Coldplay's fourth studio album – “Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends” – is their boldest, most experimental, and in time may yet be considered their best album to date. Embracing the fact that they are the world's most popular band (not named U2) Coldplay have created an album that has been influenced by musical sounds from all over the planet (the album's airy opening instrumental only track “Life In Technicolor” makes use of a Persian santur an instrument popular in Iraq and Iran among other places), while maintaining their own stadium sound appeal (the incredible church organ driven “Lost”); in other words they can make pop music without it sounding corny.
Instead of playing it safe and following up their last album X&Y with a sequel, the band consisting of front man Chris Martin, Guy Berryman (bass), Jonny Buckalnd (guitar), and Will Champion (drummer) enlisted the help of producers Rik Simpson, Markus Dravs, Brian Eno (the man behind a big part of U2's success ironically) to help them create a new sound. On first listen the album might sound like quite a departure from the band's previous three albums. A theme throughout “Viva” is that of contrast. Any particular song on the album might start off sounding one way yet somewhere between the one and two minute mark completely transform into something else be it rhythm, tempo, or even Chris Martin's trademark falsetto which drops few octaves in the middle of some songs.
It is not so much a departure as it is an evolution for the band and where they are musically today. Chris Martin proves to be one of the genres (or any genres) preeminent rock stars of today. The album's title track “Viva La Vida” takes him to heights that even he may not have been aware that he was capable of when he opens the song singing, “I used to rule the world/ seas would rise when I gave the word” or even at the chorus with “For some reason I can't explain/ I know St. Peter won't call my name.” These words come to life due in part to their simplicity, but also Martin's cadence. The old king is dead, long live the king indeed.
One of the albums (many) highlights is “Lost” which could be the soundtrack to Sunday mass in the world's biggest church with its organ, thumping bass line, and hand claps throughout. Martin again is singing with conviction here when he goes, “just because I'm hurting/ doesn't mean I'm HURT” “Lovers In Japan” sounds like a folk song on steroids, and “Yes” with the Middle Eastern inspired violin piece are both winners as well. The latter track contains the hidden “Chinese Sleep Chant” which would almost be an instrumental if not for Martin's (barely audible) vocals. Strangely enough this works for this song.
If you are new to Coldplay you should definitely take a chance with them on this particular musical voyage. If you are a returning fan, have no fear they are better than ever. Viva La Vida may go down as one of the best and biggest albums of 2008 when it's all said and done. Will you remember where you were when you first heard it?
The album title (Spanish for Long Live Life) gets its name from a painting by Mexican artist/revolutionary Frida Kahlo. The album cover is a painting depicting the French Revolution called, “Liberty Leading The People” by Eugène Delacroix.
“Viva La Vida” is in stores now.
