The only record you’ll hear Coldplay and Rihanna singing Taylor Swift-like lyrics about princesses and castles is “Mylo Xyloto.”
Coldplay’s fifth album, “Mylo Xyloto,” dropped Oct. 24. But rather than making a splash in the alternative rock world, it barely caused a ripple.
Arguably, this is Coldplay’s most uninspired album yet. Lyrics like “I could’ve been a princess, you’d be a king, could have had a castle and wore a ring” from “Princess of China” belong in the realm of frothy pop rather than in Coldplay’s generally more serious world.
The album is utterly uncourageous. Songs like “Paradise” and “U.F.O.” hint at Coldplay’s successful past, but for the most part the album isn’t cohesive. Songs range from the upbeat, dance track “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall” to the mournful “Up With the Birds.”
That being said, it does have a few gems. “Paradise” showcases Chris Martin’s sweeping voice singing lyrics about a girl who wishes she could fly away to paradise. The title track is interesting as well. Though it is lyricless, the computerized beat provides an extended intro that leads nicely into the next song, “Hurts Like Heaven.”
But for every good song in the album, there is a bewildering one as well. “Up In Flames” begins with a techno beat that segways into soft vocals and a few piano chords, resulting in an ultimately unsuccessful mix.
The album was named for nonsense words on the basis that Google was once a nonsense word that then became part of modern language. Unfortunately, nothing in the album indicates that “Mylo Xyloto” will gain such global applause.
Chris • Jan 24, 2012 at 6:40 pm
I like Coldplay, and, while this album is remniscent of their previous album, Viva la Vida (ODAAHF) some songs do hint at Coldplay’s previous stye from the first 3 (awesome) albums. Tracks such as Charlie Brown really bring back the U2-ish tones of X&Y, and Major Minus reminds fans of the other darker works like Daylight, A Rush of Blood and God Put a Smile Upon Your Face. However, overall, this album is a dissapointment for CP fans who were expecting a (very much needed) return to the old Coldplay.
poop • Nov 8, 2011 at 8:06 am
Coldplay is awesome!!!!!!!! face it an you know it anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry your wrong!
Both Can Be Right • Nov 1, 2011 at 3:21 pm
Just because something is internationally recognized (as noted by the first commenter) doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good (what Carolyn argues). Even though the first commenter might be a large fan of Coldplay, he/she does make a valid point. Even so, many songs that are at the top of the billboard are not that good, but are still listened to. Everyone is a. entitled to their own opinion and b. right.
Poster Above Needs Reality Check • Oct 30, 2011 at 10:56 pm
The above poster is clearly a Coldplay fanboy. Nicely written, Carolyn.
I disagree • Oct 28, 2011 at 12:46 pm
I usually agree with the viewpoints expressed in your articles, Carolyn– but this is flat out incorrrect. As of now, Mylo Xyloto is the number one selling album on ALL 35 of the iTunes music stores worldwide according to Coldplay’s twitter feed… I have checked the iTunes store listings in the US and it is definitely the number one selling album there.
So next time you write that,”Unfortunately, nothing in the album indicates that “Mylo Xyloto” will gain such global applause,” maybe you should check what the population actually thinks about the album.
I have listened to each and every song on the album numerous times and I have found that the album as a whole is totally different from Coldplay’s previous albums. In fact, since the entire album runs seamlessly from song to song, I’m confused why you wrote that the album “fails to bring anything new to the table.” This has never been done in a Coldplay album in the past.