The confident majesty of the music ... belies how he and his bandmates have invigorated their rock-lite reign.
The greatest thing Coldplay may have learned from Eno is his work ethic, as they demonstrate a focused concentration throughout this tight album ... that turns Viva la Vida into something quietly satisfying.
For all of Coldplay’s experimentation, though, there’s no doubting that Viva La Vida, with its sturdy melodies and universal themes — think love, war, and peace — is an album meant to connect with the masses.
Viva La Vida isn't impressive because of some detached value judgement as to how it's nice to see them be ambitious; it's impressive because their ambition manifests itself in these glorious, enormous and expansive songs of temptation, desire and fulfilment.
So some bad habits die hard, but on every other level Viva la Vida... is an emphatic sucess--radical in it's own measured way but easy to embrace.
Viva La Vida is an assured return that should go some way to restoring Coldplay's wilted critical stock.
With mainstream success guaranteed, by over-reaching themselves Coldplay are perfectly placed to decree the shape of the new rock order with album five. King Bono is dead; long live the kings.
Vida La Vida is the work of a band finding new confidence and settling into the studio.
While this doesn't quite hit the heady heights of A Rush Of Blood To The Heads, it's a huge improvement on the beiger than beige X&Y, and if their next album (apparently featuring a Kylie Minogue duet!) continues this trajectory, we could have something pretty special on our hands.
Coldplay's desire to unite fans around the world with an entertainment they can all relate to is the band's strength, and a worthy goal. But on Viva la Vida, a record that wants to make strong statements, it's also a weakness.
No, Viva la Vida is not their masterpiece, but for now, it’s as close as they’re gonna get.
Vida la Viva is good, but could have been much better.
The record's violent, revolution-themed artwork is misleading. Viva is more like a bloodless coup-- shrewd and inconspicuous in its progressive impulses.
Viva La Vida starts off with promise for fans who felt that X&Y was a far cry from A Rush Of Blood To The Head ... Unfortunately, the rest of the record fails to build on this.
While they fight shy of radical Kid A-style reinvention, hats should be doffed to Coldplay for at least having artistic cojones to mess with a winning formula.
At its best, however, Viva la Vida poses an interesting question: do you need to be cool or experimental if you can write songs that carry the listener along regardless of their reservations - indeed, almost despite them?
★★★★★
Oh lord, here comes a classic. ''Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends'' was a great album, I'd dare say a masterpiece. I can't praise enough the risky move that this whole record was, as it was a journey through the uncharted. Was it an enjoyable ride and a great piece of art? Oh yes. Under Eno's supervision, Coldplay had the playground to fulfill their highest potential, and god did they deliver.
If ''A Rush Of Blood To The Head'' is Coldplay's most ... read more
People often wonder what the best coldplay album is but they forget that only one has chris martin fucked up in the crib making shoegaze
Thank you to @LonelyHipHopFan for the recommendation! 💜
Man, this album is underrated as all hell, I’d say Coldplay’s best work in their entire career. I’ve never been a huge fan of the band, I remember I used to dislike them quite a lot because of their giant fall off after this album, basically the group selling out, the put it more bluntly.
Growing up around my mom too, she constantly listens to Coldplay (as most white moms do) and I used to hate it, thinking it was ... read more
Let me just say this in one sentence; this is a masterpiece. You will never convince me otherwise!
1 | Life In Technicolor 2:29 | 86 |
2 | Cemeteries of London 3:21 | 86 |
3 | Lost! 3:55 | 84 |
4 | 42 3:57 | 88 |
5 | Lovers In Japan / Reign of Love 6:50 | 88 |
6 | Yes 7:06 Includes hidden track "Chinese Sleep Chant" | 88 |
7 | Viva la Vida 4:01 | 96 |
8 | Violet Hill 3:42 | 93 |
9 | Strawberry Swing 4:09 | 88 |
10 | Death and All His Friends 6:18 Contains hidden track "The Escapist" | 90 |
#3 | / | Q Magazine |
#7 | / | Rolling Stone |
#9 | / | Spin |
#15 | / | Beats Per Minute |
#25 | / | The Guardian |
#31 | / | NME |
#50 | / | Consequence of Sound |
#58 | / | PopMatters |