First review of the new Coldplay album

Here is one of the first reviews of the new Coldplay album to be released June 16 in the US.

Published: 24 May 2008

An album by some band I had never heard of landed on my desk yesterday.

I nearly lobbed it in the drawer of unheard music next to SCOUTING FOR GIRLS’ last release.

But the innocuous sleeve with an obscure codename was in fact holding the biggest album of the year — possibly the decade.

I can bring you the first full review of the new COLDPLAY CD, out on June 12.

And I think epic is the word. The full title — Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends — should have been a clue.

The band have really pushed the boundaries of what we expect from an album, producing a beautiful, serious and sometimes testing 45-minute disc.

The attention to detail is incredible. You can imagine CHRIS MARTIN, GUY BERRYMAN, JONNY BUCKLAND and WILL CHAMPION obsessing over every note and word in this, their fourth album.

The boys have developed and evolved their songwriting with each of their albums — from Parachutes, released in 2000, to A Rush of Blood To The Head two years later, then X&Y and now this.

They haven’t gone off the rails with drugs and booze, churning out rubbish, like many a band before them.

This latest album — much of which was recorded in churches in Spain and and Latin America — is full of religious references. It’s as heavy-going as the Bible but as ultimately as rewarding if that’s your bag.

The CD comes to life with a brilliant, glittering instrumental opener Life In Technicolour. It’s just a shame it doesn’t burst into a full track, lyrics and all, because it could have been the best on the album.

The atmospheric, haunting Cemeteries Of London follows next and is one of the songs clearly blessed by holy water.

Lost! is layered over the sort of tribal drum beat that, with all the talk of world music influences, some were expecting to be more dominant on the record.

A track called 42 — which again is littered with references of ghosts and heaven — has been rumoured to be the album’s conquering centrepiece.

But I think there are even better songs.

And as with many on this complex CD, it’s like two or more tracks in one.

So are — as the titles suggest — Lovers In Japan/Reign Of Love, Yes/Chinese Sleep Chant and Death And All His Friends/The Escapist.

Lovers In Japan/Reign Of Love is a classic. Parts are slightly U2-esque and you could almost imagine BONO singing it.

It’s a beautiful rolling number and I can picture Chris running through a field in the video.

I reckon the album’s first single, Violet Hill — the video for which features magnifying-glass-wielding Chris, slideshow below — is its lightest and most pop-friendly offering.

Coldplay released the track free online for a week on April 29 — during which time an amazing TWO MILLION people downloaded it.

I can imagine Chris pulling at his hair as the band perfected every single second of Viva La Vida.

They set out to make a musical equivalent of a work of art — and succeeded. They’ve come a long way since singing about the colour yellow.

Ok...I'm pumped now.

UPDATE: Summer Not SO Blockbusters

SO...I am 0-2 with the new so called Summer Blockbusters.  I won't tell you why because I don't want to be a spoiler.  Let me just say this to both Prince Caspian and Indiana Jones..."REALLY?  REALLY?"

UPDATE: I forgot about Ironman.  It was excellent.  So let's say I'm 1-3.

Who you gonna call?

1) Body shop because I ran my Tahoe against a tree this week (very very frustrated)

2) My MOM!  Tell her I love her.  She found out she does NOT have Thyroid cancer.  I am so relieved.  Praise God!

3) Of course...Ghostbusters

Who you gonna call?

Homer Hiccolm & the Rocketboys

This is a great band I have been listening to lately.  They are from Abilene.  I have seen them live 2 times now.  Great melodies and driving chord progressions.  Their music stays with me.  Check them out.

My Space

iTunes

I dig the below tune, "Heartbeat."  Take a look and listen.

Grasshopper Like Reflexes

At the Staff Getaway, there were many many grasshoppers on the back porch.  I learned 2 things...1) I scream just as loud when a grasshopper jumps on me as if a spider jumped on me (or if I saw a bear) and 2) I learned that grasshoppers have cat-like reflexes.  So much so, I wonder if it is cats who have grasshopper like reflexes.  Cause when you flicked one of these little devils off of you, they always landed on their feet or they stuck to some object.  ALWAYS!

Are you grasping for joy?

So we're still on the Staff Getaway and one major part of this time is spiritual renewal.  For the past few weeks I have been reading a book by John Eldridge called, "Walking With God: Talk to Him. Hear from Him. Really."  I saw the book in BN and just because of that tag I got it and immediately started reading the book that night.  It's an interesting book...unlike anything I have ever read.  Basically, Eldridge has opened up his journal for 1 year and let's you look in on his walk with God.  It is simple...powerful...profound.  ok...that's the setup.

So yesterday I read something very interesting in the book...grasping for joy...I'll quote him because my paraphrase would never do it justice and there is beauty in his writing.

Sometime earlier this year, I noticed that I was drinking to often, or more precisely, drinking for the wrong reasons.  I'd come home exhausted and frazzled from the day, and I'd turn to a glass of wine or a beer as a sort of refuge and relief, a way to find some peace.  Some people use food.  Or television. For me it was alcohol.  And that's not good. I began to see it as a reaching for joy--joy in a bottle, joy within my grasp. Yikes. This does not have a good future written on it.

And so God gave me a kind of grace to give it up.  To make room in my life for Him. It was really that simple. I noticed that when I came home frayed and weary, what I wouldn't do was simply take a few moments to be with God and ask him to comfort me. to be my refuge and peace. I decided to try that instead.

And so something I've enjoyed over the years is gone now.  And I have no idea if or when it will return. What I notice is a kind of spaciousness now in my soul in the evening.  Room for God.

Walking with God, Eldridge, p88

So...how do you grasp for joy?  This has hit me heard.  How am I grasping for joy?

God, give us grace to be honest and make room for you.

Staff Getaway

This place is amazing! A perfect place to getaway and be creative.  

What are we doing?

Renewing our spirits, eating well, watching God work through the creative process and laughing tons. We're working on the Fall series schedule...so excited about this.  Maybe the most I've been since Keystone started.  Can't wait!

On a fun note...we took 2 paddle boats out on the lake.  Eric and I were in one.  Trey, Brandon and Rob in the other.  My paddle was basically a toothpick.  But we raced and Eric and I won.

Sent from my iPhone

Peacocks

Yeah...you read that right.  This is what I saw as I walked out of the office this afternoon...

I love where I work!

New Coldplay Song

According to Wikipedia, Coldplay is set to release their next CD in the US on June 17, 2008.

Until, Tuesday, May 6, you can go to coldplay.com and download a song called "Violent Hill" for free.  It caught me off guard the first time I heard it because it was different.  But now I love this tune.  I have listened to it 4-5 times already today.

They are also playing 2 FREE concerts in June.  One at Brighton Academy in London and the other on June 23rd at Madison Square Gardens in NYC.  YOuc an find more details about those at their website. 

Here is the rumored Track Listing of the CD.

1. "Life in Technicolor"
2. "Cemeteries of London"
3. "Lost!"
4. "42"
5. "Lovers in Japan"/"Reign of Love"
6. "Yes"/"Chinese Sleep Chant"
7. "Viva la Vida"
8. "Violent Hill" – 3:49
9. "Strawberry Swing"
10. "Death and All His Friends"/"The Escapist" 

ENJOY!