Coldplay's 'Mylo Xyloto' album review (The Celebrity Cafe)
From WikiColdplay
Coldplay’s Chris Martin exhibited a whole lot of hubris when he made the statement that he does not believe “bands should keep going past the age of 33.” Now past that milestone, Chris Martin managed to retract just in time for Coldplay’s fifth studio album, Mylo Xyloto, pronounced "my-low zy-le-toe.” But those who actually listened to the album in full may come away from the project wishing that the lead singer to “one of the biggest bands in the world” would reconsider what he said.
The majority of the album sounds a lot like an over-hyped band trying to be original. When The New York Times came out with their interview with Martin, revealing the inspiration behind the title, Martin told NYT that he believed music comes from an unknown place…hence the musical digits, xylo toes.
But what was supposed to be a concept album, failed to deliver in so many ways. Mylo Xyloto, like its random title, is an overall messy compilation. Listeners won’t know from gauging the previous tracks what to expect in the next. But instead of aiding this purported conceptual project, the spontaneous factor actually detracts from the cohesiveness that is expected in an album that is supposed to be following a story line.
What makes Mylo Xyloto a bigger disappointment is that most of the noteworthy tracks have already received wide air play on radio stations throughout the country, so that when you listen to the album, there’s actually nothing substantial to hash over – rather it’s just rehashings of overplayed radio top 20 hits. But even their singles that have invariably become hits are insubstantial. Even Rihanna couldn’t make them relevant again in the track on which she collaborated with them, “Princess of China.”
When a band seems tired even to their fans, then the band should consider hitting the "refresh" button on their sound, or else cease to be a band.
Yet not all is bad on Mylo Xyloto. Their only redeemable track happens to be towards the middle of the album. “Major Minus” is grittier, and with some valid emotions that can be detected instead of excessive glossing over to mask what obviously isn’t there, the track resembles Oasis’s “Wonder Wall.” And you might be wondering if Coldplay could pick up where Noel Gallagher left off at Oasis, especially since the latter has just released his solo project the same year – “Minus Major” seems like a good place for Coldplay to pivot off of.
But overall, the album seems too safe, too accessible and mainstream. What was valid though was the inter-meshing of electronic and acoustic instrumentals. Though the compilation comes off as a little too polished, in retrospect, Mylo Xyloto, overall, is highly melodious and harmonious.
Honestly, the “biggest band in the world” just needs to become inspired again. What can be detected as lackluster in this album goes to show that Coldplay needs to be ignited by something. Being called the biggest band in the world might not be that catalyst anymore.
http://thecelebritycafe.com/reviews/coldplays-mylo-xyloto-album-review-01-06-2012
