Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends | 
 enlarge | Manufacturer: Capitol
Category: Digital Music Album
Buy New: $8.99
Rating:  355 reviews
Sales Rank: 13
Genre: international-music
Media: Music Download
Running Time: 0 Minutes
ASIN: B001AU8ZLK
Publication Date: June 17, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 350 more reviews...
 Largo vive el nuevo sonido* June 17, 2008
Amanda Richards (Georgetown, Guyana)
77 out of 100 found this review helpful
Coldplay moves away from their usual radio-friendly soaring anthems, but still score big with their fourth studio album, which is filled with rich instrumental passages, as in the very first track "Life in Technicolor".
The second track "Cemeteries of London" reminds me of soundtrack music from those old spaghetti westerns, but with deep and introspective lyrics:
"God is in the houses and God is in my head... and all the cemeteries in London...
I see God come in my garden, but I don't know what he said,
For my heart it wasn't open..."
Third track "Lost" is a plaintive song, minus a clearly defined chorus, but not missing it for a moment.
This is the point where the album really takes off. Chris Martin's vocals stand out from the muted but beautiful background melody of "42", and then it kicks up a notch by the end. The next two tracks are two-fers, each approximately 7 minutes of classic Coldplay. "Lovers in Japan" flows into the introspective "Reign of Love", and then "Yes" leads in the hidden (mostly instrumental) track "Chinese Sleep Chant". On "Yes", Chris Martin reaches deep down into his vocal range, and pulls out some of his lowest notes ever.
This brings us to the best (and most radio friendly) track on the album. The title track "Viva La Vida" comes closest to mainstream, and is an instant favorite on the first listen. Hot on its heels comes the other single "Violet Hill" which features a guitar solo in the middle before Martin comes back in to ask, among other things, "If you love me, Won't you let me know? "
The short ten-track album closes with "Strawberry Swing" and the melancholy "Death and All His Friends".
Slower, darker and more meditative, yes
Mainstream, no
Brilliant, definitely
Amanda Richards, June 17, 2008
*supposed to mean "Long live the new sound", but I'm open to correction.
Assuming We Knew Nothing of Coldplay... June 17, 2008
Liam F. (Melbourne, VIC Australia)
25 out of 26 found this review helpful
And assuming that we had no knowledge of any of Coldplay's previous 3 albums, and assuming that we had no idea of Coldplay's alleged greatness in today's music world. So without any comparison or benchmark, here's what I have to say.
"Life in Technicolor" is so aptly titled. An instrumental arrangement that gradually picks up in volume, texture and excitement, this album opener is so colourful it reminds you of a carnival. It gets your foot tapping and your head nodding. Some sources rumour that this song will be sung in words in Coldplay's next CD. The mood then glooms down when "Cemeteries of London" comes along. Sinister synthesizers flood the atmosphere and mysterious notes tinkle from the piano before the beats enter and the song erupts into a minor-key rock anthem. You'll find yourself singing "la la la la la" in no time. "Lost" bounds in, as track #3, with claps and a bouncy beat. Featuring some of the most intriguing lyrics (either deep or nonsensical will depend on you) - "just because I'm hurting, doesn't mean I'm hurt" and "just because I'm losing, doesn't mean I'm lost" - this song maintains the upbeat tempo throughout.
The mood becomes sombre once again at the beginning of "42". Apparently this is the favourite number of this band's lead singer. Anyway, by the time you finish pondering what makes 42, the number, so likeable, this song takes a sharp turn and rages forward, pounding drums screeching guitars and all. "42" finishes off back where it began - kinda like a fine day turning into a storm and becoming peaceful once again after the storm. Work of art. "Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love" is really 2 songs. "Lovers in Japan" sports a `happy' tune, with racing piano. If drums were replaced by a techno beat, it could easily pass off as the next hottest dance-pop tune in the vein of Dario G's "Sunchyme". "Reign of Love" is soothing, tranquil and relaxing. The vocals are gentle, cradled by softly played piano, all enveloped by warm synthesizers. Reminiscent of a walk in the garden in the evening.
"Yes/Chinese Sleep Chant" is once again 2 songs. "Yes" seems like it is sung by a different singer. Turns out it's not. Same singer, lower register. Interesting presentation. Dangerous sounding, minor-key tune. At the 1:33 mark, Arabic-flavoured strings add zest to the instrumental arrangement of the song. "Chinese Sleep Chant" could easily sit in the track listing of the soundtrack to "Lost in Translation". Guitar distortion and feedback, pounding drums, and a faded yet ethereal voice makes listening to this track a giddying sensation. You could be hypnotised.
"Viva La Vida". Remarkably intelligent songwriting. Encapsulates originality, creativity, artsiness and yet retains every element needed for commercialism. Chorus is catchy as ever. The bell and strings stick in your head - for a long, long time. "Roman cavalry choirs", "Jerusalem" and "St Peter" will pop up in your head a lot. Come minute mark 3:00, when the band erupts into "Oh oh oh oh oh", the song lift itself into the stratosphere, sweeping you along with it. "Violet Hill" comes next. A dark, brooding rock song, A piano-laced song, sprinkled with distorted electric guitar and a mean guitar solo - I'm inclined to call this rock song of the year. A little U2, a little Phil Collins, a little White Stripes - brilliant.
"Strawberry Swing" starts like a folk tune. The beats enter like tribal drums. Can you see yourself dancing around the fire? Catchy melody, immaculate instrumentation. "Death and All His Friends" is a piano-based song that starts with a gentle lullaby-ish chanting and builds up into a soaring and memorable crescendo, as the album bids you good-bye with a reprise of "Life in Technicolor", entitled "The Escapist". "Death and All His Friends" reminds you what a thrilling ride your musical senses have just been on. By the time this CD leaves you, you'd be eager to push play again.
"Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends" is a most enjoyable listening experience that keeps getting better each time. Don't judge it in comparison to the 3 previous Coldplay CDs. This one is completely different but just as, if not more, haunting.
Liam
18 June 2008
Brilliant and dark August 4, 2008
R. Kyle (USA)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
There is not much more I can add to the discussion of this product. "Viva La Vida" isn't the Coldplay that dominated airplay with their last release. "Viva La Vida" is deeper, darker and more emotive. So far, the title song and "Violet Hill" are the two leaders from this collection. I like the album cuts: "Cemeteries of London", "Yes," and "Strawberry Swing."
I liked Coldplay before this, but I only bought selected cuts. I love this sound--and yes, I own the whole CD.
Rebecca Kyle, August 2008
Bets of 2008: Viva Coldplay! June 26, 2008
Manny Hernandez (Palo Alto, CA)
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
After their previous album, I had dismissed Coldplay, but having enlisted Brian Eno may have been one of the most brilliant moves ever made by British band. They actually sound a LOT better than U2 (one of the bands whose sound Eno helped shape) these days.
From the opening instrumental "Life In Technicolor," you know you are in front of a great album. Viva La Vida blends diverse ethnic influences in a brilliant way (in "Yes" there are Middle Eastern sounds and in "Cemeteries of London" there's clapping reminiscent of Flamenco music). Yet, you still get the "classic" Coldplay sound, with Martin doing some basic piano stunts with a background of strings (as he does in "42"). There are SO many great songs in the album that it's hard to single out one of them: the title track really stands out; you will also enjoy the vibe of "Lovers In Japan" and "Strawberry Swing" which reminds of Travis at times.
The second half of the album has three songs that clock at more than 6 minutes. The final track, "Death and All His Friends," is the closing parenthesis that complements beautifully the opening track, wrapping up the album in an uplifting way. All in all, Viva La Vida will easily make it to my list of Best of 2008.
Great new Coldplay, nice production & orchestration June 19, 2008
Jed Shlackman (Miami, FL United States)
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
Coldplay is creating some of the best music around, and this album enhances their form. I found every song here to be solid, no filler, and this album is full of hits... the orchestral viva la vida is energetic and fits in with the melodic and somewhat melancholic range of tunes on the album. If you like the previous Coldplay albums this one should satisfy you. Not much more needs to be said!
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