New Coldplay - "Viva La Vida"
Hate 'em or hate 'em, you guys love talking about Coldplay. EMI's bragging that 2 mililion people downloaded the first free single "Violet Hill," so feel good, you're not the only ones hate-listening. And Chris Martin knows this: On the new cut "Viva La Vida," he croons "revolutionaries wait for my head on a silver plate." So, one point for self-awareness, and another for turning out a fresh sounding (if U2-y in spirit) track. A Coldplay song with a string section and church bells that manages not to sound pretentious? No small feat, you guys. We credit fatherhood. Or Eno. Either way, the half-the-title track to the forthcoming Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends will probably inspire fewer bilious comments than last time -- and definitely fewer comparisons to Radiohead.
(Thanks for the tip, Yiyo)
Coming soon to an arena near you. It's nice. And It's yours for a dollar at iTunes. Viva La Vida Or Death Ad All His Friends is out 6/12 via Capitol/Parlophone.
Posted at 12:09 PM
Tags: Coldplay
Promising track, something definitely different. I like that it doesn't try to be so epic like a lot of X &Y. And dude, seriously, get off them already.
Posted by: HoopaJoop at May 7, 2008 12:25 PM | ReplyScore = 4
Into it....Eno is definitely the captain of this ship.
Posted by: Platyhelmenthes at May 7, 2008 12:33 PM | ReplyScore = 1
Great song. In all seriousness, I guess I like Coldplay a lot but I hate Coldplay fans. I will usually say things that I don't really believe about them if people try to praise them for more than they are. Usually it's girls that try to talk about how "Fix You" makes them cry everytime they hear it. And their live show was seriously just packed with those people. I'll never pay to see them live again but I bet this album will be great all the way through.
Posted by: Vince at May 7, 2008 12:34 PM | ReplyScore = 8
SO RIGHT
Posted by: HoopaJoop in reply to Vince's comment at May 7, 2008 12:39 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I don't think that could have been put more eloquently. It's like the whole reason we all hate coldplay is because :
a) we like them
b) we like them and
c) their fans make me want to kick old people in the shins
the new stuff is good, just cave everyone. and honestly, it's just the fact that delta gamma and pike buy out most of the arena shows now that pisses me off really
Posted by: drewhooler in reply to Vince's comment at May 14, 2008 11:34 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I really was not that excited for this cd, but after hearing this and the first single, I can't deny the growing excitement that is building. I can't wait to hear the entire final album now, and am hoping the rest of it can match what they have released so far.
Posted by: SuperTrooper at May 7, 2008 1:29 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Another heaping bowl of vanilla ice cream. Just in time for summer. I can't wait to blast this disc with the rag top down on my Jeep.
Posted by: IceCreamMan at May 7, 2008 1:35 PM | ReplyScore = 2
I don't know where along the line I started to hate Chris Martin's voice, but there's something about this that makes my skin crawl. I won't hate (I liked the first two albums) and I wish these guys all the best, but I won't be lining up for this one. Some bands you just outgrow.
Posted by: MacScore = 1
I have to give them their proppers for not lying when they say they're trying something new. That's normally a bullshit line from most bands, but these first two songs make some bold choices...true, it's mostly in the production, but for me, that matters a lot. I think this album has already surpassed X&Y...
Posted by: christian at May 7, 2008 1:50 PM | ReplyScore = -2
This song is the best thing they've done in a very, very long time. Brian Eno, man. That guy is the tits.
Posted by: d-w at May 7, 2008 1:51 PM | ReplyScore = 2
This song is AMAZING. I'm very excited for the new album. Love the new sound.
Posted by: Sal at May 7, 2008 3:05 PM | ReplyScore = 0
This track especially, has me really stoked about the upcoming album. It's going to be sick.
Posted by: WCAGA at May 7, 2008 3:12 PM | ReplyScore = 2
2 mililion people!?!? I don't even know how many that is!!!1!11!!!
Posted by: Martin at May 7, 2008 5:01 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Coldplay winning over SG readers?? Did justice remix "violet hill" and i missed it or something?
Posted by: david van patten at May 7, 2008 5:03 PM | ReplyScore = 7
not bad unlike all of x&y zing
Posted by: grover at May 7, 2008 5:09 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Pretty good, actually, but I'm still not sure I can forgive them for calling the album that.
Posted by: SL at May 7, 2008 6:22 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I don't see very much departure. I like Parachutes and have really been liking AROBTTH recently (fuck X&Y), but this song is a little bit too boring. They don't really pull off beautiful or anything like that here. I hope this album is good and I'm still giving it a chance, but these first two tracks are nothing special.
Posted by: Twin Bed at May 7, 2008 7:12 PM | ReplyScore = -1
it sounds fairly decent. I guess I was wrong, perhaps there's a tiny spark of hope for them to make bearable music again.
X&Y was mediocre, to say the least. Most songs I couldn't stand listening to, and made me nauseous. All of them were singles, to make matters worse. Fix You, the "my song is love" thing, list goes on. Awful album.
Posted by: d33r at May 7, 2008 7:16 PM | ReplyScore = -1
Violet Hill reminds me of Phil Collins for some reason.
Posted by: Wells at May 7, 2008 7:21 PM | ReplyScore = 1
4.6
Posted by: Pitchfork at May 7, 2008 7:30 PM | ReplyScore = 1
Awesome song-I have big expectations for this album.
Posted by: Win Butler at May 7, 2008 8:16 PM | ReplyScore = 0
i love this song, definitely one of their best. its still coldplay, and you can say what you will, ill always have a soft spot for them. but this actually makes me kind of excited...
Posted by: ben at May 7, 2008 9:54 PM | ReplyScore = 0
sting guest vox on those outro 'oooh's
Posted by: jesus at May 8, 2008 3:09 AM | ReplyScore = 0
I don't hear what eno really added to this. If the songs and the performance aren't there, there's nothing a producer can do. It's ok. I'm expecting this to be better than X/Y overall tho.
Posted by: chabs at May 8, 2008 9:33 AM | ReplyScore = -2
@ Chabs:
"I don't hear what eno really added to this."
If you've ever listened to an Eno record, or any of his productions you can clearly hear his influence. The sonics are all there. But - more so than anything else - Coldplay were a band stuck in a rut. They seemed to have painted themselves into a corner; every song a retread of something they'd written before. And it's clear that Eno really opened them up and got them to re-approach their material. I'm sure the band can be credited for some of this as well. There's energy in these songs. The last record felt absent of anything resembling energy or passion. That's what happens when you re-record the same songs 946 times....
Posted by: d-w at May 8, 2008 9:40 AM | ReplyScore = 1
As a die hard fan of the band, I have to agree with you. As much as I love X&Y for the five or six great singles, the 'new-ness' of the new material is both undeniable and undeniably great. I can't say anything too negative about X&Y, but I find it revitalizing as a listener to hear a step forward like this, and that because clearly the band is revitalized, and you can't give Eno all of the credit for that work.
Isn't this exactly what R.E.M. just did? I don't hear anyone giving Jacknife Lee all the credit for Accelerate.
Posted by: Todd at May 8, 2008 12:28 PM | ReplyScore = 0
this is coldplay?
Posted by: hoopla at May 8, 2008 12:35 PM | Replyit sounds like chris martin singing over an epic orchestral arrangement. where's the rest of the band?
pretty catchy anthem tho.
Score = 0
This song is reminiscent of Arcade Fire's "Rebellion." Perhaps it's the kick drum throughout. That seems to make sense since Markus Dravs worked with Arcade Fire on Neon Bible. And yes i do know Rebellion is from Funeral - another great album. I read somewhere that Coldplay said Arcade Fire had a big influence on the album. I can definitely see that with this amazing track. Despite the comparison to Arcade Fire, this is undeniably Coldplay and undeniably great. They have made a great musical progression. Can't wait for the rest!
Posted by: Win at May 8, 2008 5:33 PM | ReplyScore = -1
Sorry, but this post is some epic shit pouring from a pretentious ass. Sad, sad, sad.
Posted by: Scott at May 9, 2008 2:09 AM | ReplyScore = -2
This song does a good job of effectively destroying whatever credibility they gained on the last single
Posted by: Andrew at May 9, 2008 4:35 PM | ReplyScore = -1
Sorry, X&Y is their best album to date.
Posted by: fong at May 9, 2008 11:51 PM | ReplyScore = 0
well, the song is great, and there is some download http://tinyurl.com/6oqsd7
Posted by: Tomek at May 10, 2008 10:54 AM | ReplyScore = 0
eurythmics, anyone?
Posted by: dannyowen at May 10, 2008 9:47 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I like this song. Not as much as Yellow, Shiver, Trouble, Clocks and other songs but I really like it. Yesterday I was listening Violent Hill 7 times (on their myspace profile).
Posted by: Penny Lane at May 11, 2008 6:06 AM | ReplyI've heard Viva La Vida is coming out 16th June. I can't wait!!!
I wish Coldplay all the best and good luck with sale.
I hope it will be #1 on BBC Radio1.
Score = -1
I'm a coldplay fan and I had real mixed feelings about Violet hill, but I like this, its much more on track with what I expect from Coldplay, and you can hear that Eno touch to it. good stuff.
Posted by: Brian at May 13, 2008 5:43 AM | ReplyScore = 0
Dare i say that Violet Hill sounded a little Wilco-ish? And that's a great thing, obviously. The LaVida song was a Brain Eno fastball down mainstreet. That guy is a fucking genius, but the song lacked only for a little more snare (and perhaps a little more cowbell!!)
Posted by: jvetter at May 14, 2008 3:05 PM | ReplyI gotta fever, and cure is more Eno!!
Score = 1
Sounds like Madonna's Dear Jessie off Like A Prayer...sounds good though, especially the church bells interlude. Eno's the man.
Posted by: catakiosk at May 14, 2008 9:22 PM | ReplyScore = 0