Hello there. Proper newb here. I am 16 years young that has an ambition to become a form of reviewer...
Hello there. Proper newb here. I am 16 years young that has an ambition to become a form of reviewer for a career! Laters xx
Member since:12.10.2005
Reviews:17
Members who trust:3
After a stormer of a début in the form of Parachutes which gave us the classic 'Yellow', Coldplay returned in 2002 with A Rush Of Blood To The Head - that gave us Clocks, The Scientist and possibly the greatest album of the decade so far. On rolls 2005, the year that has brought us the long awaited Oasis album, the pathetic Crazy Frog and now Coldplay's X & Y. Fans and critics alike noticed that the hype being built up around it surely meant that it was going to fall flat on it's face and die on it's backside. Well this is what Chris Martin and company have offered us...
Square One - A predictable album starter, the song fades in as if you have woken up in heaven. Martin loudly whispers that you are in control, is there anything you wanna know? What I want to know is how they can nod to what has to be Kraftwerk and still produce a song that can still sounds like a pop hit. It takes a couple of listens to get into the song but, trust me, you will get hooked on the song. Johnny Buckland's guitar steps in now and again reminding us that there is more to Coldplay than Chris Martin. What makes the song worth listening to is the final 50 seconds. It is incredible. A lovely poem backed by guitar and whispered by Martin. Is there anybody out there who, is lost and hurt and lonely too? It really is brilliant. It makes the whole song for me and it will do for you as well. 9.5/10.
What If - A true sad song and if it is late at night then it will send you to sleep so it is best to be wide awake for this one as it really does grab your attention. I think every lyric here is a rhyming couplet so the rhymes are almost too predictable. The chorus though is fantastic "....Ooooh that's right, how can you know it if you don't even try..." It doesn't seem that defining but it really does smack me in the face (not literally of course, that would just be silly) and just puts me off everything other than this song. One for the times if you have a headache. 8/10
White Shadows - A roaring drum beat from Will Champion gets your head nodding in approval for the start. An uplifting song that really is built around these incredible drums. I am not sure I would listen to the song for any other reason, the lyrics are typical Coldplay, tough to think of yet so easy to envisage.
But of the course the chorus has to be the killer and it is, one line hums "Maybe if you say it you'll mean it..." A bit of filler here think of this as the ketchup preceding the beef that is Fix you....7.5/10.
Fix You - The album was labelled as 'being built around Fix You'. My oh my what a foundation for an album they lay. It is an organ that plays through the intro, Martin in his most high pitched voice ever produces a vocal harmony that really is the envy of any vocalist. "When you love someone and it goes to waste, could it be worse?". Well this song couldn't be better, the arrangements are all top notch, nail on the head. This was written for Martin's bird, Gwynneth Paltrow after her father passed away. Fantastic song it really is. After the second chorus the guitar comes in playing a simple riff but it is to the point and it works so well. It is just guitar for about twenty seconds then the drums kick in with the piano and bass as well. And it ends up as a fantastic solo, then, what's this?!!??! ALL FOUR band members singing "Tears stream, down your face, when you lose something you cannot replace..." And they are all in tune with each other, it is fantastic. The order of legend songs from British bands from 1994 onwards will go - Live Forever, Parklife, Fix You. Easily. Thank you and good night, 10 out of 10.
Talk - The guitar in the intro sounds like it is being played 50 metres away from the mic. Then all of a sudden it is up close with it! Those clever music producers...There is no questioning that this is a class song, easily. But Fix You is a tough act to follow and if you want to give it a fair review you have to listen to it before Fix You but it is a song that feels like you are walking in a deep swimming pool then you are onto a race track, then back into the swimming pool. I am basically saying it changes tempo a lot in a really bad way. It almost feels like Martin is rhyming for the sake of it at times. It does let the song down a bit but still, tune. 8/10.
X & Y - Now this song is different, very different. It isn't a 'Talk', it isn't a 'Fix You'. I haven't a clue what it is other than a cracker. I can't really comment on the verses other than they hop along nicely, a lovely serenade for a Sunday afternoon, but the beautiful lyrics, the beautiful voice just make "You and me are floating on a tidal wave, togetherrrrr..." an unbeatable lyric. The song can't decide to be a guitar led anthem or a piano led ballad. In the end it is a mixture of both but it isn't the greatest song in the world. Still, easily worth a 6th listen. 8.5/10.
Speed of Sound - The single that brought Coldplay back to our ears and it couldn't have been a much better track to be honest. A delicate piano starts us off (it also sounds good on acoustic guitar!). This is a more uplifting version of X&Y, it is a blend of ballad and anthem and it is one for the 50000 + stadiums. This was an easy choice for first single as it is one that would appeal to 14 year old girls who like McFly (no offence girls, or boys...). Martin dips in and out of the song with his voice as if he is making it up as he goes along, preparing for the next charming piano riff. It's arrangements are brilliant, just like Fix You's but the difference is that this song doesn't make sense but it still is better than what most bands will stick out nowadays. For some reason though, I just cannot get enough of the song, after the 500th listen of a song I generally get a bit bored of it but not this. I love it, you'll love it. 10/10.
A Message - My song is love... My review on this song is love, it is brilliant. It is an acoustic guitar driven ballad, Martin (with his stupidly large hands) strums and croons extremely thought-provoking lyrics, it makes you wonder how people can come out with this genius. After the one minute mark an electric guitar and drums come in (along with the bass, I think but I can't hear it!). If you are feeling awful, feeling great or just plain drunk. Stick it on, you will sit up and pay attention to this genius. 9.5/10.
Low - A guitar riff opens up the ninth song of the album. It is a throwback to White Shadows (it feels so long ago eh?). "All you ever wanted is love, but you never looked hard enough" A cracking chorus there, this has been happening in a lot of the songs though. A fairly forgettable verse followed by a chorus that is the reason you listen again, although I guess that is what they are there for but it just sounds like the effort put into the verses is rather poor. This is a forgettable song actually as no instrument really stands out and even the chorus can't really save it in my opinion. 7/10.
The Hardest Part - A song that will make you smile from the first second, a lovely piano and guitar blend here with the drums providing amicable back-up. The lyrics are quite sad at times "The hardest part was letting go and not taking part, you really broke my heart" But despite this you will smile, as if you have just gone through a really rough patch of your life and you have come out with flying colours, all smiles. If that has happened to you (it may sound unlikely but it can happen, sometimes...) then this song will fit your mood like a glove. 8.5/10.
Swallowed In The Sea - Well if Fix You was the foundation for the album then this has to be the icing on the cake because this is an absolute gem and is easily worthy of a single with no b-sides and most people would buy it because it is simply that good. You would be able to say that I own Swallowed In The Sea with pride as well as saying I own X & Y as well. "I song, a hundred miles long, well that's where I belong and you belong with me, not swallowed in the sea". Magic. 10/10.
Twisted Logic - Chris Martin said this was one of their angriest songs. Martin's voice sounds normal but the lyrics are a bit menacing *Rivers will run dry..." and the guitar picks you up off your sleepy head, slowly building up. I really cannot see the angry part of this song other than (as ever) the brilliant chorus "You'll go backwards again, you'll go forwards again..." I will only listen to this if I am in the need of a change music outlook as it is quite different. The guiness of the album (an acquired taste). 8/10.
Kingdom Come - I do believe that this was written for the late, great Johnny Cash before he sadly passed away. Piano and acoustic guitars as ever. You could just imagine Johnny Cash singing this, it would sound so, so brilliant. Martin doesn't do a bad job of it but the thought lingers in your mind, Cash would have done that so much better. In all honesty, it is a beautiful song that, if you cast the thought of Cash from your mind, sounds like a fantastic song that oozes all over Fix You but alas it just doesn't quite work. Like choosing a portion of chips over a burger, you can't have both but if whichever one you have you still think that it could be better. 8.5/10.
Well there you have it, they came, they made our heads nod and our eyes well. One let down is the cover, I now it is binary for X&Y but it is just silly. Surely you can think of something better? Ah well, just download it I say! Legally of course... Album is 9/10 for moi. Swallowed In The Sea and Fix You are worth the price alone. This album will become a classic of 2005. Buy it.
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Coldplay were faced with a difficult choice as they set to work on X&Y. They could ... more
either follow Radioheads lead and use their enormous success and financial security as a springboard to a brave experimental future--or they could play it safe, repe...
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Square One @@us/euwm2/726/6588726_1_01.asx?obj=v50610@@ What If ... more
@@us/euwm2/726/6588726_1_02.asx?obj=v50608@@ White Shadows @@us/euwm2/726/6588726_1_03.asx?obj=v50607@@ Fix You @@us/euwm2/726/6588726_1_04.asx?obj=v50607@@ Talk @@us/euwm2/726/658872...
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Advantages: great, lengthy and not a dissapointment to past releases. Disadvantages: if you dont like Coldplays previous songs/albus you wont be a fan of this
chrismoll 05.06.2005 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of X And Y - Coldplay
Advantages: Accoustic harmonies and easy to listen to songs.Sincere and heartfelt lyrics. A really nice album. Disadvantages: I didnt like it as much as X&Y or A Sudden Rush of Blood to the Head.
SpookyMoon 29.05.2009 ·
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Review of Parachutes - Coldplay
Oct 24th, 2005
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