I was a very lucky boy and managed to get my paws on a Coldplay album a little early. I wanted to provide a review that didn't just describe the obvious but to see if the album lives up to the hopes that everyone has of this third album. I will try and assess all the songs so that you can try and make your mind up if it is worth putting your money into the album or a Make trade fair collection box. One thing I will say is if you are a Coldplay fan and you liked previous songs/albums you will not be disappointed by this one. I hope the review provides accurate information on the impact and effectiveness of their third album X and Y.

1. Square One

One of the most important tracks on an album is of course the opener. This rule couldn't be more important for Coldplay, after a three year wait this is the first taste the fans will get of the new Coldplay album (minus the single). The song starts off with a nice mellow synth and kicks in as only Coldplay can with a solid beat and catchy guitar licks. The song has a lot of atmosphere to it and Chris Martins vocals are as good and as varied as ever. Nice opener leaving the listener wanting to hear more - you never get a second chance to make a first impression and Coldplay have made sure they have made the most out of theirs.

2. What If

With high hopes the next slows down from the previous and provides merely a piano and vocal intro making the lyrics stand out as much as ever. This provides a nice contrast from the previous tracks and shows the two best elements of Coldplay - the ability to play slow, melodic ballads and also the upbeat tunes that everyone knows and loves. The song kicks in, keeping the same speed but creating a fantastic atmospheric feel with simple yet effective guitar and easily reached high pitched vocals. This is another great song but ready for something a little more upbeat.

3. White Shadows

White Shadows provides this great uplift and another steady tune that is so familiar with Coldplay's previous albums. Already any of these songs could be released and do fantastically well and not just because of the instantly recognizable name. The song provides a standard drum beat and staccato guitar, working to great extent. The chorus provides almost has a modernized 80's feel to its vocal line and the drum beat that featured so heavily throughout the era.

4. Fix You

I'm still waiting to be disappointed and get to the bad bit of the album but I keep getting pleasantly surprised! This next track is no exception opening with something I wasn't expecting, a church organ! The vocals are simple yet effective opening with "when you try your best but you don't succeed, when you get what you want but not what you need." A fantastic opener which is filled clearly with emotion and wouldn't be out of place on a sad part of most movies! The song maintains quite a simplistic feel but to a great result. The song is simple but it makes it that much easier to listen to and appreciate. About half way through a great yet simple guitar phase enters matched later on with drums and the impact is amazing. This is a very powerful song providing a chorus of vocals towards the end and everything fits together so well and just how you wanted it to. Finishing as it started, simple, stripped down and effective.

5. Talk

After being left quite taken back by the last song, this next track provides a great follow up. The song builds up slowly to a great intro featuring the whole band to a great extent. The song then comes down to a stripped down verse and then again back up for the chorus. The rollercoaster effect that feature in a lot of Coldplay does not get boring or repetitive, one minute you are calm and listening to the great vocals provided and then you are tapping your foot to the simple yet catchy choruses. Another great song - still waiting for the let down!!

6. X&Y

So another important track - the title track. Again the synth features again which seems to be something used more than on any of the other previous albums. The synth provides great atmosphere and when it is matched with piercing vocals and slide guitar the effect is better than ever! Something that came to mind during this track is how great this album has been produced and recorded; it provides much more impact and a fantastic line-up of songs in a very effective order. The song is another atmospheric one and does not disappoint, again simple yet effective.

7. Speed Of Sound

Now its time for the song that everyone has probably heard at least twice by now! Somehow beaten to the top by that damned annoying frog, this song could never have enough credit. I enjoy this song more every time I hear it and do not get bored of it easily. If you like this song then you will enjoy the album without doubt. The great thing about the album is its style that is kept throughout yet it doesn't ever get boring. Anyway…the song! The song is a fantastically atmospheric tune with a great, catchy, foot tapping melody throughout. The instruments are all used to great effect and Chris Martins have never been used to better extent. This song is going to be an anthem of the year I think. It marks Coldplay's comeback clearly and distinctly and lets everyone know they haven't lost it!

8. A Message

You have to have a pretty impressive follow up to this song and you guessed, they provide it! This song seems to be a song that would definitely not be out of place on parachutes. The nice little acoustic/vocal songs that featured throughout that album has been used on this album to great extent also. The song does kick in with the other instruments and we get to see the Coldplay rollercoaster again! The lead guitar used brilliantly again providing simple and fantastic licks that creates more atmosphere and depth to each song.

9. Low

This is a very 'summery' anthem. It just features that upbeat feel and catchy guitar. A little faster than some previous tracks and again there seem to be some influence from tracks a few decades ago rather than just modern new comers. The bass is the main feature of the verses and this is a great thing as it does not feature so strongly on other tracks. Another typical Coldplay song, that doesn't get boring easily for the Coldplay fans!

10. The Hardest Part

This track again has some feel to it that wouldn't be out of place a few years ago. Coldplay have managed to provide a brilliantly varied yet similar track listing. I understand those two words shouldn't feature in the same sentence but this song highlights it more than others. The way that you know a Coldplay song the second you hear it, despite there being some similar bands around. However at the same time they provide slight variations that make a big difference without loosing there sound. A nice song that provides everything you would expect. The albums maintained a steady caliber without dropping as the second half of albums so often do.

11. Swallowed In The Sea

The title of this song lets you know you are in for a mellow, slow moving and somber tune. Again the synth is used with only the vocals and this works brilliantly and is it not yet over used throughout the album. When the rest of the band come in the slow moving tempo remains but it does provide variety and more impact. Coldplay seem to have no trouble creating atmosphere with a simple four piece band and this song is no exception. Another moving and emotional song.

12. Twisted Logic

Opening with "The sun light opened my eyes…" this track again starts quite slow and stripped down and it may now be becoming 0.1% boring! It may only be because I am writing it so often that it is clearer this time. This is a very slow moving song, but not boring as you would expect from a simple description. Very basic and slow drums giving a better impact when everything finally kicks in to maintain the tempo but create the atmosphere that features throughout the album.

13. Till Kingdom Come

This final track seems to be a style of track that has closed all albums to precede this one. It provides an acoustic, piano and vocals. With vocals such as "I feel my time has come" it isn't the most uplifting of tunes but did you expect that from a Coldplay! The song is one of the best on the album in my opinion that has a certain upbeat Dylan feel about it and is again simple yet effective. It has a feel of Irish folk songs also. This is a fantastic track to finish the album and now I can take a deep breath, put of thoughts of disappointment and give Coldplay a fantastic, deserved round of applause.

----OVERALL----
Whilst writing the review I noticed that I had repeated many phrases a lot. I kept these in on purpose because it is an important factor of the Coldplay albums and sound. The songs are always simple yet effective and this is the only way to describe them. If you were to write out the music of each instrument you wouldn't expect much but to hear it all together, it works to a great extent. Another repetitive phrase was the Coldplay rollercoaster. This does feature in most songs but yet again does not get boring; it provides the listener with great variation and up and down emotions throughout. Another fantastic feature of this album is that it is over an hour, which is a great change as albums seem to be getting shorter these days! I was expecting to be disappointed by this album and if not as a whole at least after a few songs but despite my expectations I was still left very impressed by the way that Coldplay have managed to produce three albums all filled with great songs. Not many bands manage this and those that gain a lot of respect from music lovers and are remembered for a long time - this rule makes no exception for Coldplay.

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The album is available for £9.99 from HMV from 06th June.

www.coldplay.com (clips of this album provided)
www.makepovertyhistory.com