Coldplay

[oneafroboy]

Welp, along with Fallen, my friend lent me Coldplay's "Parachutes". (I in turn gave him Simon and Garfunkel's "Bookends" and a Bob Marley compilation called "Natural Mystic". But you didn't need to know that.   )

Well, I'm really enjoying this album. I'm listening to it as we speak. They are definitely a talented quartet. I like how they don't strictly stick to the verse-chorus model, but make use of hooks to tie their songs together. The lead singer's voice is sweet. It's light, melodic and beautiful. He certainly uses the ol' falsetto a bit. The upper rangers is where he tends to stay. But the instrumentation is beautiful. This album certainly creates an atmosphere, a mood. There is a definite concentration on melody. The instruments interact nicely. They are admittedly pop, but it's not bad. I don't know if they will enter that small group of "greats," but I think they will be a classic group of this era of early 21st century pop.

Speaking of greats, my friend told me someone said that they were the next U2. As good as they may be, I dunno, U2's pretty high up there. That's a hard place to reach. Few rival them. They have potential and have definitely been going places. They will have to broaden their musical scope to truly become great, imho, but they've only put out 2 albums, so you can't expect that much yet.

Anyway, your thoughts and comments about them would be appreciated. Discuss.  B)

--the Afro

[beautifulmess]

I haven't heard Parachutes yet but I absolutely love A Rush of Blood to the Head. I've been listening to it constantly lately. "The Scientist","In My Place", and "Amsterdam" are the highlights for me. And "Clocks" has been stuck in my head for days now. I hope to hear Parachutes sometimes soon because I hear it's even better than A Rush Of Blood.  

[Josh]

Is Coldplay a talented band?

You bet.

Do they deserve all the hype they get?

Nope.

Are they the next Radiohead?

I strongly doubt it.

Parachutes is a good record; patient, jazzy, emotive, and restrained. Great stuff. A Rush of Blood, on the other hand, is unrestrained, over-polished, annoyingly repetitive, and unoriginal. The only songs on it I care for are "Scientist," "In My Place," and "Clocks."

[bloop]

The closest thing I've heard to being "the next Radiohead" is Clinic.  They have that kind of potential anyway.  I think Coldplay could, also, but they need to get a little more adventurous on forthcoming records.

[linds]

all i can say is:
i saw coldplay in kansas city last march--second row.  yeah, second row.

coldplay isn't my favorite band (though i love them for an avatar), but they're doing something different and artistic, and i appreciate that they aren't out to get a hit single.
they have a ton of potential, and i can't wait till their next album.  i think it will be a pretty crucial part of their career.

also, i feel a lot of loyalty to coldplay, because i was a fan way back when parachutes just came out.   =)  i always feel compelled to say that, because they're just beginning to get attention.

[Josh]

but they're doing something different

I'd disagree. What are they doing that hasn't been done before?

[kelliBJo]

LOVE coldplay.  playing some today, actually. i like both cds, maybe parachutes better tho'.  

ahhh  ...   and he has SUCH a wonderful voice...

i agree that i'm not sure what they're doing different, but i don't think doing something different equates greatness, either. whatever they're doing, i love it.

[oneafroboy]

Yeah, he does have a neat little falsetto, doesn't he?

I would argue, though, that the Beatles didn't make it big by doing what everyone else did. They didn't become great by going along with the mainstream. They took in their influences, and explored musical territory. They were diverse. They were bold. They stood out. The same could be said about U2...heaven knows there was a lot of junk on radio stations in the 1980s...

[Josh]

The best bands are those that puch the envelope and do new things. The Beatles did that. So do U2. And REM. Coldplay doesn't...YET.

[oneafroboy]

Coldplay doesn't...YET.

Exactly. Their career's just beginning. They have potential. Who knows what their next album will hold...

[Masta_K]

i would agree that Coldplay has talent. i would agree that they produce very good music. are they one of the greatest? mmm....... no. they def stand out, but they have huge shoes to fill. i would point out, however, that they may've been huge if they had been in a different time setting. and of course, that still might happen.

are they doing something new and innovative? by the hit songs, no. but if you listen to Parachutes (i haven't heard A Rush of Blood straight thru), you will see (or rather, hear) that they are. the way they dig into a bluesy jazz and pull a light pop out of it may be nearing what should be illegal, but it somehow all works out. furthermore, they are a grand inspiration for tons of aspiring (AND already "up there") bands across the globe.

now that they've set up their podium (and yes, it is cool that it seemed unintentional), wouldn't it be grand if they used it to preach to a new generation that hasn't been really exposed to early U2?

oh, and btw, how does one ever think of Rhead when speaking of Coldplay???  

[DvChWi]

oh, and btw, how does one ever think of Rhead when speaking of Coldplay???

They get compared because they are both British, both are on the lighter side of things, and stand out from the mainstream.  I do agree that they are very different in most other ways, though.

[bloop]

I know Chris Martin likes Radiohead.  I'm not sure if the feeling is mutual or not.

[Skrappybiskit]

I know that Thom has used Coldplay as an example of Radiohead's sort of music becoming mainstream in an interview earlier this year. I believe someone on forum.cmcentral.com pointed it out to me. Maybe even bloop.

But I can't see why people compare them. It's like comparing Sigur Ros and Plastic Victoria because they both come from... Iceland is it?

Skraps

[kelliBJo]

I would argue, though, that the Beatles didn't make it big by doing what everyone else did. They didn't become great by going along with the mainstream. They took in their influences, and explored musical territory. They were diverse. They were bold. They stood out. The same could be said about U2...heaven knows there was a lot of junk on radio stations in the 1980s...

just to clarify, i wasn't suggesting that a band not taking risks is what makes a great band. i agree that the greats are the ones who push the envelope.  i was just saying that there is good music i enjoy, like coldplay, that isn't necessarily "way out there".     anyway.  

[Skrappybiskit]

just to clarify, i wasn't suggesting that a band not taking risks is what makes a great band. i agree that the greats are the ones who push the envelope.  i was just saying that there is good music i enjoy, like coldplay, that isn't necessarily "way out there".     anyway.

I'm totally with you on this one. I listen to music that I think is cool that doesn't do anything especially strange and wonderful. Like Gravity from Our Lady Peace. I like it, but it's just another rock record that everyone will forget about in a few years.

Skraps

[beautifulmess]

Like Gravity from Our Lady Peace

One of my favorites.

[Skrappybiskit]

Gee, if I weren't 6 years older than you, I'd propose

Skraps

[oneafroboy]

Agreed. I like their music too.

And this is my 100th post!!!! Wooo hooo!

 =D    B)  

[smartash]

also, i feel a lot of loyalty to coldplay, because i was a fan way back when parachutes just came out.  i always feel compelled to say that, because they're just beginning to get attention.

i'm with linds, 'cause i was there in the beginning, i'm still there just as strong.

i wouldnt compare them to radiohead, i see them in totally different leagues, but you can tell radiohead is one of coldplay's strongest influences. just watch lead singer Chris as he plays the piano live-- totally wants to be Thom. i just saw their video for "the scientist" the other day-- great video, totally influenced by radiohead's videos.

and i dont look down on them for that-- they're right on track. anyone who DOESN"T want to be radiohead is screwed up anyway:)

[bloop]

just watch lead singer Chris as he plays the piano live-- totally wants to be Thom. i just saw their video for "the scientist" the other day-- great video, totally influenced by radiohead's videos.

I don't know, man.  If I looked like Chris Martin, yet could date Gwyneth Paltrow, I wouldn't want to be Thom Yorke.

Just wondering, did you have a specific video in mind that you think influenced "The Scientist"?  

The new Rh vids are good, btw..."There There" and "Go To Sleep".

[Skrappybiskit]

That was a cool video, "The Scientist", and I have to agree that Chris is even uglier than me... and the new Radiohead vids are kind of... creepy.

WHICH I LIKE!

Skraps

[bloop]

"There There" is a bit creepy, and it's my favorite of the two, but I don't catch the creepiness in "Go To Sleep".  It's actually even kind of fun.

[Skrappybiskit]

Maybe it's just subtle subtexts that I'm vibing over?

Skraps

[oneafroboy]

Hey. I finally got a hold of A Rush of Blood to the Head. Right now, I'm drawn to this album more so than Parachutes, but that could just be the newness of it. I'm really liking In My Place, The Scientist, and Clocks (what a cool song). I also like the title track. Daylight's interesting. They definitely grew, even if there's a lot of production magic that was put into this; I think they wrote better songs on this album. I think the Scientist and Clocks are better songs that Yellow, although Yellow perhaps works better as a pop single because it's a bit catchier.

They're not in the league of greats, but I'm looking forward to their next release. I think they have great things coming their way. Lots of potential, indeed.

[Josh]

I'm really liking Politik, In My Place, The Scientist, and Clocks (what a cool song).

You named the three best songs on the album, but "Politik"? Bleck. Can't stand that one. The pouding instrumentation is repetitive to the point of being uber-annoying. It's obvious that they were going for a grand, U2-like opener with that song, but I think it's just plain dumb.

Overall, though, I agree with you; not a great band, but they COULD be some day.

[oneafroboy]

Out of those four, Josh, Politik I like the least. I probably won't like it as much as time goes by. I don't even know why I mentioned it with the other three. Hmmm...I know how to fix that!