So, their new album -- Mylo Xyloto -- just dropped on Tuesday. This was a highly anticipated event for me. (In fact, I was able to buy it on iTunes on Monday -- much to my delight; whereas, it still isn't even available as of today, Friday, on Rhapsody! Ahh, the problems with music subscription services, but I digress ....).
What do I think? My headline says it all to me -- from the album's title, to the overall impact of the collective body of work, this album leaves me, well, "cold." This is Coldplay's 5th full album -- and, for me, it ranks near the bottom of the list. Although not completely lacking in magic, the album kept me asking "Where's the beef?" as I listened through it -- over and over again to make sure that I wasn't jumping to conclusions. At times it sounded like the Coldplay we know and love; at other times, I thought I was listening to an album from the 80s band "Aha" (you know, "Take on Me"?). The album clocks in at 14 songs -- but 3 of the 14 aren't really songs; they are more like intros to other songs (each of these 3 are less than 1 minute long).
Here is my track-by-track review --
(1) "Mylo Xyloto" -- the namesake track; this is an intro that comes and goes; nothing to review here;
(2) "Hurts Like Heaven" -- this is the album's opening track; I heard one of the band members on Sirius XM radio saying that they chose this song to open the album because it was different than anything they have recorded before; well, that can be a good or bad thing -- here, it ain't good. While the upbeat song sounds pleasant enough, there is no substance. Think of it as ear candy. It comes and goes without making any lasting impact. Next ....
(3) "Paradise" -- this is the album's second single -- and the stand-out track. THIS is what Coldplay is all about. Beautiful soaring melodies. Passion. This will become a stadium sing-a-long -- but, the only one from the album. Keep this one -- and discard many of the others.
(4) "Charlie Brown" -- this one is much in the same vein as "Hurts Like Heaven" -- upbeat fluff. Do we really need synth pop again? Pleasant enough, but skip to the next ....
(5) "Us Against the World" -- from the building pointilism of the guitars, to the spare, soft and gruff vocal by Chris Martin, this U2-like track is a keeper. Coldplay is frequently compared to U2 -- and this one is the only track on this album that fits that bill. This one could be found on U2's "Joshua Tree" album -- it is beautiful. But, Bono would sing it better .... Nonetheless, this one is worth the wait.
(6) "M.M.I.X." -- this is an ambient intro track -- producer Brian Eno in full force here -- leads us to the next track.
(7) "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall" -- the album's first single -- synth pop again. And, once again, tastes great, but is less filling. Will it play well in concert in a stadium? Of course it will. But, will it leave a lasting mark? No it won't. High production values. Low impact. And, the lyrics -- "I'd rather be a comma, than a full stop" -- really? C'mon Chris, is that all you got?
(8) "Major Minus" -- up-tempo again -- and the chorus sounds a bit U2-like once again (although the rest of the song doesn't). But, the U2-like chorus is U2 when it is off its game (which also happens). In other words, this one doesn't work. Once again, skip on to the next ....
(9) "U.F.O." -- every Coldplay album needs at least one song with Chris Martin singing alone -- and simply -- over an acoustic guitar for the most part. This is that one on this album. But, while the melodies usually are beautiful for this formula, this one is forgettable ... sadly. Again, a big disappointment.
(10) "Up in Flames" -- this down-tempo spare track is just that -- a downer. Cold. Dull. A throw-away. Is this really one of the top 14 tracks (11 really) that Chris Martin and the boyz could pen in the period of 3 years? I certainly hope not. But, somehow it did find its way onto the album. Skip it.
(11) "A Hopeful Transmission" -- this is the third and final less-than-one-minute intro tracks. Nothing to review -- but the next one is.
(12) "Don't Let It Break Your Heart" -- finally, something to stand up and be inspired by! A stand-out track on the album. Soaring! Inspired! Big! This one will fill the arena. This one stirs the soul. Coldplay can do that when they are "on." This one is. Most of the others on this album aren't. Keep this one. Everyone will be on their feet for this one.
(13) "Up With the Birds" -- this one almost closes the album -- and it begins in typical "album closing mode" with Chris Martin, once again, singing sparely. It then builds. And the "build" is stronger than the spare intro. A middling track. Not memorable. Not a throw-away either. At least it belongs on a Coldplay album ... but by a thread.
(14) "Princess of China" -- well lookie lookie here -- Rihanna joins the band for this one. But who doesn't Rihanna join at this point? Exciting possibilities, right? Wrong. She is largely wasted. As is the band itself. As a closing track on the album, it leaves me cold. No passion yet again. Much like the first real track, it is ear candy. It tastes alright. But then it's gone. No lasting impact.
And, voila -- there it is. If I were a writer for Rolling Stone -- I would give "Mylo Xyloto" 2 starts out of 5.
A big disappointment.
Too bad -- two of my favorite bands, Death Cab for Cutie -- and now Coldplay -- seem to be losing their way (here is the link to my track-by-track review of Death Cab's latest album, "Codes & Keys", which improved on their previous album "Narrow Stairs"). I understand they both want to break-away from their original "sound" and try new things. I really do understand that. It worked for Coldplay on their last album -- "Viva la Vida (or Death and All Its Friends)" -- but it doesn't work here.
Coldplay -- it's time to "Fix You." As the soup nazi would say, "NEXT!"
