mishee90

Disclaimer: I am an 'Oldplayer' (or, someone who grew up with the band since 2000). I find it simply fascinating that the song, Adventure of a Lifetime is gaining immensely positive and 'raving' reviews. I am not sure if this is because (1) people are excited that Coldplay have dropped a new song or (2) because people are just generally excited that Coldplay are "back" from what was Ghost Stories. or (3) that people don't really know what good pop music is. Whatever the case, I feel that some of the very positive reviews (those giving this song 9 or 10/10) are a little unfounded. Even as a 'pop' song, AOAL falls far short; the greatest pop songs have far more depth and melody than what AOAL has. The song purely has momentum because it is a song from one of the biggest bands in the world, right now. If you take Coldplay out of the equation, the song is mediocre, familiar, forgettable (albeit catchy), hollow and shallow. It really is just like any other mediocre pop song out there - there is nothing unique or meaningful about it. I wonder if the same song was released by a nobody artist, would it generate the same amount of praise or positive reviews? What makes the song so special? What message is Chris trying to tell me? If one didn't recognise Martin's voice, would one even KNOW that it was by Coldplay? The song embarrassingly fails both as a pop song AND (obviously) as a Coldplay song. I'm actually beyond the point of being disappointed with Coldplay - I simply don't care enough for them anymore. Their Ghost Stories release was like a way of telling their older fans that that's not really Coldplay anymore. It was like a final goodbye to their old selves, and their old identity; this was mimicked in the way the album was toured, in attempt to highlight the album's minute importance in their current identity. Adventure of a Lifetime is not a song I would listen to normally, and hence, not a song I am going to listen to, even if by my once-upon-a-time favourite band in the world. Their sound and identity has evolved, and in isolating fans, they have indeed gained many, many, MANY more. Coldplay are interested in being revolutionaries in a music sphere, they create music that appeal to the masses, and disguise this by evolving their sound into something common and familiar. They have no desire to produce music from their AROBTTH era - they are more than content with creating and 'experimenting' with dance music, with the benefit of gaining attention and worldwide airplay because they are such a huge band. Coldplay could release any genre of music and they would still make millions. They have the power to DO WHATEVER THEY LIKE. They don't care about their fans - not their new ones, and certainly not their old ones. I think for any 'Oldplayers' out there - it's not worth it to be angered and disappointed at the band. This is who they are now. We can either accept them for what they are, or decide to leave their fan base. Although, you don't have to forget their amazing back catalogue of music. We can always have comfort in knowing that the many new, millions of fans Coldplay have garnered since Viva-Mylo, have probably never heard of songs such as Such a Rush or See you Soon or Bigger, Stronger. We don't have to share that music with new Coldplay fans - we get to keep them all to ourselves :) Adventure of a Lifetime - 5/10.

This x100000!! You've completely summed up how I feel!

Here, here!

I understand that. I do agree there are some nice lyrics in MX, but the over production of the album doesn't allow one to highlight the beauty of those lyrics. They were all just secondary to the horrible synths and sugary pop vibe that the album had. Chris did write some good songs on it, but I don't feel they were matched instrumentally. Coldplay has always been about a lovely balance between soft lyrics and soft music. MX didn't have the balance. I can understand that there are *some* equally weak lyrics in GS, but because the album is not pop-based, the lyrics tend to stand on their own against the music. I think what made MX so popular with some was the ability to "forget" the lyrics for the background noise. GS doesn't have the lyrics of AROBBTH or Parachutes, but I don't think they are as bad as everyone makes out.

Well, I am 23 and I started listening to Coldplay back when I was about 10-11 too. Maybe not properly, but I heard some of their music on rage and remember really liking it. People who "started" on MX don't actually know what the real Coldplay is... I have to try really hard here to try and take you seriously with this comment... you are joking, right? From what I can recall, I can remember the MX tour being HEAVILY pop-based, mainstream AND I can remember lots and lots of electronica and synths in it? Are we taking about the same album here? MYLO XYLOTO? Appealing to Twi-hards? Ugh,.. I can remember many twi-hards who were present at the MX tour, who were squealing and sitting right in front of me? I don't think you'd find them at a Ghost Stories show? And weak lyrics in comparison to MX? HAHAHAHA, omg you HAVE to be joking here.. Let me give you a SMALL snippet of the awfulness and weakenss that is MX... "When she was just a girl she expected the world/But it flew away from her reach /So she ran away in her sleep and dreamed of/Para-para-paradise, para-para-paradise, para-para-paradise/Every time she closed her eyes" "Every tear is a waterfall/Oh oh oh/So you can hurt, hurt me bad/But still I'll raise the flag" "When you're tired of waiting you just/Find you never had to stop/Come on baby, don't let it break your heart" I'm pretty sure the kindergarten children I teach could come up with less sugary lyrics than these.

Wahhh :( I'm with all of you guys who didn't through either :( same deal yesterday as this morning. I don't know how anyone even managed to score a ticket, they are so so lucky :( :(

The general "trend" it seems that fans who grew up with the older Coldplay sound seem to appreciate GS more than those introduced to them from their X&Y/Viva/MX era. I'm sorry, but to say you're a "older fan" because you listened to them from 2004 (which is essentially the year before X&Y and when they started experimenting with music), IMO doesn't classify you in the "older fan" category. The "old music" for the "old fans" comprise of music way back from 1998, comprising of the Safety-Blue Room-Parachutes-AROBTTH era. I, love GS and I've been listening to CP since I first heard Parachutes and regularly play their previous EPs. I understand that the amount of synthesizers and electronic on GS isn't comparable to their old stuff, but there is a certain thread of similarity that connects GS to their older work. It's more the concepts and themes of vulnerability and yearning that connects the music together. The X&Y/Viva/Mylo era seems to be completely distinct from their older records, and I think GS represents the rawness found in their older albums, but the experimental side found in their newer stuff. My ranks: Blue Room Parachutes AROBTTH Ghost Stories Prospekts March X&Y Viva La Vida Mylo Xyloto (sometimes I have to pretend this isn't even a Coldplay record because it's so embarrassingly and sickeningly pop-driven with CP succumbing to being major sell outs here with their over the top stadium tour)

Maybe I've missed something, but I can't seem to find a thread for members to post about their first thoughts after listening to the whole album, in its entirety. Or, it could be because I'm in Australia so we got an earlier release date for the album? Not sure? Anyway I thought I would write up what I thought after listening to it. I had pretty high expectations for this album, after hearing "Magic" and "Midnight" - both of which I thought were exceptional. First impressions.... beautiful, soft, relaxed, enticing dark, edgy, haunting, true, forthcoming, honest, heartbreaking, open, sad, happy, enduring... GS has this almost pain-like quality, but yet it is so peaceful and warm. It just takes me back to Parachutes and reminds me why I fell in love with Coldplay all those many, many years ago. It is SO refreshing for Coldplay to strip back the theatrics that was so plagued in their last two albums, and to release some music that errs towards the melancholy, that echoes and gives meaning to what we all love about this gorgeous music, these four gorgeous musicians and what we've known to love and appreciate. Track by Track: Always in My Head - I cannot get past that intro; it is so beautiful and so so soulful. The song itself represents love and also pain. I think it's a great opener for the album. Magic - I loved this from when I first heard it on YouTube. It has a great beat. It gives us an indication of the breakdown and heartbreak and yearn between lovers. Ink - Truly honest and gorgeous. You feel so much pain for Chris in this song and what he is going through, he really has put his heart on his sleeve and opened up to us. It has a strange, uplifting beat to it though which I find an interesting juxtaposition to the lyrics. True Love - On first listen, I didn't rate this song, but on the second listen, it is growing on me. You do really hear the pain in his voice, there's something about this song that irks me, a little - maybe I need some more listens of this track. Jonny's solo is AMAZING though - I prefer the instrumentals over Chris singing. Midnight - I absolutely ADORED this when I heard it first on YouTube. This is Coldplay at its finest. It represents their progression and reinvention and their ability to trascend times and emotions. I admire how they experiment with music here, but still stay true to that raw sound of Coldplay from the Parachutes era. For some reason, the content of this song and its overall "feel" reminds me of "Spies." This song speaks to me on so many levels. I can feel the melancholy and the sense of neediness and being lost and confused. It is so so beautiful and haunting at the same time. My favcurite off the album, hands down. Another's Arms - I feel like this song could easily, easily belong on AROBTTH. We can read the climax that the album is expressing now, the realisation of another person in the relationship. I love the beat and instrumentals. Oceans - One word: stunning. Easily a song that could appear on Parachutes. This song is the beginning of the healing from the heartbreak. This song is so true to what Coldplay was all about. A Sky Full of Stars - When I first heard this, the intro surprised me, and I feel, with this song, the album closing towards happiness, acceptance and an overall feeling of just 'not caring' anymore; not drownng in sorrow anymore. I can see this being remixed for clubs too, and its a lovely little song which some great instrumentals. O (Fly On) - A beautiful song to close out the album. It really is about letting go, both figuratively and literally. I've read some critic reviews about GS and many seem to be quite sub-par, and I have difficulty understanding why. I feel as though these critics have heard Coldplay from the XY-Viva-Mylo era and never really understood them back through the whole Safety-Blue Room-Parachutes-AROBTTH era? Maybe these critics feel like Viva/Mylo is more representative of Coldplay, and THAT is what they associate their notion of the Coldplay sound with. But, true fans will argue the complete opposite (in my opinion). GS is integrated, anf feels like a whole from start to finish. When listening to MX, I always felt like I missed the "whole" story of the album, I never really "got it." But I get Ghost Stories. I get the message, I get the story, I get the progression from love to loss to heartbreak to near healing and to near acceptance. I know this album has got Gwyenth written all over it, but I don't care. This is Chris being completely open with us and expressing himself how he does it best: through music. It is so rewarding to me, personally, that Coldplay have essentially gone back to their roots with GS. And maybe it's not as good as Parachutes or AROBTTH, but it's really, really close. I think GS, well this is one for the FANS. This is one for those of us who disliked Mylo, those who felt like Coldplay "sold out" throughout the MX branding and its heavy commericalisation. This is for those of us who felt so betrayed and disillusioned with Coldplay after their previous two releases. This is a record for those of us who remember "Yellow" and all that that the song represented and put Coldplay on the map. It's for those of us who yearn for the raw, un-idealised and ever so simple, yet fluid, progressive and complex sound that is Coldplay today. I call it magic. Ghost Stories: 8.5/10