Special Request, Lockout Edition: A review of ColdPlays new album "MYLO XYLOTO"

ColdPlay has been in the music making business for quite some time. They first made waves in Europe with their song Yellow, and since then developed a deep following that has followed them for 15 years. Like most veteran artists and bands, Coldplay has sought to expand their musical arsenal by experimenting with various different concepts. "Mylo Xyloto", the strange title of their brand new album, attempts to be ColdPlays new mark. A culmination of the Old "Parachutes" combined with the experiences through there last album "VIVA LA VIDA or Death and All his Friends". So how does "Mylo Xyloto" matchup to previous ColdPlay albums?

The album begins with the title track, "Mylo Xyloto" and right from the start theres a strangeness to the album. I am a personal believer that title tracks for albums should be the underlining tracks of the album. Perhaps not the best, but the most thought about, the track that somehow centers and guides the album to its fated destination. However, Mylo Xyloto, the title track, is nothing more than a short instrumental snippet that leads into the second track.

There is no real distinct strength or weakness to this little snippet that has earned the title track, instead it is more like the opening credits to some Movie, the title is shown and that simply is the focus. The track is simply created to let the listener know that he/she has entered ColdPlays album, and its time to dive in.

The second track, is the first song. "Hurts like Heaven" seamlessly branches off Mylo Xyloto and immediately puts the listener on the defensive. It starts fast both with the instruments and the lyrics hitting the ears of its listener. The lyrics are quick questions, with no attempt to wait for the listener to answer. The song features a nice fusion of Acoustic elements (piano and drums) mixed with heavily distorted guitars surrounded by ambient synths that are woven around the acoustic sounds. Here coldplay only begins to show their experience in the composition of music. The tune is light hearted, a stones throw from "Parachutes" and a bit less mellow than most of ColdPlays songs. The Chorus "You used your heart as a weapon, and it hurts like heaven" is a bit generic but catchy none the less and is accompanied by some nice guitar rifts of various styles.

The song then transitions into track 3, Paradise. Paradise is immediately my favorite track on the album. Lyrically it isnt very amazing at all. Aside from 70% of the song being just one word, and the remaining verses being nothing more than a few lines in totality, this isnt a traditional ColdPlay song. Musically the same could be said as well, however, unlike the lyrics, the song completely dominates on a melodic level. The song opens with a real strings ensemble that segues into a heavy synth intro. Martin opens up the first verse accompanied by his ever fateful piano and some alternative rock sounding drum work which fits well into the song. The first chorus is soft with Martin dutifully doing it as a solo. The second verse adds a few more acoustic components, and even better drum work, and extra bridge and leads up to something amazing...the second chorus. I relish that most people tend to get lost in the mellowness of the track till this point, forgetting about the great pickup in the intro. Well that amazing synth pickup returns in the second chorus along with every band member singing the chorus akin to a choir. The effect of this is incredible.

(true story, every time i play this for someone in my car, they often stop in mid speech or mid thought to be overcome by this second chorus)

The affect of the second chorus is a great push that ultimately helps the listener push through the rest of the song which just remains consistent throughout. This unique track and its incredible audio affect on the listener is certainly the gem of the album.

The 4th track is another great one, Charlie Brown. The song starts with some synthetic sound effects however after that goes completely acoustic save for the electric guitar. The melody and lyrics are catchy and the pace of the song is just beautiful.

The 5th track is something straight out of Rush of Blood, a folk like song. The song features a nice duet of acoustic and electric guitar and the ever faithful piano and simply not much else. Lyrically its probably the most powerful of all the songs on the album. Theres a certain comfort level for the band in this song thats very audible, and it makes it a nice easy listen. Its a nice homage to Coldplays roots and what made them famous.

M.M.I.X is another strange title and another strange prelude to the next song. Again aside from the transitional sounds, theres really nothing to take from the track. It however does merge into ColdPLays first single for the album.

"Every Tear is A Waterfall" brings the energy back into the album. Its composed in a similar manner as "Hurts like Heaven" starting slow filled with synthetic affects and leading into more rock and roll build up. The build is similar to that of Fix You, and the instrumental work (especially the guitar) reminds me of "Strawberry Swing" from Viva La Vida yet having less affect than either. The lyrics are filled with metaphors and similes. Its a decent song, but very safe and generic sounding.

Major Minus is track that sounds like something the band might have written right before X and Y and right after Rush of Blood. Its a nice song that reminds me of the songs that really got me into ColdPlay, the guitar work is terrific and fun. Amateur guitarists all over the world will be trying to learn the various chords and tabs for the song. Its a fun song that reaches out to the XandY fans.

U.F.O is another slower more mellow old school Colplay sounding track. This to me sounds like Parachute's (the title song from the same album) long lost brother. Vocally i think this is the best song on the album. Theres a string ensemble that accompanies Chris Martins voice here, but really its Martin who shines over this track. Its a quick song having the very known coldplay Mellowness that many have become accustomed too. It ends with a strange transition. Its strange because it seems separate from the song and yet unlike MYLO XYLOTO or M.M.I.X it doesnt have its own track. The transition leads to something different.

Coldplay has done mash-ups with different Rap Artists before, but they take it to another level in this duet with Rihana. I am not a big fan of Rihana, but i have to give credit to the composition of this song. For one thing, it sounds like Fei Long from street fighter's theme. The Track is called Chinese Princess, and indecently Fei Long hailed from china himself. I think one of the best aspects of the composition of the song is where the chorus is. Theres two verses and seemingly two bridges, with the only real chorus being that fei longish sounding synth accompanied by the singers "ohhh"s. The song ends brilliantly with Rihana singing "Cuz he really hurt me" as Martin sings simultaneously "Cuz she really hurt me". The songs composition works like a story. While many might hate to admit it, this is a great song, despite the obvious elements of the Top 40 artist Rihana.

Up in flames is awesome in its simplicity. The lyrics are a bit generic and its one of the more ballad-like songs ColdPlay has ever created. The drums are electric and eventually a simple tune is played on a heavily distorted guitar which is interesting since the rest of the song is just Martin Singing accompanied by a quiet piano. The song is Complex in its simplicity and works really well, it ends as if there was never a build up and illustrates via sound the affect of something burning slowly "up in flames".

"A Hopeful Transition" is another strange interlude instrumental. This one having a faster pace until it slows down to suddenly be awakened by...

"Dont Let it Break You" is filled with hard hitting symbols accompanied by vocal effects on Martins voice and sound effects flowing freely throughout the song. Whatever calming effect "A Hopeful Transmission" had, is completely wiped away replaced by a more energetic mellow sound. This song has distorted lyrics and distorted instruments galore and ultimately serves as what i could only imagine as the closing credits to a movie where all loose ends are wrapped up suggesting that whatever story is being told is ending happily.

Finally the album ends with "Up with the Birds". As a stand alone track its pretty average. However, it is meant as the finale of the album. I am reminded of Oceans 11's end with the great las vegas fountain and all the characters saying their goodbyes as they all go their separate ways. In many ways, i believe that is the point of this song. It has one last quick pick up before finally floating away, as the album ends.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Ultimately i think MYLO XYLOTO is a great coldplay album since it marks the varied paths they have taken musically throughout their existence. In fact i would argue that the organization of the album is almost like a journey through the many faces of coldplay for the last decade and a half. Starting with fresher newer directions then suddenly getting a sense of realization of their past in "Us Against the World" which leads them back into the present time (M.M.I.X) which transitions into a song (Every Tear is a Raindrop) that sounds like something that could fit between Viva La Vida and XandY and then comes Major Minus which looks like it would fit between A rush of Blood and XandY, and UFO which could fit between Parachutes and A Rush of Blood, before finally being jerked back to the Present in Princess of China. Then the Album, almost like a Movie concludes with a happy ending and closing credits making the listener wonder, "will there be a sequel?"

In that sense the album achieves its goal masterfully, a homage to their loyal fans while also allowing themselves to push and test their boundaries and expand their music. As the album ends and begins again, Mylo Xyloto, that odd title track that seemed misplaced, it finds meaning as the Band comes full circle, and then moves forward.

I enjoyed the album, and while it may not be the best ColdPlay album ever, it certainly has tons of thought and Intelligence in its Composition that it should satisfy ColdPlay fans, present, past, and even those who are just now discovering them. Well Done ColdPlay...Well done...