I just listened to Coldplay's new single Viva la Vida from their soon to be released album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (don't ask me, I didn't come up with it). Overall, it was quite a disappointing experience. I don't know why really. X&Y was not that good of an album but for some reason, as Chris Martin sang, "You go backwards again you go forwards" at the end of the closing track of their last album I had hope that this was some not too subtle message that the next album would be better. Maybe it will be, but based upon what I just heard, I'm not getting my hopes up.
From Pitchfork Media,
"The sights, sounds and flavours of Latin America and Spain have definitely been infused into this album...No maracas or castanets, but a vibrancy and colourfulness that owes much to the atmospheres of Buenos Aires and Barcelona. The effect is subtle but important."
I have never been to either Beunos Aires or Barcelona but if their spirit is manifested in this song, I am not sure I want to go. If Viva la Vida is all I had to go off of, I would say these cities offer a veneer being of initially pleasant but are ultimately unimportant. The song sounds like they are trying to carry on the spirit of U2 but when U2 made cheesy songs at least they had a worthwhile message. Plus, U2 is currently the band fulfilling the role of carrying on spirit of U2. Anyway, by the end of the first listening to Viva la Vida you already are acutely aware that you have been subjected to a repetitive auditory experience ad nauseum.
Maybe I am being too harsh. A single is, after all, supposed to be catchy and get stuck in your head. But I hope the album has something to offer besides what I just heard.
1 comment:
Coldplay in general are just a giant disappointment for me overall. Rush of Blood to the Head gave me a lot of hope for them that they could become great, but ultimately they produce cute music that isn't creative.
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