City Newspaper Archives - 7/2008
Coldplay "Viva La Vida"
Capitol Records
Published by Brendan Giusti on Jul 02, 2008
On its latest album, Coldplay mixes the unmistakable synthesizer sounds of European dance-hall anthems with the hooks of straightforward pop. The lyrics lean heavily toward the abstract and never really give a blunt message, but they remain powerful and maintain a sing-along quality. This album comes across as the band's attempt to borrow and assemble various musical styles on one cohesive disc. "42" is a carbon copy of Radiohead's "Exit Music For a Film," with an added twist of Pink Floyd orchestral strings. There's also the 1980's styled "Violet Hill," and the distinct U2/Sting vibe of "Cemeteries of London." Coldplay has figured out that if you're going to borrow, you might as well borrow from the best.
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