Ah yes, here's the inevitable review of Coldplay's newest album, Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends. So what's the verdict? What's Airbag Radio's take on this highly anticipated release? Five Stars? One Star? No Stars?
Well, to be honest, the album really isn't worthy of much of a review. The best we could come up with is an "Ehh..." "Why?," you ask. Well, it's not that it's really that bad, but it also isn't really that good. It just comes in at so-so. "Why?," you ask. Well, it's not that the band's not putting forth the effort, it just seems that they are putting in too much effort.
Becoming the world's biggest band that isn't U2 has, in a way, forced Coldplay to try to sound like the world's biggest band that isn't U2. Over the past few year's the expectations surrounding Coldplay's music have become bigger and bigger. This has caused the band's expectations of themselves to become bigger and bigger. As much as they may try to break free of these expectations, they are still, in trying to break free, responding to and being affected by these large expectations.
Now, take note of the liberal usage of the words large, bigger and biggest in the previous paragraph. Then think back to the first time you heard Coldplay and think about why you liked them at the time (if in fact you did), or (as in our case) why you grew to like them. For us a large part of our gradual attraction to Coldplay's music had to with the intimate, personal experience it created. From the first chords of 'Don't Panic' on Parachutes, you are brought into the music that is both beautiful and small. Sure there are some big moments on Parachutes and Rush Of Blood To The Head (e.g. 'Yellow' and 'Politik') but those moments are delicately balanced out with moments of subtlety.
Fast forward to Viva La Vida, and we find that the big moments are no longer just big but oversized. Simultaneously, the moments of intimate subtlety are small oasis' scattered at random throughout the landscape. Yes, there are moments of genius, but the overall feeling is larger-than-life and impersonal.
But don't let us decide for you. You be the judge check it out and let us know what you think. We suggest snooping around on the internet and downloading the acoustic version of 'Lovers In Japan.' This track really brings out the personal touch we feel Coldplay has lost and is a stark contrast to the cut that made the album.
