Coldplay: Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends

Coldplay
Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
Capitol Records [2008]









Fire Note Says: Band takes fresh new approach on their own style for satisfying results!

Album Review:
I think we can easily call Coldplay’s fourth studio album Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends a calculated risk record. The band took almost everything you knew about them and tossed it out the window for this more arty approach to their music. They grabbed legendary producer Brian Eno, named the record after Mexican artist Frida Kahlo’s painting, experimented with an instrumental leadoff track “Life In Technicolor”, melded tracks together within tracks like “Lovers In Japan / Reign Of Fire”, “Yes / Chinese Sleep Chant” and the closer “Death And All His Friends / The Escapist” and replaced their staple stadium hooks and ballads with a more progressive and muscular vibe. Ultimately after several spins this new avenue works and Coldplay come out of this alive with not only their pride but songs that still have staying power like unlikely first single “Violent Hill”, a new concert must in “Lost!” (complete with handclapping) and many atmospheric stylistic tracks that will perfectly slide in and out of already hit singles live. The band should get credit for taking an Eno approach and accomplishing switching up their sound without sacrificing their core while all along being able to retain a faithful following that will live Viva La Vida up – over and over and over!

Key Tracks: "Violent Hill", "Lost!", "Viva La Vida"

Bands With Similar Fire:
David Bowie
Elbow
Peter Gabriel

Official Coldplay Website
Coldplay MySpace
Coldplay Info [Allmusic]
Capitol Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony