Coldplay's Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends Will Probably Put You To Sleep
Coldplay are releasing their lengthily titled fourth album Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends in June. There are ten tracks produced by Brian Eno (!) and Markus Dravs. We have the tracklist. But first, a British survey's just confirmed what we already knew: These songs will make you fall asleep. Via The Telegraph:
Music by British band Coldplay is our favourite choice for drifting off to sleep at night, a survey has found.
The clean cut rock band topped the "kip parade" in a poll undertaken by Travelodge, with James Blunt, Snow Patrol, Take That and Norah Jones completing the top five.
Jordan's autobiography was voted most soothing bedtime story, with David Beckham, Jodie Marsh and Sharon Osbourne also providing highly effective soporific reading.
Leigh McCarron of Travelodge said: "We are increasingly relying on slow, sleepy music and unchallenging books to take our minds off the pressures of modern living... Coldplay and Jordan seem to hit just the right spot among Britain's insomniacs."
So Coldplay's got ten new sheep for you to count, and they have names:
01 - "Life In Technicolor"
02 - "Cemeteries Of London"
03 - "Lost!"
04 - "42"
05 - "Lovers In Japan/Reign Of Love"
06 - "Yes"
07 - "Viva La Vida"
08 - "Violet Hill"
09 - "Strawberry Swing"
10 - "Death And All His Friends"
Not that you'll need any help getting shut-eye, but also rest assured that Chris Martin's mother-in-law told People his marriage with Gwyneth is strong. Phew!
Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends is out 6/17 on Capitol.
[Sleeping Chris Martin image via Celebitchy]
Posted at 12:34 PM
Tags: Chris Martin | Coldplay
I'm actually looking forward to this. Having said that, let the Coldplay hate begin...
Posted by: Andrew at April 11, 2008 1:44 PM | ReplyScore = 4
Do you know how I know you're gay?
Posted by: Larry Dickman in reply to Andrew's comment at April 11, 2008 2:07 PM | ReplyScore = 1
Um... yeah, I know. Sigh...
Posted by: Andrew in reply to Larry Dickman's comment at April 11, 2008 2:10 PM | ReplyScore = 3
Do you know how I know that you're deeply closeted?
Posted by: Dickman's Inner Psyche in reply to Larry Dickman's comment at April 11, 2008 2:13 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Because I have a rainbow bumpersticker on my car that says "I love it when balls are in my face"?
Posted by: Larry Dickman in reply to Dickman's Inner Psyche's comment at April 11, 2008 2:23 PM | ReplyScore = -1
It's from 40 Year-Old Virgin
Posted by: Relax, PC Police in reply to Dickman's Inner Psyche's comment at April 11, 2008 2:23 PM | ReplyScore = -1
Yawn to this story...
Posted by: Kyle at April 11, 2008 2:22 PM | ReplyScore = 1
i like coldplay
Posted by: bleep at April 11, 2008 2:36 PM | ReplyScore = 3
Say what you will about Coldplay, but anything involving Brian Eno is very intriguing!
Plus, even though X&Y was pretty awful, A Rush of Blood to the Head was, in my opinion, a really good album!
Posted by: tylenolmonkey at April 11, 2008 2:37 PM | ReplyScore = -1
I personally thought Coldplay's Rush of Blood to the Head was pretty and near illuminating, too. I, too, wasn't feeling X&Y. There were probably a few songs to stick with there.
But I'll be happy to see what's up their sleeve this time around. Especially, too see what Brian Eno added to the album. Wiith all he did with Ambient music, this album might do what X&Y simply couldn't.
Posted by: Black Sunshine in reply to tylenolmonkey's comment at April 11, 2008 4:53 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I totally agree. Rush Of Blood was an amazing album. X&Y sucked. I'll give them one more chance though.
Posted by: Music Critic in reply to tylenolmonkey's comment at April 11, 2008 5:41 PM | ReplyScore = -1
I'll be the fifth person on this thread to say it:
Rush of Blood was / is an excellent album. There was something raw, angry, seething underneath the surface. And it was very listenable.
Posted by: Chris in reply to tylenolmonkey's comment at April 11, 2008 5:59 PM | ReplyScore = 3
Its interesting to see how everyone can predict when hate is coming on this site. Its even more interesting to see how everyone goes along with it.
Posted by: Barty at April 11, 2008 2:54 PM | ReplyScore = 1
Rush of Blood to the Head was outstanding. Again, everyone with the hating on music because high school girls like it.
Posted by: Charlie at April 11, 2008 2:57 PM | ReplyScore = 3
The first one was a really good album. The others solved my insomnia problems
Posted by: Fruskio at April 11, 2008 3:04 PM | ReplyScore = -1
Why do you cover bands if you hate them?
Posted by: Iskra at April 11, 2008 3:10 PM | ReplyYour cyncicsm will be your demise.
I like reading about music and getting excited, not deflated.
Do we really need yet another snarky music site that claims to be "indie" that takes shots at the cynical hardened industry folk.
To be honest, I can't tell the difference.
Jeez, as I type this, there is an "Old Stand" logo on the page.
Let's make fun of Rolling STone by actually printing content from Rolling Stone.
What will the next generation do? Print Stereogum printing Rolling Stone?
Grow some balls, a spine and your own voice.
Score = -1
the douchebaggery (it's gone way beyond cynicism) is born out of personal insecurity. pissing all over others' enthusiasm, attacking anything remotely "mainstream"...it's the same old immature shit from high school except the anonymity makes it even worse. it used to anger me but now it rather amuses me...
Posted by: C. Science at April 11, 2008 3:41 PM | ReplyScore = 2
Wow, Coldplay really loves their Douglas Adams. The first track on "Parachutes" was named "Don't Panic," and now a track on this album is called "42".
And let me go ahead and say that "Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love" is just about the worst track title I have ever heard.
Posted by: Devin at April 11, 2008 4:03 PM | ReplyScore = -2
Two title tracks?
Coldplay is so damn innovative.
Posted by: Yoni at April 11, 2008 6:17 PM | ReplyScore = -2
They're not so great at naming things, but Coldplay are a great band. Selling a lot of albums just makes most people say you suck.
Posted by: Liz at April 11, 2008 7:01 PM | ReplyScore = 3
I just have to say that I think that Parachutes is awesome and I love Brian Eno's "pop" music. I couldn't really take X & Y or Rush of Blood to the Head; so I'll give Coldplay one more chance, but if this one sucks I'm just straight up done.
Posted by: The Spilken8r at April 11, 2008 7:13 PM | ReplyScore = -2
Ok, I know Coldplay takes a lot of hits for their naming skills (and I'm not denying that sometimes I am really puzzled by them), but honestly I religiously listened to both Parachutes and A Rush of Blood to the Head when they first came out (and I still come back to them really often, which I can't say for a lot of stuff). X & Y wasn't pretty, but it was all because the band felt so much pressure to be liked by everyone that they just lost sight of making music for themselves. And who, if you are actually human, doesn't understand how hard it can be to put yourself and your art out there for the world to see/hear without fearing criticism? What I don't understand about the indie world is why, if this is supposed to be the world where artists can truly create their own music, is everyone suddenly allowed to give their two cents over something that is none of their business? Please stop trying to dictate what something should be. You could end up working at a major label trying to force someone to write a song that will a "hit."
Posted by: Mary at April 11, 2008 9:07 PM | ReplyScore = 2
I always love how Coldplay is just about the same style, sound, and quality of radiohead, but because Coldplay is slightly lighter and much more mainstream, indie hipsters will take any chance they can to crap all over this band. I look forward to the new album, but am a bit curious what the exactly are going for with their new self described "new sound". Brian Eno clearly has proven he knows what he is doing so it will be interesting to see.
Posted by: Brian at April 12, 2008 3:09 AM | ReplyScore = -4
Album of the Year!
Posted by: Todd at April 12, 2008 4:05 AM | ReplyScore = -1
The comments on this post are encouraging. I am glad to see that people are noticing the "indie world's" ridiculous cynicism towards popular music. Not that its anything new.
Posted by: Charlie at April 12, 2008 5:31 PM | ReplyScore = 2
As you can see by the whopping 20 or so comments on here, it doesn't matter what Stereogum thinks about most albums.
Posted by: Iskra at April 12, 2008 10:33 PM | ReplyMusic journalism is dead. It's all underpaid kids vying for adspace.
Most people come to these sites for the "news nugget" not the slant or wiseass remark.
I read this article to read the tracklisting, nothing more and nothing less.
It's the same with most sites.
I get the news and leave.
Score = 1
guess what happens when you run a search for god on this site?
Posted by: polyworm at April 13, 2008 12:09 AM | ReplyScore = 0
First 2 Albums Were Good Solid "Mainstream" Albums.. They are so in love with Radiohead that they tried to make their 3rd album like OK CPU was & it was a miserable failure. I truly believe that this album will be pretty damn good & I'm not even a huge fan.. Eno IS THE MAN Tho & There are only a few artists that have created a small glimpse of the genre that Eno basically created. The 2 That Come To Mind Are He Dreams Awake & Explosions In The Sky & They Are Amazing, But All I Ever See Covered By These "Indie/Underground" Sites Are Bullshit Bands. That OLDSTAND Post Was Really Clever.
Posted by: KEEF at April 13, 2008 1:51 AM | ReplyScore = -2
First 2 Albums Were Good Solid "Mainstream" Albums.. They are so in love with Radiohead that they tried to make their 3rd album like OK CPU was & it was a miserable failure. I truly believe that this album will be pretty damn good & I'm not even a huge fan.. Eno IS THE MAN Tho & There are only a few artists that have created a small glimpse of the genre that Eno basically created. The 2 That Come To Mind Are He Dreams Awake & Explosions In The Sky & They Are Amazing, But All I Ever See Covered By These "Indie/Underground" Sites Are Bullshit Bands. That OLDSTAND Post Was Really Clever.
Posted by: DAVEYJONES at April 13, 2008 1:53 AM | ReplyScore = -1
I consider myself a discerning listener of music... and it saddens me to see so many people hating on X&Y. X&Y was a perfect album, much like parachutes. I honestly think X&Y is the best album Coldplay has created. If they stayed in the same place lyrically on this new album, then I would be frustrated with Coldplay, but X&Y stands on it's own as a beautiful piece of art.
Posted by: David at April 13, 2008 2:11 PM | ReplyScore = 0
i agree, david. x & y had some gorgeous moments despite chris martin's (admittedly) terrible lyrics. unfortunately for coldplay, the "cool kids" decided that it was no longer acceptable to like the band after a rush of blood...dooming them to their current status as a favorite hipster target alongside bono's charitable work, vampire weekend and the all points west festival.
Posted by: C. Science in reply to David's comment at April 13, 2008 6:03 PM | ReplyScore = 2
i wasnt too thrilled with X&Y but i think it does have some decent tracks on it. so it wasnt completely awful.
i admit i'm a little late to the stereogum site. i got into it a little bit before the ok computer tribute that they did. i was really relieved when i first stumbled upon the site because i felt like i found pitchfork without the "asshole snooty indie remarks". but after reading a couple more articles i've realized i was wrong and these people are sucking the pitchfork teet a little too much.
it kinda reminds me of why i hate the "indie" genre. love (most of) the bands, cant stand their stupid fucking fans.
sorry if i've offended anyone.
Posted by: deadeye at April 15, 2008 2:50 AM | ReplyScore = 3
The only comments more prevalent on this site than the cynical ones are the ones criticizing the "indie" attitude brought forth by so-called "cynics". It's pretty funny that you people complain about the site's editorializing, but then keep visiting and keeping the site afloat.
Posted by: Sam at April 15, 2008 11:22 PM | ReplyScore = -2
I think what bothers "indie snobs" is that Coldplay has the pretensions of a great band but not the chops. So these goddamn hipsters you all rail against (I've yet to actually see one) just can't get past Chris Martin's posturing, which would be stupid, because, you know, it's about the music, man, dude. But Chris Martin can't really get past his rock-god posing either.
As for me, I think Coldplay's ok. All of their songs sound the same to me, and I've never been able to sit through an entire Coldplay album (awful lyricist!). But I do enjoy hearing their singles on the radio or seeing their music videos on television.
And for those of you creaming yourselves over Brian Eno, I remind you that the last album he produced was for a songwriter of far higher caliber than these dopes, and it was lame as hell, dog.
Posted by: studly roberts at April 16, 2008 11:31 AM | ReplyScore = -2
Funny you mention Martin's supposed rock-god posturing because it highlights the unfortunate damned-if-you-do predicament that he finds himself in. Many complain about how he tries to come across as overly humble and everyman while others bitch about how he is a pretentious rock poseur.
Posted by: C. Science in reply to studly roberts's comment at April 16, 2008 2:50 PM | ReplyScore = 1
coldplay is the best.. and this blog rules, i put a link to my homepage where u can find a lot of music news, check it out! www.mohamusic.com
Cheers lads!
Posted by: Alex moreno at April 18, 2008 5:54 PM | ReplyScore = 0
If this album isn't better than rush of blood to the head then I give up on coldplay.
Posted by: Kid A at April 29, 2008 10:31 PM | ReplyI really like the first half of X&Y, but the last half lost me.
There's no way this album will be as good as In Rainbows, though
Score = 0
It's going to be an interesting grammies- Radiohead vs. Coldplay.
Posted by: Jacob at April 29, 2008 10:34 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I like all their albums and don't think any of them suck, not even X&Y. That's my personal opinion, I don't care what the rest of you think about that. I just wanted to add on here that I liked it, thought it was good, since there's so much dissing going on.
Posted by: Billie at April 30, 2008 6:42 PM | ReplyScore = 1
I don't think it will be THAT put you to sleep-ish as mentioned in the article announcing the FREE release of the Violet Hill single. Download it on Coldplay's site, you'll see what I mean.
Posted by: I'ma Watching You at April 30, 2008 7:27 PM | ReplyScore = 0
well since we're all sayin what we think of coldplay.. let me just say this. for all of you bashing x&y and a rush of blood to the head. x&y was a pretty good album... "swallowed in the sea" is incredible, as well as fix you, and talk is pretty good too....and as for a rush of blood to the head, in my place, green eyes, the scientist, a rush of blood to the head, and warning sign are all incredible... so i think that viva la vida is going to be phenominal.
Posted by: SP at May 4, 2008 2:41 PM | ReplyScore = 0
christ martin is my favourite singer i followed all his albums n were awesome n loking forward for his next album...........
Posted by: ankit suri at May 6, 2008 8:57 AM | ReplyScore = 0
his name isnt christ...thats jesus's last name...Chris is his name
Posted by: Kevin in reply to ankit suri's comment at May 10, 2008 12:51 AM | ReplyScore = 0
im looking forward to hear the new album.Every album is a story for it self you can not compare them.
Posted by: biohazard at May 6, 2008 5:37 PM | ReplyScore = 1
Of course if you don't get what they're trying to say you'll never like it. Listening to Coldplay is more than just turning on the radio to listen to some song, it requires understanding and sensibility not just because of the lyrics but also because of the harmony of the instruments they use. Anyway, it's a shame but for some people, it's easier being mediocre and accepting that rubbish played by certain pop singers and hip-hop singers. Some people just confuse or have forgotten what music really is.
Posted by: Lilly at May 9, 2008 11:15 PM | ReplyScore = 1
i, too am looking forward to this...i've been a coldplay fan since they emerged and trust me...im way far from gay
Posted by: Kevin at May 10, 2008 12:49 AM | ReplyScore = 0