Although I don't much care for Chris Martin's new idea of creating new hairstyles which I've taken the liberty of dubbing frollet (afro-mullet), the direction he's decided to take with his band is a completely different story. After going through Coldplay's fourth installment from start to finish, along with the bonus track exclusively from itunes, I sat there stricken with nothing less than awe. It is usually at this point when a favorite musician or band of mine has come out with their latest work that I begin to categorize everything I've just heard. I start picking favorites, okays, and songs I probably won't be listening to very often, if at all. This, however, was not the case...in this case. I tried to think of ones I liked more than others, but I couldn't, I had absolutely loved every single one. From the dismal but upbeat 42, to of course the masterpiece the album is now famous for, Viva La Vida. Each track kept me completely hooked right up to it's subtle but compelling conclusion.
If the album itself was not great enough for me, learning that the one and only father of ambient music himself, Brian Eno, had produced it as well was enough to send me to my grave from sheer astonishment. His influence on this album is very apparent as well, especially within the intro, Life In Technicolor, and through the ending of Death and All His Friends.
Now, even after all of this, as a long-time Coldplay fan I can tell you that this is not their BEST work. I'm not sure anything can top the first time we heard Yellow, or Clocks. However, with that aside I'm also going to tell you this: do your ears a favor and go get this freaking amazing album!!!
