Coldplay, Vida la Vida, Progiest Album of the Year

i have only heard the single so i cant really comment. cold play to me though are a relic of a bygone era,and this new record is an attempt to look hip and experimental. there are other groups in england like late of the pier and foals that are experimental in ways cold play couldnt even imagen.the're also far more enjoyable.

Um guys, if your curious about 'Viva La Vida', you can listen to the whole album in its entirety on last.fm.com if you didn't know that already. Thats what i did, and usually do if its available, instead of buying an album and ending up hating it.

Edited by SoundsofSeasons - June 24 2008 at 14:57

The Whistler wrote: I don't know too much The Flaming Lips or Animal Collective, but the Lips is a band that I've meant to get into for a while now. I think you've given me my next conquest.

I highly recommend the Flaming Lips' "Soft Bulletin" :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_Bulletin

You might also want to check out Sufan Stevens:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sufjan_Stevens

especially this album:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_on_Feel_the_Illinoise

Both of these albums have some very prog traits. And they're both great.

peskypesky wrote: The Whistler wrote: I don't know too much The Flaming Lips or Animal Collective, but the Lips is a band that I've meant to get into for a while now. I think you've given me my next conquest. I highly recommend the Flaming Lips' "Soft Bulletin" : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_Bulletin You might also want to check out Sufan Stevens: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sufjan_Stevens especially this album: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_on_Feel_the_Illinoise Both of these albums have some very prog traits. And they're both great.

These two albums are amazing.
For Animal Collective, you should probably start with Feels. I think it suits your tastes best.

Very good post, Mr. W ! ...though i was amazed at seeing the "big C" mentioned in PA at all, let alone an album review! i can now admit to being a long time fan of the band, backed up by what is being vaunted as the album of the year in pop land - the moody members of Coldplay certainly interest many genres of music lovers, well done guys!

Edited by mystic fred - June 25 2008 at 02:49

Very good album.. I must say... "proggiest of the year?" ...that's a bit of a stretch....

I never liked coldplay, but this disc was quite enjoyable (I heard it on lastfm except for Sleeping giant). I would give it somewhere from 2.5 - 3 star based on what I have heard and the climax of the last song is actually beautiful. The title track, the closer, and a somewhat ethnic/symphonic song I don't remember its name are my favorites (tho I didn't hear Sleeping Giant which appears to be among the more adventurous tracks).

I don't think it has much to do with prog IMO, but it has a nice airy atmosphere (the production is fabulous, thanks Eno) and is more musically interesting than their previous stuff. 

^ then go to the "prog music lounge" where we talk about PROG.

First of all, great blog..

I'm a fan of Coldplay since their first album, although the last one, X&Y, was very repetitive and boring, with the exception of songs like Fix You and The Hardest Part. So this band was dead for me, i didn't expect anything new from them...but i was wrong. It seems like they realised that too. Brian Eno made a very good work with this guys and they brought a great new album. It's not perfect, but it realy good if we listen to all the crap that is released in this days. It's only a way of talking.

For all the people that say that this isn't a band that deserve some discussion in this site, i say open your mind and get of the closet. If we stay attached to the root of prog and if we listen only prog, we will be like the people that only listen metal or techno. I try to listen some other stuff that is not prog. With this I discovered Opeth, Spitz (an alternative pop-rock japanese band that some times resemble Beatles) and other bands. If you don't  know give it a try..

From this album there are 3 or 4 main songs: 42, Yes (it's actually a two-in-one song), Violet Hill and Strawberry Swing. 42 is probably the most prog song from the album, but the end of Violet Hill is absolutely fantastic..it's 34 seconds of great musical sense. Maybe it's a return to the prog ideal..i hope so..

Sorry if i write too much and say nothing..and for my english too..

GREAT blog my friend, sorry I didn't read it thoroughly the first time.. someday you'll be the one writing the album notes we all read  (now that would be a good gig..)