Mylo Xyloto–as confusing and intriguing as the name is–so is the music. Popularly acclaimed, Coldplay has sold more than 50 million records worldwide and have won numerous awards, including seven GRAMMY® Awards, six Brit Awards and four MTV Video Music Awards. The band’s last album, 2008’s Viva La Vida, charted at No. 1 in 36 countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. Guy Berryman, Will Champion, Jonny Buckland and Chris Martin have been making music for a long time –each album comprising a unique sound –that “Coldplay” feel–a relaxed, mellow tune that is simply pleasing to the ears. Each album brought forth new sound for Coldplay.
With the release of Viva La Vida in 2008, a new, pre-revolutionary cultural spin-off emerged. Coldplay branched away from nearly black and plain drab dress that reflected a mellow simple music style, to a colorful war-worn military style of dress inspired by music that was more upbeat and symphonic. Clearly a hit, it proved that Coldplay was successful in its musical evolution.
With the release of their fifth album in October, the classic “Coldplay sound” definitely had evolved. Rolling Stone observed that the album would definitely prove, “more gritty, fun, strange and (yes) danceable than any so far.”
Rather than an evolution of music ideas, Coldplay leaped off into the deep–deep as in this album was not an alternative rock genre as before, but more of an indie rock pop. Impressive at the least, Coldplay’s sound was flexible and still remained genius, as the success of the album would rate at the top in iTunes and sales.
However, from a longtime fan standpoint, to some, the musical compostition lacked the familiar branded Coldplay sound of simplicty and strong leading piano melodies. Mylo Xyloto lacked them nearly completely. Rhythmic and lead Guitar solos riffed and muffled Chris Martin’s voice at sometimes, as in “Major Minus.” Yet, their hits like “Paradise” and “Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall,” captured a unique new sound in Coldplay, that radiated a possitive, danc-ey feeling throughout the album. Mylo Xyloto expresses a sense of freedom and artistic embodiment. Songs like “Hurts Like Heaven” and “Major Minus” – described by Billboard as “an ominous, thundering beast of a song with rattling guitars, potent (and rare) Buckland solos, and restless, shifting musical patterns” – contrast sharply with the delicate “Us Against The World,” that reflected soft chord patterns and melodies of older songs like that of albums Parachutes and X & Y. Summer single “Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall” and “Charlie Brown,” express transcendent messages of hope for the outsider in all of us. The track “Princess of China” features vocals by Rihanna.
Clearly, Coldplay decided to brush upon their best attributes as a band, and mix with the popular pop-call from a generation of music lovers who simply just want music to dance to. When they featured a pop singer like Rihanna to sing a long with someone as unlikely as Chris Martin, one would know Coldplay’s sound had changed completely. Debatable, Coldplay hopped too far into pop, and forgot exactly what made them a great band.
Mylo Xyloto was produced by Markus Dravs, Daniel Green and Rik Simpson, with enoxification and additional composition by Brian Eno.
The track listing for Mylo Xyloto is as follows:
1. Mylo Xyloto 2. Hurts Like Heaven 3. Paradise 4. Charlie Brown 5. Us Against The World 6. M.M.I.X. 7. Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall 8. Major Minus 9. U.F.O. 10. Princess of China 11. Up In Flames 12. A Hopeful Transmission 13. Don’t Let It Break Your Heart 14. Up With The Birds
