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: #3 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

I love this CD!
I've always liked Coldplay and previously bought Parachutes and A rush of blood to the head. However I didn't rush out to the buy this one as I wasn't overly impressed by the single Violet Hill but Viva La Vida does not disappoint. I feel with this album they have grown and evolved, it is creative, full of feeling and depth, gentler than A rush of blood to the head. I love so many tracks especially 42, Reign of Love, Lovers in Japan, and Death and his friends. There is only one track that I skip - Yes. It's the type of album that gives you goosebumps. People assume that Coldplay are dull and pretentious but IMO they are talented and provide something different from the rest. Give it a try and I'm sure you'll grow to love it!

Hoots man!
Since their successful and widely popular debut 'Parachutes', Coldplay have been accused of playing it safe; sticking to the same routine and allowing themselves to stagnate in a well of mediocrity. This latest effort, then, could be regarded as a step into the unknown - a risk aimed at breaking into the world of rock immortality. The sleeve certainly makes it look this way. Gone is the standard font and minimalist cover art, and in with the romantic, renaissance war scene, with the album title scrawled nihilistically on the front in white chalk (doesn't the guy lying dead in the bottom right look like Chris Martin?).

So no one can accuse Coldplay of sticking to the agenda here. Unfortunately, the direction they've stepped in has left them waist-deep in manure, frantically clawing at the reeds and perhaps wishing they'd stayed on the safe footpath of 'Parachutes' et al instead of leaping wildly into the undergrowth in search of musical evolution.

Ok so it's not that bad. There are some really nice noises coming out from time to time - for instance the intro/outro loop and the latter half of 'Death and All His Friends'. Sadly, the majority of the album sounds like an anthology of Scottish line-dancing anthems. Some of the beats are unforgivably cheesy and cloying, making the listener's spine concertina in loathing and vitriol. I'm looking specifically at 'Lost!', 'Strawberry Swing' and 'Lovers in Japan' here. There's an impossible tension between the rare but enticing synth tones of 'Life in Technicolour' and the morbidly cringe-worthy stomp of 'Strawberry Swing' and 'Lost!' that makes you wonder if Chris Martin is trying to make a Proclaimers tribute album or an alternative score for the 'Lord of The Rings' movies. Intelligent, sickeningly beautiful guitar melodies from the 'Parachutes' era have been replaced over time with over-produced, pedestrian instrumental hooks that leave you wanting to bite off your own face in frustration and disappointment.

And then there're the lyrics. My word. I can remember being at primary school and being told to write a four line poem that rhymed. A simple exercise, that left me feeling satisfied at my own puerile creativity. I can imagine a similar aura of smug surrounding Chris Martin, after penning the gem:

'You might be a big fish in a little pond
Doesn't mean you've won
Cos along may come a bigger one'

It's the kind of thing you might shout at a bully from the safety of your dad's car when he's driving you home from school. It's disgraceful, and unfortunately it shows (if we weren't sure already) that Coldplay and Chris Martin have run out of ideas. Moving in a new direction is fine, but it doesn't mean you can just release a collection of substandard B-sides and call it innovation. If you're unable to stray from a formula, stick to the knitting - at least you'll never be accused of selling out.

Empty and vile
The absence of everything spontaneous, beautiful and courageous in music. Cod poetry mired down by turgid dirgery with all the wit and sophistication of a rotten cat dropping.

Some posh boy warbles unconvincingly over U2's sub-Bsides and expects the world to be saved while I boak heartily into a straw boater.

Music for people with no love for music and no clue about life.