Album Review: Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto (Clean Slate Music)
From WikiColdplay
Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto (Parlophone)
Where to start with a band like Coldplay? Undoubtedly one of the biggest bands in the world, loved and hated in equal measures a bit like Marmite. I for one love them. I bought Parachutes on the day it was released and have been with the band ever since. However I am of the opinion that they haven’t made a truly great album that’s stood the test of time since ‘A Rush Of Blood To The Head’. I can’t remember the last time I listened to X&Y, and ‘Viva La Vida’ had some great songs on it but didn’t totally work as a whole album for me. The band of late seem to be more concerned with their costumes and celebrity hangers-on that it somewhat diluted the music. They still continue to dazzle on the live stage though and their appearance at Glastonbury this year was a triumph.
So I wasn’t exactly surprised when Coldplay recently announced that this latest offering ‘Mylo Xyloto’ might be the last album they do, but they said this after ‘Viva La Vida’ as well so this comment should be taken with a rather large pinch of salt. Anyway on to the album, which is described as a concept album about two characters Mylo and Xyloto and the struggles they endure with love ultimately conquering all. The concept however isn’t totally obvious without pouring through they lyrics. What is instantly apparent is that Coldplay have seriously stepped up their game for this album.
The opening track ‘Mylo Xyloto’ is an atmospheric instrumental prelude that will doubtlessly herald the bands arrival on stage when they set out on tour of this album. ‘Hurts Like Heaven’ seamlessly kicks in and will be a familiar track to anyone who caught many of the bands live outings over the festival period. The track has a real energy and urgency about it and a trademark guitar hook from Jonny Buckland. The lyric ‘You used your heart as a weapon, And it hurts like Heaven’ is fantastic. Recent single ‘Paradise’ follows and continues in the euphoric sound that has crept in to Coldplays sound, predominantly driven by Chris Martin’s work on the keys.
The beautiful guitar intro to ‘Charlie Brown’ is reminiscent of Coldplay of old. A simple acoustic guitar in-verse and Buckland laying down the electric groove in-between sets the foundation for an incredibly catchy uplifting song. It’s another back to basics approach to ‘Us Against The Wall’ in the way the song builds from a simple acoustic guitar and Chris singing, rather surprisingly for Coldplay however is that this track doesn’t kick on from the crescendo it all fades back to the simplistic style at the start. ‘M.M.I.X.’ is another atmospheric interlude which leads into the opening single off the album ‘Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall’ (via Mistic – Ritmo De La Noche, via Peter Allen – I Go To Rio).
Another song that was aired live in the summer ‘Major Minus’ has a great groove to it, again building up from just Chris and his Acoustic Guitar which kick is with Buckland’s great riff after the first verse. ‘U.F.O.’ is a beautiful, short acoustic number. The track which will probably raise most eyebrows with Coldplay purists follows ‘Princess Of China’ see’s pop Queen Rihanna guest on the track. It actually works quite well and Chris and Rihanna’s voices compliment each other well, but I’m not sure it was altogether a necessary endeavour. It’s almost a dance track with their trademark instruments barely noticeable. The simple drumbeat intro to ‘Up In Flames’ echoes a bit of Massive Attack but once Martin’s vocals begin it’s clear this is vintage Coldplay. ‘A Hopeful Transmission’ is another interlude prefacing ‘Don’t Let It Break Your Heart’ which explodes with the same force songs like Politik did, with a great twiddly hook by Buckland. It carries on with the euphoric dance inspired keys which really inject the life and soul into the track. Ending on ‘Up With The Birds’ which takes a while to get going and for me is an odd choice to finish on, it tails off with a simple piano only melody.
Mylo Xyloto is a mixed bag once agin, but it feels once again like a complete work. The album tracks have obviously been written to be played live with lots of oh-oh-oh’s going on that will be sung back to the band by huge crowds this winter and next year. They have also dug out some of their strongest songs ever, which is no mean feat when looking at their back catalogue. Only time will tell if it keeps Parachutes and A Rush Of Blood To The Head on the shelf longer than X&Y and Viva La Vida did but the signs are good so far…
Rating: 4/5
Best Tracks: Hurts Like Heaven, Charlie Brown, Major Minus
For Fans Of: Come on, if you don’t have an opinion of Coldplay by now, this album isn’t going to change anything.
