Things have gone ridiculously well for Coldplay since 2002's A Rush of Blood to the Head. The group's global album sales have soared past the 10-million mark, putting it in the same stratosphere as megabands U2 and the Dave Matthews Band. People have offered up their bank accounts, cars, and even bodies for tickets to its shows. And, in a interesting twist, frontman Chris Martin married Gwyneth Paltrow and set the tabloid world aflame. Funny thing, then, that the British quartet's much-anticipated third album, X&Y, is all about staying grounded. In the powerful opener, "Square One," the singer insists people are fundamentally the same no matter what their stature: "You just want... Somebody listening to what you say," he sings. On "Fix You," Martin grapples with imperfection and missed opportunity: "When you love someone but it goes to waste... Could it be worse?" Meanwhile, the vibrant single, "Speed of Sound," is all about reconnecting with the spirit and soul in the face of the paparazzi's flashbulbs. Musically, the band has never sounded more adventurous, referencing everyone from Kraftwerk ("Talk") to the Pogues ("Swallowed in the Sea"), all the while sweeping aside those Radiohead-lite comparisons to embrace a massive, moving sound that makes simplicity seem sublime. --Aidin Vaziri
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Not the best vinyl pressing:
I bought this in vinyl as it is a recording that I enjoyed as a CD and I've been repurchasing some things in vinyl. While promoted as an audiophile vinyl product, it's a crappy Capitol pressing, punched off center, with poorly finished edges and label. Bad handling and packaging of vinyl by Amazon makes it all worse. FAIL.
A Perfect Prelude to VIVA LA VIDA (their shining moment):
I had my first listen to this album at the gym, while exercising on an elliptical machine with headphones on. I was expecting to hear more of the same type of music from their previous two albums - both of which I love. After listening to X&Y more than a few times; I felt the desire to resurrect Parachutes and A Rush of Blood to the Head and reacquaint myself with them. X&Y is an impressive display of the versatility Coldplay possesses as a band. The sound of this album is more sonic and suited for... more info
good overall buy:
The disc came in excellent condition and played well. The only downfall was the broken case, which wasn't a big deal to me.
Some excellent songs:
I recently saw an independent movie called Young At Heart. One of the songs in that movie really touched me, and, of course, it was written by Coldplay. I'm a real fan of this group and have been for quite some time. The album was an older one that I didn't have, but I have enjoyed many of the songs.
