And honestly, the song’s success is still to be admired. It was inescapable anywhere music was playing for years after its initial release. The single 'Viva la Vida' has sold over 7 million copies worldwide. Viva la Vida or Death and all his Friends will most likely be remembered for its commercial success.Įveryone and their parents know the title track. One that boasts moments of undeniable beauty and idealism. However, their ambition did result in their weirdest and most colorful record. In reality, they never truly abandoned the safer tendencies to make anything so bold. On paper, it would seem as though Coldplay was crafting their Pet Sounds or Sgt. The band ventured from their signature soft-rock instrumentals for a more global aesthetic: deploying santoors, church organs, handclaps, and huge string sections instead of conventional piano and guitar. With the help of the notoriously unconventional Eno, Martin ditched familiar song structure in favor or sprawling sounds and hidden tracks. They traveled around the world, chanted in Spanish cathedrals and even hired a hypnotist. The band was then adopted by legendary producer Brian Eno, who helped the aforementioned U2 hit an artistic peak with albums like Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby. So they did what any band does to stretch out creatively: Coldplay got weird. Something to prove their artistic worth and undeniable staying power. Although 2008 saw Coldplay poised to become the biggest rock band in the world, they were also looking for a change. As Martin’s formulaic song structure and whimsically vague lyrics had finally hit the ceiling of acceptable after two previously well-received outings. Yet - the album was also considered a critical failure.

The band’s 2005 album, X&Y, was a commercial mammoth: debuting at #1 on the US charts and having since gone 3x platinum. have always come off as that goofy, bashful kid who is just happy to be at the party Their optimism and unassuming tendencies are endearing at best, but quickly prove tiresome if you try to dig for anything deeper.Īt the beginning of 2008, everyone - especially Coldplay themselves - seemed painfully aware of this. Compared to their contemporaries, Chris Martin & co. They’ve never held the (at times) convincing self-importance of U2, or even dared to attempt something as shamelessly brash or theatrical as Muse. They’ve never tampered with the artistic range or bold experimental instincts of Radiohead.

Coldplay album la vida