Track Listing

1. Life In Technicolor
2. Cemeteries Of London
3. Lost
4. 42
5. Lovers In Japan/Reign Of Love
6. Yes
7. Viva La Vida
8. Violet Hill
9. Strawberry Swing
10. Death And All His Friends

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #45 in Music
• Released on: 2008-06-12
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk review
To say there has been a lot of anticipation for Coldplay’s fourth album, Viva La Vida, is an understatement. Having enlisted legendary leftfield producer Brian Eno, borrowed their album title from a painting by renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and made tantalising remarks about sonic reinvention, the world has been curious (to say the least) to hear what the ‘new’ Coldplay might sound like. Viva La Vida definitely makes some departures from the band’s usual formula, which happens to be one of the most commercially successful rock-pop blueprints of recent years. The plangent chords, emotive melodies, stadium-rock rhythms and universal lyrical concerns remain, but Martin and co. have gone out on several limbs here, incorporating instrumental tracks ("Life In Technicolour"), using subtle North African and Latin elements ("Yes", "Strawberry Swing"), and overhauling previously strict verse-chorus-verse structures in favour of slightly more avant arrangements. The old Coldplay still shine through (see tracks like "Violet Hill" and the title song) but even their classic sound feels more muscular and confident. The band’s new flourishes, cosmetic and self-conscious as they may be, are enough to make Viva La Vida a welcome break from the old routine--Danny McKenna

CD Description
Coldplay’s fourth studio album, Viva La Vida, Or Death And All His Friends, sees the band emerge from the success of 2005's X&Y with the same hunger that has gained them global success ever since 2000's Parachutes. Lead single "Violet Hill" contains trademark catchy piano hooks, along with a heavy guitar edge.

Coldplay Photos

Did You Know...

• Coldplay are supporters of Amnesty International, and singer Chris Martin is also noted as one of the most visible celebrity advocates for fair trade, supporting Oxfam's "Make Trade Fair" campaign
• The band had two other names, Pectoralz and Starfish, before settling on the now-famous Coldplay
• Chris Martin is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow, and the couple have two children, Apple and Moses
• Chris Martin is ambidextrous. He writes with his left hand, plays guitar the orthodox way, and draws with his right hand
• Lead guitarist Jonny Buckland is the godfather of Martin's daughter Apple
• Buckland studied astronomy and mathematics at University College London, where drummer Will Champion also studied anthropology
• Bass player Guy Berryman is rumored to be the U.K.'s fourth richest man under the age of 30

More from Coldplay
X&Y	Parachutes	A Rush of Blood to the Head	Coldplay - Live 2003 (DVD)
The Best of Coldplay for Easy Piano (songbook)	Coldplay: Complete Chord Songbook	X&Y: For Piano, Voice and Guitar (Songbook)	X&Y t-shirt

Customer Reviews

Brilliant!
This, for me personally is my favourite Coldplay album yet.
I think they're finding their sound, expressing their personality and experimenting on this album making it much more interesting, daring and individual than X&Y and even A rush of Blood.
I like this new, evolving nature in Coldplay, more of the same please!

Coldplay's New Sound: Different But Still Amazing!
I can't believe the amount of people on here who are saying 'Oh, it's not like the old Coldplay, it's a bit weird...' Ok, so Coldplay have changed their sound and it's almost nothing like their previous three albums. Who cares? Over the years, most bands have changed their sound a bit, because, to be honest, who would really even like them if they kept on making the same old stuff? I am still completely in love with the older albums but have to admit that if this album was exactly the same then I wouldn't be a Coldplay fan any more. Change for bands is good if it is the way they want to go. If Coldplay themselves didn't like this sound, then neither would I. But it is what they wanted and I like that about them. If you are a 'die-hard' Coldplay fan then you will always go with what the band is doing but still love the old stuff. I only really got into Coldplay about 3 or 4 years ago when I was about 9 or 10, and at first I hated X & Y and Parachutes. But now my taste in music has matured and I love them as much as 'A Rush of Blood to the Head' and 'Viva La Viva or Death and All His Friends.' This album is full of potential number one's, not just Viva La Vida and Violet Hill. They were all brilliant tracks but here are the ones which stood out for me (in order of the listing).

Life in Technicolour: This one sounded, at first, a bit airy-fairy, if you get what I mean, and then developed into a real stunner of a track! Yes it's an instrumental but that doesn't take away from it.
Lost: Lost sounds like something you'd expect to hear at a sports game, it is anthemy and upbeat. The rhythm sounds a bit like Queen's We Will Rock You.
42: It is quite hard to describe. The lyrics are a bit ghostly and the piano music is quite haunting but it's a great song all the same!
Lovers In Japan/Reign of Love: I caught one person complaining about the 'double-barrel' title, but once again, who cares? It's a great song. That's all there is to it.
Viva La Vida: What can I say? It's catchy, upbeat, has great lyrics which you can't help but sing along to and it is just a downright magic song!
Violet Hill: I absolutely hate the first 40-ish seconds as there is no point in it, but after this the song is one of Coldplay's best. The guitar music is just indescribable and any true fan will love it.
Strawberry Swing: This, in my opinion, is one of the best tracks on the album. It has the feeling of quality about it and the rhythm is fabulous. Chris Martin's vocals are, as ever, amazing.
Death and All His Friends: There are very few words which can describe this song accurately so I'm not going to even try. Just listen to it, OK!
The Escapist: Why is this song not listed on Amazons track listing? Is it a hidden track or something? Anyway, it is a fab song to put it simply.

Hope you take notice of this review and get it into your head to go out and buy a simply mind-boggling album!

Different but Brilliant
Ok, when i first buy my cd i always drift through it, listen to the song with a gd start and gain a first impression. First impressions weren't good. so i left it a couple of weeks and decided to listen to it again, this time the whole way through. thinking i didn't like it i was pretty reluctant to do so, but i did and i was shocked, shocked at how i had completely missed coldplays aim. to create a quility album which isn't too full on. every song is brilliant in its own way, hardly any of the songs are the same but they are all great. if coldplay havn't been your thing in the past give them another go, you may be pleasantly surprised.
Jimborogers