Coldplay, Vida la Vida, Progiest Album of the Year

Coldplay are excellent. I've been a fan since A Rush, and I have all their albums. X&Y is very uneven and inconsistent, but it's still pretty good (much better than 99% of what else is out there.)

The new album is also amazing. It's quite possibly my favorite release of the year (I'll have to wait and see what else comes out this year before I give a definite answer.)

They were on The Daily Show last night, didn't seem too bad, but that's really all I know of them.

I can't stand Coldplay. They come off as wannabes and write sh*tty repetitive songs with lyrics that could apply to friggin anything.

That being said, their new album is certainly a change of pace, however that is all due in part to MR. Eno. The man that told them their old material sucked (in more precise words), and that "prog is making a come back and they should try it out".

If you read the new interview in Rolling Stone with Chris Martin you can find out all about how Martin is kind of dumb and washed up and Eno outshines his band by 3094823049238403 light years with one production job and one line of lyric.

Apparently, Martin believes that the whole word should vote on who the next U.S. president should be too since "it effects everyone". Ugh. I can't wait until that band goes away.

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..)

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..

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

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. 

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

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

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.