| My new band name is Hotwork. |
[25 Jun 2008|06:40pm] |
Now that I've had a few days to let Viva la Vida sink in I can honestly still say that I love it, haha. One of the few albums that is listenable from beginning to end. As I wait for Arianna to get here so we can go for a run, I will waste time by posting a mini review now that I've heard all the tracks a few times.
1. Life in Technicolor: a completely instrumental track that sounds like it has indian influences (tabla drums, for one). I heard that this track originally had lyrics but they took 'em out. It does sound like it could have easily had singing. I really like it. It sort of establishes the sonic world of the rest of the album, because the album focuses a lot more on instrumentals than the previous albums have (where it was like CHRIS MARTIN + GUITARS/PIANO).
2. Cemeteries of London: The beginning of this track reminds me of Square One from X&Y and both of those songs are the first lyrical songs of each respective album. I really like the lyrics and the compound beat. The "lalalalas" or whatever are definitely different from previous coldplay stuff but the guitar is totally coldplay. It ends with a few creepy bars of piano. Love it.
3. Lost: This song's sound is really different. Organ + awesome drums (possibly tabla again??) + clapping in the beginning, to which the usual distorted guitar is added. I love this song too.
4. 42: One of my favorite tracks of the album. Starts out like a sad piano ballad (like Trouble, The Scientist), and it's not particularly noteworthy. But the song's really two parts (like a bunch of other songs on the CD), and the second part is fast and has lyrics I cannot get out of my head: "You thought you might be a ghost....you didn't get to heaven but you made it close...". The alteration between raised/lowered third before the lyrics even start is interesting too. I don't think I'd like it as much if it were split up into two songs. Something about the two put together is awesome.
5. Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love: Two tracks added in one track for some reason. I don't really know all the lyrics so I couldn't really tell you why. Lovers in Japan is upbeat and pretty good. Reign of Love makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside and makes me want to run through a field of flowers and gaze at cloud formations. Sounds like a folksy song.
6. Yes: Explores the loooower regions of Chris Martin's range and I keep typing Christ Martin but whatever. I think the coolest thing about this track is the weird instrumental stuff that goes on. It otherwise sounds more radio-esque than the previous songs. I used to skip this track and go straight to Viva la Vida because I couldn't wait too long to get to Viva la Vida, but this track is really growing on me. Anyway, it's another two-parter. The second track has lyrics I cannot even distinguish but I really like the sound.
7. Viva la Vida: Well, duh. It's pretty awesome. For once, I actually like a song mostly for its lyrics. Seriously, the lyrics make you want to sing this song and rock out to it. Finally, something not about looooove or christmas shoes. The strings and the drums also make this song awesome, as does the weird instruments (again) in the instrumental interlude. The relentless beat goes perfectly with the lyrics and yeah. Loves it.
8. Violet Hill: Typical depressing coldplay sounds we're used to! There's like a 40 second intro of just like synthy strings. The reason I love this song is the chromatic fall of the guitars after the stanzas. It reminds me of a video game. ANYWAY. This is typical coldplay fare.
9. Strawberry Swing: First I was like....WHAT? But now I can't get enough of this song. It's got a southern twang (as does "Yes", somewhat). It's got like typical coldplay chord progressions but sort of an interesting way to set it.
10. Death and All His Friends: This sort of also has a southern/folksy feel like a bunch of the other tracks. It begins as a slow piano diddly. The whole thing changes a little over a minute in. It picks up energy and becomes mainly instrumental for a good minute or two before the ROUSING VOCALS come in. I just wanted to say rousing vocals. It sounds like the whole band is singing, which is different/cute.
HIDDEN TRACK WITHIN DEATH AND ALL HIS FRIENDS: Is basically some lyrics set to the first track (WHADDYA KNOW!) but it's only about a minute of it and it sounds like the end of the track. So the album comes full circle.
My next anticipated release of the summer is Final Fantasy IV for the DS (ZOMG.). Unless anybody has any other suggestions of cool things (books, games, software, music, etc.)
Basically the album is a whole lot more instrumental stuffs than we've ever seen from Coldplay, which usually focuses on Chris Martin. AGAIN I TYPED CHRIST MARTIN FIRST. I definitely recommend it. It's totally worth the moolah.
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