of kids chanting/singing at the end of Trouble in Town? I won't be bothered by it if there's a reason for it. With Coldplay, there usually is but I'm curious. Agree about the guitar. I wish it was a hair louder. I can hear it well enough when it matters but louder would be appreciated.

I just looked and you're right, Thanks for the correction!

This is the first album not to have four songs that start with the same letter.

I see the criticism of the album not being cohesive and I partially agree. But this is far from the first time. Where do UFO, Us Against the World and Up with the Birds fit vs Paradise and Princess of China on MX? Even on X&Y...with two of my favorite songs A Message and 'Til Kingdom Come, where do they fit on an album of space/synth rock? I also see the criticism of some songs being too Chris-focused but I've also seen that in the past. I'd much rather a touching acoustic-only or piano-only track with Chris' vocals than an explosion of fifteen bombastic instruments at once like the chorus of Paradise. Everyone is different, though.

Rik Simpson also worked on Viva alongside Brian Eno, so you know. I'm sure I Ran Away was referring to Stargate producing Church

Sunrise- 9.5 Church- 9.0 Trouble in Town- 9.5 BrokEn- 7.0 Daddy- 10 WOTW/POTP- NA (Can't understand the lyrics) Arabesque- 10 When I Need a Friend- 8.5 Guns- 9.5 Orphans- 6.5 Eko- 10 Cry Cry Cry- 7.5 Old Friends- 9.0 Bani Adam- 8.5 Champion of the World- 9.0 Everyday Life 8.0 I definitely prefer the first half Albums VlVoDaAHF (98) ARoBttH (96) Parachutes (93) Mylo Xyloto (91) Everyday Life (88-90) X&Y (83) A Head Full of Dreams (73) Ghost Stories (61)

That last part is my only complaint. This album definitely could've used more Jonny. That's not even him playing guitar on Arabesque. Not sure if people knew that.