Coldplay isn’t the type of band who is known for their albums, but their singles. Whether it be “Vida la Vida,” (remember three years ago how that song followed you around like that creepy kid at the prom) “The Scientist,” “Clocks” or “Yellow.” With “Mylo Xyloto”, that strong stadium anthem doesn’t exist.
The first real song on the album is “Hurts Like Heaven” which features lead singer Chris Martin pouring his emotions out to, “Because you, you use your heart as a weapon, and it hurts like heaven.”
I’m a bit ashamed of how much I like this song, but damn, it has a lot of stuff going on. It’s Coldplay at their best.
The closest we can find to a strong signature Codplay single is “Paradise.” With an introduction made up of background choirs (most likely played on synths), it gives Coldplay a more electric feel. Combined with the clapping, guitar solo and strong backing vocals, it’s obvious why this song charted the best out of all of “Mylo Xyloto”’s singles.
Then there’s “Princess of China,” possibly the strongest track on the album and what might end up being the most commercial because Rihanna brings it, and brings it hard.
Even with this in mind the other songs are easily forgettable and bring down the album as a whole. “Charlie Brown” definitely sounds like something from their last album, “Vida la Vida or Death and All His Friends” with the strong bass and the keys featured.
The heavily overproduced “Major Minus” loses its creative feel after one listen. “Us Against Them” seems like a want to be adopted son of “Yellow.” “Up In Flames,” the obvious choice for the closer, is for one reason or another placed in the middle of the album taking away the opportunity it has to be a memorable tune.
“Mylo Xyloto” finds a more aged and humble Coldplay. The larger than life anthems they’ve become famous for are abandoned for a more organic and stripped down sound. Coldplay seem to (finally) be making music more for themselves than for the money or fame, something that is sadly lost in the industry, and something I applaud Coldplay for attempting to revive.
Verdict: 7.6 out of 10.
Photo courtesy of WikiCommons
The more Coldplay, the better. There’s nothing like Chris Martin lyrics to keep you company on long nights on the rooftop of the Dow.
As a longtime Coldplay fan, I would have to agree strongly with this review. While their sound has evolved throughout the years, I think that this album shows maturity in their songwriting. What I liked best about it, however, is that they stuck with Brian Eno as one of their producers, who I believe has brought out a lot of their potential, stringing out from albums like Parachutes or X&Y. If you ever get a chance, see them live–you’ll never see them the same way.