Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends - Coldplay

Who wants another Coldplay review? What do you mean nobody cares?! Ah well, here goes. Coldplay's fourth album, the needlessly long titled 'Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends' drafts in legendary producer Brian Eno (Bowie, Talking Heads, U2) to produce and this is undoubtedly the key in creating the new sound on this album. This is no more evident than in the opener 'Life In Technicolour' which has now been improved (vocals added) and released as a single from the EP 'Prospekt's March' (check out the video for this, which is also pretty good), it's 'jingly-jangly' guitars very similar to U2's Where The Streets Have No Name' or Bowie's 'Heroes' The album introduces fans to what we can expect to be 'Coldplay: Part 2', ie a far more varied use of instruments leading to a much deeper, richer sound, creating a much more interesting sound and varied album. 42 is the first track to really stand out on the album, mainly due to its changing pace and the usually catchy lyrics. The majority of the album diverges away from Martin's usual lyrical formula of rhyming couplets save for the albums far and away best track - Viva La Vida. Strings in abundance, it would seem that in a live show the rest of the band would be a little lost, unless they decided to turn their hand to xylophones or synths. However this song is still great and is up there with The Scientist, Clocks and Yellow as one of their best songs, as is the next track and second single from the album, Violet Hill, following the anthemic, stadium orientated feel of most of the album. Featuring few low points, even during the three 6-minute-plus songs, the albums strength is its diversity. Shorter than the 2 previous albums, Viva La Vida still manages to pack in far more than any of its predecessors and is just as listenable. Hopefully in the next few albums we'll see Coldplay continue their new-found experimentation with new sounds, whilst sticking to their strengths of massive songs to match their massive fan base.



Overall Rating: 8/10



Top Tracks:



42

Lovers In Japan

Viva La Vida [5 Star Track]

Violet Hill

Strawberry Swing

Pendulum - In Silico

PENDULUM!!! I love this band when I heard their first LP 'Hold you colour'. Drum n bass (DnB) combined with some rock riffs, amazing!!! That was 4 years ago, now with a major label signing and more money to improve their music, you could only imagine the creativety that these guys are gonna come up with.

And so they release 'In Silico'. And when I heard the first track 'Showdown', I was mildy confused. Lyrics? Ok, fine why not. And then I was dissappointed. No DnB at all. That's what made them seperate from the rest.

Unfortunately, its like this for the rest of the album, they seem to leave their DnB roots and have gone for a rock electronica sound. Yep, I'd say its fair to call them a sell-out, its obvious they made this album to be 'radio friendly'. It's quite cheesy album, with tracks like 'Propane nightmare' using, I think trumpets, makes it quite cringey to listen to. However when it gets into the rock and amazingly fast drumming sound, it actually sounds pretty good. Although its cheesy, its some good cheese that you'd be happy to put on your pizza (I'm sorry). If you were to take this album as a rock electro album and forget their previous efforts using the DnB sounds. it's a pretty good listen (even if they have sold out). Tracks like 'visions' is really interesting using a electronic voice, although it sounds like its from a computer game, but its a tune that can be listen to anytime, whether you're relaxing or writing a review on the laptop :). 'Midnight Runner' is also a stand out tune, really cool and has quite a spaceshipy soundtrack, something not heard much on the mainstream scene. '9,000 miles' has a great sound to it, although the vocals are a bit weak and makes you just wanna say 'Dude allow singing please :) '. Great song though and does grow on you. 'Tempest' is a weird track in a way that all the other tracks were very electronica, but this sounds like it was done by the a punk rock band on acid. Still, a pretty decent track but not the best choice to be their last track in my opinion.

One word advice, stay away from 'Mutiny', sounds like something out of Power rangers, really weird and so random, its not cool at all. And 'granite' is just a crap song. What the hell is that mysterious whistle in the beginning all about, and the riff is so annoying but I guess it be good at a rave for some people. These tracks really let the album down, and if probably why some old DnB pendulum fans have criticised this album.

Overall, the album is a great rock electronic album, but if like me your a fan of their previous stuff with the amazing DnB sound, you'd think they took a step backwards. The sound has probably been done before by other rock electro groups out their, but the previous album 'Hold your Colour' was unheard of and that's what made pendulum one of the most epic bands at that time. I gave 'In silico' a high score, but imagine what I'd give 'Hold your colour'. Pendulum have obviously try to become more radio friendly to sell more record (this album did go gold and went to number one, unlike 'Hold your colour'). But hopefully in the future they will return to the DnB roots and creat some mental tracks. Get 'In silico' if you wanna listen to a good rave, get 'Hold your colour' if you wanna hear one of the greatest albums ever!

Overall rating: 8/10

Top tracks:

Propane nightmare (apart from the trumpets)

Visions

Midnight runner

9,000 miles

X&Y - Coldplay

X&Y is Coldplay's 3rd album, released in 2005. Following a similar formula to the first 2 albums, the multi-award winning 'Parachutes' and 'A Rush Of Blood To The Head', the band stick to what they do best: mellow, yet at the same time ever catchy pop. Coldplay are at their best when playing it simple. 'What If'' builds from an average verse into an instantly rememberable chorus, keeping its main hook of 'Ooh, that's right' playing over again and again in the listeners head for hours after listening. The next track 'White Shadows' takes an opposite stance in that its far more upbeat than the first few songs on the album, yet in this case a catchy verse leads to a far less exciting chorus. 'Fix You' sees the band dip into their cliché of 'sleep music' and the song itself is rather dull until the last minute and a half ('tears stream down your face' again sticking to the simple lyrics hook idea). 'Talk' is the highlight of the album, again sticking in the listeners mind with its catchy guitar riff, supplemented by Martin's ever thought-provoking lyrics. 'Speed Of Sound' is another highlight as Martin provides us with yet another pop classic. Longer than it's predecessors, at 13 tracks the album begins to wear thin towards the end as the band pull out more repetetive and uninspired songs on the album, 'A Message', 'Low' and 'The Hardest Part'. However, in 'Swallowed By The Sea' the simplicity again shines through to bring one of the better songs from the second half of the album, whilst 'Til Kingdom Comes' brings in a stripped-down U2 sound that hints at the bands future direction. 'Sleep music' they may continue to be, but with the wit and likeability in Martin's lyrics continuing to improve, Coldplay will continue to be one of the nationss most popular bands for a while to come.



Overall Rating: 7.5/10



Top Tracks:

What If
White Shadows
Talk
Speed Of Sound
Swallowed By The Sea

The Fame - Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga has been causing a major buzz on the music scene. 'Just Dance' has been number one in 6 countries and has received platinum status in 5. Now releasing her album 'The Fame' is she ready to take over the pop scene that seems to be full of reality TV contestants?


Its safe to say the album is definelty for the clubs. Pratically every track is about being rich and getting 'crunk' in clubs. So I guess we know what direction she's going for hear. It's the kind of music that Paris Hilton will love and shout 'that's hot' at every track, maybe it has to do with their high school since they went to the same one, but who knows. Nevertheless, this isn't an 'amazing album', lyrically she gets boring and just random. What kind of lyrics has 'No he can't read my poker face(She's got to love nobody)', it makes no sense! She seems to be talking about rich girl's lifestyle and how it rocks because all they do is go clubbing and chace after boys. Hmm, so I guess universal appeal for this album is crossed out.

One positive about this album is the background tracks, which what got me interested into listening to this album since I heard 'Just Dance'. She does mix a lot of genres together with electro being the primary one. And in most occasions, it works, Gaga really knows how to get an addictive beat from the keyboards and it makes the songs more tolerable to listen to. 'Paper Gangsta' has a really cool beat to with a very futuristic sound to it, 'Summerboy' has cool guitar riff to it which gives a nice rock edge to the album, whilst still making it an interesting dance tune. 'Boys Boys Boys' is a very sexy song, her vocals really much the sound, but the words doesn't sound as fresh as her tunes does.

In conclusion, well, the tracks music are great, but her lyrics really affects the album in a negative way. Only girls who are rich and wishing to be rich at all costs would like this albums in it entirety, for the rest, you kinda wish Gaga just made a dance instrumental album without the lyrics. She needs a lot of work, which can be done if she focuses on her improving her lyrics, maintaining her fresh dance sound and doesn't get stigmatised as a party girl (which she has already shown signs of just by hanging out with Paris Hilton earlier this week). In all honesty I think Gaga can become a well acomplished dance act and here's hoping she does :)
Overall Rating: 6/10

Top Tracks:

Just dance
Summerboy
Paper gangsta
Money honey

Pretty. Odd. - Panic At The Disco

Pretty. Odd. - Panic At The Disco

After nearly 2 years of post-album touring, Panic At The Disco were due a follow up to their 2005 debut 'A Fever You Can't Sweat Out' and for long-term fans of the emo pioneers, the result is quite surreal. The Las Vegas quartet have near ditched the eyeliner and have begun a distinctive second phase of their career, in which they live out their fantasy of producing a psychedelic stroll into a world where the music may be more suited to their parents generation than that of their mostly teen fans. Opener 'We're So Starving' sets the scene for the rest of the album, with an extremely catchy guitar riff and repeatable lyrics as the band simply appear to be enjoying themselves and their music. Nine In The Afternoon is the clear first single on the album and brings in the main idea of basically being happy with the world you live in and enjoying it whilst in the prime of life. Urie and Ross move the album along with their idyllic lyricsm, in the process creating an endlessly listenable album, open to a much wider market perhaps than their previous efforts. However, the album is not without fault. I Have Friends In Holy Spaces is a let down after the exquisite first 5 tracks, although the next track more than makes up for it. Northern Downpour, probably the most likeable song on the album is the first to bring in a more melancholy sound on the album, although the melodic, sing along factor is not lost. As the song builds into it's multi-layered crescendo the listener is left wanting more and more. Eastern strings influenced When The Day Met The Night is bound to draw the most Beatles comparisons (particularly with the Sgt. Peppers album) and again hints at a poppier direction for the band. The album doesn't quite manage to scale the same heights again, save Behind The Sea which culminates in a seaside baroque singalong, much in the style of 'Night At The Opera' era Queen, only with less noise. The only real lesser track on the album is Folkin' Around, but this is not at all disastrous. It awaits to be seen if the band will decide to change style once again in the future, or stick to this winning formula created by Brendon Urie and co. Whatever happens, if they continue to produce albums with the quality shown in Pretty. Odd., Panic At The Disco have the potential to compete with American-rock giants such as Kings Of Leon and Foo Fighters and really create an impact on the modern pop rock scene.

Overall Rating: 8/10

Top Tracks:

She's A Handsome Woman
Do You Know What I'm Seeing?
That Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed)
Northern Downpour [5* Track]
When The Day Met The Night [5* Track]
Behind The Sea