Music Review: Coldplay- Viva la Vida or Death and all His Friends

CD review- Viva La Vida or Death and all His Friends by Coldplay
2008 music release
5 out of 5 stars

Coldplay has delivered yet again! After much anticipation, Coldplay just released Viva La Vida, the follow up to Grammy award winning A Rush of Blood to the Head and 2005's chart topping X & Y. This time around, Coldplay enlisted the help of U2 producer Brian Eno to give a new sonic vibe to the already innovative sound of Coldplay.

The Cd starts off with an instrumental Life in Technicolor that segues into the melancholy Cememeteries of London. Technicolor has an electronic sound with lots of reverb, setting up the new sound of the CD. Some creative instrumentation can be heard on this one, such as dulcimer. Cemeteries of London is a hauntingly beautiful tune that sounds similar to Parachutes era Coldplay. On track 3 however, the tone and sound changes drastically.

Lost! is an addictive song that utilizes heavy percussion and world rhythm while an organ carries the chord changes. "Just because I'm losing, it doesn't mean I'm lost. Just because I'm hurting doesn't mean I'm hurt." Chris Martin sings to this orchestration. During the chorus the rhythm picks up, leading to a clever electric guitar instrumental bridge. Hands down. this is my favorite track on the CD. If you do not like the departure from the traditional Coldplay sound, check out the acoustic piano version exclusive on iTunes.

42 is a sad mourning song that features the lyrics "Those who are dead are not dead, they're just living in my head." while soft strings carry the melody subtly. About halfway through this song though, the sound completely changes, leading to a major section with lots of percussion, guitar and piano. In a way, it goes from sounding like some of Coldplay's most plaintive songs to a happy pop hit in a matter of 4 minutes. This is another example of some of the brilliant wizardry from the production team.

Lovers in Japan/ Reign of Love is a beautiful romantic suite that uses more of the percussive sounds of the piano and what sounds like hammered dulcimer (which keeps coming back) to carry one of the most heart gushing songs I have heard in a long time. Like Sara Bareilles's Love Song, Lovers in Japan is happy, bubbly and is probably some of the most positive sounding music that Coldplay has put out to date!

Yes is another one of my favorites. It combines reverb Coldplay guitars, Arabian sounding violins and Chris Martin singing uncharacteristically low to spin a song that confronts the sins of lust. At times the guitar sounds very retro with screeching riffs and strings behind. Behind Lost!, Yes is my 2nd fave on the CD. After the song, a hidden track called Chinese Sleep Song begins that is more of an extended instrumental than anything, with screaming electric guitars and reverb falsetto vocals.

Viva La Vida is the one track that has received much publicity. Most people have either loved it or hated it, and I fall in with the former. It is the most extreme departure for Coldplay with the "Eleanor Rigby" style string arrangements, hammered dulcimer, church chimes, and timpani roll at the overly positive sounding chorus. Definitely the most original track, Viva La Vida reminds us why Coldplay is at the forefront of musical innovation. This goes into the next track Violet Hill, rather seamlessly. This was the first single to be released from the Cd and is the most rockin' song on the it.

Strawberry Swing is a very interesting track. When I first heard it, I was not sure if I liked it or not, but have since decided it rocks! The opening is rather African influenced with the beats and twin electric guitar leads playing a syncopated duet. When Martin's vocals come in however, the somewhat dissonant duet gives way to what is a beautiful love anthem.

Ending out the CD is the amazing Death and all His Friends. At first the song seems like a simple soft piano and vocal piece, but it builds up gradually for one of the best CD climaxes I have heard in a long time. As the guitars and synthesizers play, Martin sings "I don't want to fight death and all of his friends"- rather interesting lyrics for the world we live in.

Overall, I have been addicted to Viva La Vida and think you will be to. Coldplay astonishes me with their absolutely beautiful music and poignant lyricism. Chris Martin stated that their first three CD's were something of a trilogy and that Viva La Vida would be the start of a new musical direction for them. If that is the case, then I am on board and cannot wait for more!

Signing out, The Buckland Fiddler