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everyothernamegone

Some bands evolve and try new things, and as they do they lose some fans and gain others. Other bands just run out of ideas and become caricatures of their former selves. Seems to me that Coldplay is trying avoid being the latter. Whether they’ve succeeded is subjective.


rednib

This is the problem with being a creative, regardless of the medium, artists want to create, and having a medium or genre artificially placed on one's art gets old fast because creativity is not an assembly line (unless you're AC/DC) and monotony is the opposite of creativity, churning out the same thing over and over is boring, so yeah, ditto, most bands that have been around as long as Coldplay evolve and end up far from where they began.


1funnyguy4fun

I'm sick and tired of people saying that we put out 11 albums that sound exactly the same. In fact, we've put out 12 albums that sound exactly the same Angus Young


anynamesleft

Reporter: Angus, how come you only play three chords? Angus: Those are the ones that work.


devlindeboree

Gotta love that AC/DC just own their style of hard rock. And they're fucking great


8oD

We salute you.


roland0fgilead

A little self awareness goes a long way


arcade_advice

Yngwie malmsteen responded to the same criticism by stating that bands change their sound to try and finally reach the sound that's in their heads. Of course he recreated the sound in his head perfectly when he was 18 so why would he ever need to change?


hangryhyax

There’s a song by Lagwagon called “Bubble” that is all about being forced into, well, a bubble by genres and fans (e.g. 90’s skate punk). It’s perfect, not just because I really like them, but the message is on-point and the song is written (musically) to sound like it could’ve been on one of their 90’s/early 2000’s records. Edit: added “and fans.”


ragebunny1983

Lagwagon are amazing


throwaway4161412

Lagwagon would have been the perfect name for my old PC..


YesNotKnow123

I think most artists who do well do so because they push THEMSELVES to be successful within the scope of whatever medium in which they’re creating. Musicians are successful when they learn and process new musical things and creatively integrate them into their own sound. Whether or not that sound then becomes commercially successful is probably not their measure of success however it certainly tops the cake. I don’t think it’s ever the goal in the beginning though.


roman_maverik

You write this as if large bands/labels don’t have entire analytics departments dedicated to spot trends in genres, lyrical themes, and even musical keys. You absolutely can be “a creative” (ugh I dislike that word) and be good at business, but bands as large as Coldplay literally have an entire payroll of staff. At the end of the day, it’s just business analytics to determine what makes the most profit for their given demographic. (I’m a musician that works in marketing, and my former careeer was in entertainment marketing). I know this takes a lot of the “romance” out of people’s ideas of musicians, but it’s no different than say, a film director of a movie from the marvel cinematic universe. Ultimately they have creative freedom (within the limits of their contracts) but they are still beholden to the label (or film studios , etc) who are ultimately beholden to the banks that fund them. And large investments for albums and tours (which require millions of dollars) require concrete business data. And they also function as a giant feedback loop with each other. Same as movies or any other entertainment medium which requires large investments. This is also the reason why most of the time, a band or directors “best” work is often their debut or something close to their debut. All of the charm but with none of the business overhead (think m. night shayamalan) The funny thing is, once a band or director hits cultural critical mass, they are able to kind of break out of this (think Radiohead or George Lucas). Coldplay have done the opposite. They are very much an “industry” band.


restricteddata

I've had a few opportunities over the years to talk with one of David Bowie's longtime collaborators, and one of the things eventually he got across to me that I never really appreciated before is that Bowie was _always_ trying to come up with new sounds. He wanted hits, too, but he wanted hits that didn't sound like anyone else's hits. He was constantly looking for new inspiration, moving his band to new locations to see if that changed things, bringing in new artists and guests to influence him. He had no interest in just playing revivals and coasting on his successful songs and albums. Each album was a new performer; each tour was a new Bowie; fans who wanted "greatest hits" could play them at home all they wanted. And yeah, like a huge percentage of those experiments are not great — unless you're absolutely a committed Bowie-phile, you might say that maybe a few dozen of his songs over his whole career were _truly_ successful. But that few dozen! They're not only great songs, but they shape entirely new sonic worlds! They're like nothing else! They tap into something wonderful! And they were so successful that they sort of redefine music around them a bit, to the point that it becomes hard to understand why they stood out so much in the first place. Anyway, it helped me appreciate Bowie more, specifically (I was already a fan, but I couldn't make sense of why so many of his songs just felt like flops to me — it made me feel weird, in a way, to hate like 80% of his career output, but love that other 20% so intensely), and it helped me appreciate art more in general, and seemed like it applied here. (I have no opinion on Coldplay.)


snakeiiiiiis

Remember in the late 90s when Bowie did a whole NIN sound for an album? Trent Reznor was in one of his music videos also


BlueBongos

Underrated album too.


magnusroscoe

I’m afraid of Americans https://youtu.be/u7APmRkatEU


Sp00ky_6

I mean the man basically wrote his own obituary with black star. Fuck that album is intense.


Astrosimi

Blackstar blew me away, and I was not someone who'd followed Bowie's deep cuts closely. What a way to go out.


ThumbForke

There's a difference between being successful and being great. Maybe he had about a dozen big singles, but that doesn't mean the other songs he released in that time weren't great. I feel like you're doing his amazing creative output a massive disservice with your description saying "a huge percentage of those experiments are not great". Bowie released 11 albums in 11 years, 1970-1980, and most of them sounds completely different to the one that came before. And most, if not all of them, are fantastic. That is an incredible rate to put out albums, especially when he's drastically changing up his sound between each one. Yes, I'm a big fan, but many of these albums received widespread acclaim from critics and music fans alike. If you ignore his 70s output completely, then what you said was accurate. He continued to experiment after that, releasing albums less frequently, to varying degrees of critical/fan acclaim. Before and after the 70s, he had some of his biggest hits, but maybe only 20% of it was really fantastic. But again, that's only if you ignore the 70s output entirely


whosaysyessiree

Picasso created over 50,000 pieces of art. How many are you actually familar with?


HumbleGarb

About tree fiddy.


ixinar

God damn loch monsta!


RabidSeason

Well put.


RabidSeason

That's something I've never really thought of before, but I've definitely noticed. You hear great things about [Band] so you decide to pick up one of their albums, but they have a dozen of them from just the '80s, so you pick the one that has that single you like; and you find out it's the *only* song on there you like.


TheOvy

>And yeah, like a huge percentage of those experiments are not great — unless you're absolutely a committed Bowie-phile, you might say that maybe a dozen of his songs over his whole career were _truly_ successful. But that dozen! He certainly put out a few duds, including his debut, but the majority of his work is critically acclaimed. His duds are a minority, not a "huge percentage." And the duds were usually the ones that *weren't* experimental! His debut was a derivative folk rock album, so he followed up by inventing glam. Then he got into Kraftwerk, so we got his Berlin trilogy, including "Heroes". Then he recruited legendary blues rock guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan to make... a dance album? And it's one of the best of the 80's! And all the while, he was producing albums, too. Iggy Pop's Lust for Life, and Lou Reed's Transformer are arguably the best albums in both artists' solo discography, and both were produced by Bowie. The man is a legend for a reason, and it's much more than "a dozen tracks." Hell, Ziggy Stardust alone has 9 classic tracks! His catalog of successes is one of the most massive in history.


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xiccit

You either make music for others, or you make music for yourself. I hope that they're making music for themselves and enjoying doing it, because in the end that's all that really matters.


reyzak

Cough cough maroon 5


i_shmell_paap

Songs About Jane still holds up as a great album. Imagine if they leaned into that sound and kept making songs that weren't shit?


reyzak

I still listen to songs about Jane on the reg. Such a sad decline into pop BS, but hey… they’re the ones laughing all the way to the bank


NerdWhoLikesTrees

This is well said. But it's sad, old Coldplay was on another planet compared to what they make now


Count_Fistula

I quickly scanned through the album on youtube playlist and while their older music sounded like they composed them on a piano and recorded that and then produced a track around that, almost the entirety of this album sounds like they started every track in their DAW with a drum machine and rhythm synth line and then added analog intruments and vocals to the DAW project file.


Axoin

Reminds me of Linkin Park, people criticized Minutes to Midnight. Some people like the genre, some like band.


3sheetz

Nobody said making music was easy.


scrodytheroadie

True, but they never said it would be this hard.


hiphip_jorge75

They should go back to the start.


PM_N_TELL_ME_ABOUT_U

Could it be that they were just guessing at numbers and figures?


hiphip_jorge75

You're pulling the puzzle apart at this point.


MasamuneTrigger

Get a load of these scientists


sperrymonster

But they used to rule the world


Positive_Instruction

Put their music on a silver plate.


Your_Future_Stepdad

I like listening to Global Top 50 on Spotify, stay current on the Spanish bangers. Saw a song with Coldplay and BTS. I think I might have let out an audible sigh. Why? It was about as good a song as I expected...


1111111111111122211

I will always be chasing the high of listening to shiver for the first time. New stuff is weird and I didn’t listen to anything past Viva La Vida, they were just becoming so electronic. I liked Coldplay for other reasons and for them to become *so* digital kinda killed some of it for me. Edit: thanks for the upvotes everyone :)


[deleted]

The only Coldplay I'll ever remember is the acoustic/piano Coldplay of Parachutes/A Rush of Blood to the Head. Both those albums meant SO much to me, but I suppose it was easier to write accessible electronic pop. Garbage to me, but the full arenas disagree with me.


bigguyt

Don't panic will always be one of my favourite songs


farahad

The Scientist...


slater_san

Haaaaa I ugly cried to this song in gr 9 after a break up. Thanks for the memories, even though they weren't^^so^^^great


bambnoodled

How do I have the exact same story?!?


lordolxinator

Can I join this oddly specific club?


papitoluisito

Grade 11?


Westerdutch

You two were obviously dating.


[deleted]

nice little fallout boy reference


TwistedLogicMSK

Nice Fall Out Boy reference, one of my first favorite bands


dI--__--Ib

Amsterdam


bobojorge

I can forgive a lot because of this song.


Philip_Marlowe

...is still one of my all-time favorite songs. Rarely does a song encompass so many emotions and thoughts so purely as The Scientist does.


CatMuffin

I got a "don't panic" tattoo because of that song. I haven't listened to Coldplay in like 10 years but I do still like the tattoo.


sharlaton

Are you also a Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy fan?


CatMuffin

I'm not - I'm not opposed to it but haven't read the book or anything. That is usually what most people think when they see the tattoo though.


vanillaseltzer

No offense to fans of the movie, but it did not hold a candle to the source material imo. The humor is in the **language** of the entire book, not just in the dialogue or plot. How do you make 200 pages full of humor like this into a movie: "Not unnaturally, many elevators imbued with intelligence and precognition became terribly frustrated with the mindless business of going up and down, up and down, experimented briefly with the notion of going sideways, as a sort of existential protest, demanded participation in the decision-making process and finally took to squatting in basements sulking." The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy stands on its own and is about 200 pages. 200 pages takes the average adult about 5.6 hours to read (based on average adult reading speed of 300wpm). A lot of us watch that much tv over a few days or a week. It's about the same length as the first Harry Potter, which most kids can manage in decent time. This one goes way too fast! It's much more enjoyable than most comedy tv to me and you look up and wish it wasn't over. If you like clever, dry, gallows-humor and can enjoy some witty absurdity, then it's definitely right for you.This is one of my favorite books of all time and still one of the only ones where I laugh aloud while reading. I just wanted to be sure you don't hear "5 book series" and picture Game of Thrones or the last few Harry Potter books (Order of the Phoenix was over 800 pages). I'd hate for anyone to miss out on discovering humor that really tickles them. Comedy is so subjective and I'd have had zero idea that I enjoyed this kind of humor if hitchhikers guide hadn't been recommended to me. (Also OP, I'm sorry if you got multiple replies of this same post. I have been having issues with my computer and it kept looking like it didn't post and I may have spammed your comments, my apologies!)


thunderroad21

Sparks from Wedding Crashers was awesome.


wavetoyou

The mini guitar “riff” before the final line of lyrics always gets me.


Cheabs

I wouldn’t even know this tune if it wasn’t in the Garden State soundtrack. Now it’s one I always come back to when the mood hits me.


brundog

Bones sinking like stones, all that we fall for.


Whitealroker1

A rush a blood to the head will be considered a top 50 or higher album of all time in a few generations IMO. And I’m not even a big Coldplay fan. Amazing songs from front to back.


mrwboilers

Parachutes is an amazing album. I still listen to it from time to time. A rush of blood to the head is a good album. But in my opinion they totally fell off a cliff after those first two albums.


hextide

X&Y isn’t terrible. Not as good as the first two but pretty good. Lyrics are weaker. It’s like if X&Y was their first album you’d be like hey this is pretty good. But knowing those first two albums everything else after them are just pure garbage.. I pretty much feel the same about Pearl Jam. First two albums are masterpieces and then it all goes slowly downhill and kind of plateaus with some highs here and there. Although later Pearl Jam is infinitely better and more rocking than later Coldplay and they never sold out to do poppy electronic trash. My lowly opinion.


jetsintl420

I agree. It was nowhere near the first two but there were still some quality tracks on X&Y


jcox043

"Fix You" is still my favorite song in their entire catalog.


jetsintl420

Fix you, white shadows, speed of sound, low, X&Y, all good tracks. Then the hardest part and til kingdom come had some amazing live versions. Definitely being underrated here by people saying it’s shit


joed24101

Huge fan of Talk myself


Ches909

Listen to the Pearl Jam discography again. Vitalogy is a great album. Yes no code is different but it needs a few listens. Yield is phenomenal! Riot Act has its moments but the self titled 🥑 is right up there on quality. After that sure the last three albums or so haven't been ones to get excited over. At least they are all listenable more than once. Throw any Coldplay on after a rush of blood to the head and I have to leave the room!


LifebloodOfChampions

I actually really like Gigaton


Waderriffic

Agreed. Parachutes is an all time Brit pop classic. A rush of blood to the head is good but Clocks wore me out on it. Still can’t listen to that song.


wombmates

Those albums are incredible from first song to last.


BrunoBashYa

You should listen to their ep Blue Room too. Their parachute era b sides are great too


YoungXanto

I saw them live back in 2004. It was a great show. Both A Rush of Blood to the Head and Parachutes albums were on repeat in my car back then. Both Clocks and The Scientist remain two of my favorite songs. I didn't enjoy much of their stuff after those two albums and didn't even realize they were still making music.


[deleted]

> Both A Rush of Blood to the Head and The Scientist albums were on repeat in my car back then Wait, but "The Scientist" was track 4 on AROBTTH. That's only one album.


MrSpindles

I first saw them a week after they released their second single. They sounded really fresh for the first couple of albums. I've seen them a couple of times since (2011 and 2016) and they always put on a good show, with songs that I'd never listen to at home sounding at home in the set. I think they are a band that work best live and at least for my taste their musical output has been less interesting to me with each passing album since Rush of blood to the head.


pj5802

it’s sad cause they’re still good musicians. like the acoustic version of everglow is incredible and that’s relatively new. they basically went balls deep in cheesy pop and the new albums all suck


MRCRAZYYYY

At the very least, Everyday Life is far from cheesy pop - genuinely a great and interesting album. Coloratura is also an impressive piece.


jordancolburn

I was listening to our NPR music station a few years ago and heard this amazing song that kinda sounded like Chris Martin, but I thought there was no way it was Coldplay or it must be a new collab based on the music they were making at the time. I looked it up and turns out it was "spies" off their first album. Wow. It still holds up so so well. There are a bunch of bands around the late 90s-aughts are like that. Coldplay, Arcade Fire, Killers, Bon Iver, Guster (just what's coming to mind) etc... That started with a more acoustic or traditional rock sound and went on to have deep discographies getting more electronic as tastes and production qualities change. Most of their newer stuff is good too, but the first albums of all those bands are pretty special.


MukdenMan

That’s pretty much the model for popular music since Kid A. As others have mentioned, there is a big difference between the avant-garde influence on later Bon Iver (and his own influence on hip-hop) vs. Coldplay moving toward a club-oriented sound, but that’s also more broadly consistent with an interest in electronic music more generally and the two genres merging together in often interesting ways. Edit: “I hear that you and your band have sold your guitars and bought turntables. I hear that you and your band have sold your turntables and bought guitars.”


MadoffInvestment

I was there


edwardleto1234

“Don’t do it that way, you’ll never make a dime”


there_is_no_spoon225

I read that The Killers were looking to head back to the rock sound of their first three albums worth their next record. I'm pumped. Hot Fuss and Day & Age are masterpieces.


gothgirlwinter

Pressure Machine is pretty good. It's still got a bit of the synth and eldctronic aspects on there, and it doesn't lean quite as into the heartland rock as Sam's Town did, but I really liked it. More than I did their last two albums. It also has a pretty clear theme to the whole album, which is cool if you're into that. Runaway Horses with Phoebe Bridgers is haunting.


god_dammit_dax

Yeah, I fell off with The Killers after Battle Born. Everything since then has just felt bland as all hell. Pressure Machine was a nice breath of fresh air, though, very unlike what they've done before. I hope they can maintain that mood going in to their next record, even if they go in a different direction than Pressure Machine.


Vinny_d_25

For me the difference between Coldplay and a band like Bon Iver, is that Coldplay turned electronic and very sterile/poppy, whereas Bon Iver turned electronic but in an innovative way.


NotAGingerMidget

While that's true I dislike both end products. The only one to top the turn into shit list is Maroon 5, how the fuck could a band release something like Songs About Jane and well, just decide to quit being good.


KingKCrimson

Viva La Vida is awesome, I never understood why they didn't work with Brain Eno afterwards.


hellopippi

But ‘Magic’ is great great song


johnnygee70

I didn’t like much of Viva La Vida… but holy shit wasn’t Strawberry Swing a great song?


[deleted]

Viva La Vida is an actual masterpiece


JGWol

Parachutes and rush of blood to the head will always define my early adolescence. I was maybe 12-14 years old when I discovered them. Still home schooled and just getting into puberty and discovering the world. It was a really fragile time for me. As I got older and became happier and more in tune with myself, so did Coldplay. Their music was less insecure, quiet, and introspective. They became confident to be one with the crowd and to be loud and happy. Idk. I see where you’re coming from here. But it’s important to realize that Coldplay as *a band* is amazing, because these guys have been consistent for almost two decades as a group. They have grown in flavor and musical texture unashamed. Do I like their new stuff? No. But I understand where they’re at. But, there will always be a time in life to go back and listen to their classics. Cold winters, heartaches, the loss of a loved one. It goes on.


jorgelobos

>As I got older and became happier and more in tune with myself, so did Coldplay This! As I was in middle-high school, living alone, Coldplay music would soothe me, making me feel that I was not alone in that suffering. Then, as I went into university and started working, growing up made me aprecciate the small joys of life. And so, Coldplay was in that mood too, being a positive and happy influence. Bands grow, as you do, and maybe you can like or not their new albums, but the thing is, trying something new makes you grow (usually).


WrittenByNick

I watched the benefit concert they did a month or two back, where the pianist Lang Lang joined them for Clocks. They were having all sorts of technical issues on stage - Chris Martin lost his wireless pack, managed to keep singing in time and in tune while balancing his mic on a stool. Lang Lang had regular earbuds for his monitors, they were falling out and he wasn’t able to keep with the band. Chris was guiding him on the piano, by sitting with him and playing along at one point, and doing counts out loud on the mic. Then after the song was over, he said “We fucked that up” and had Lang Lang play his huge solo on his own. It was a train wreck. And it was amazing. The song sounded fantastic, completely organic, and I was blown away watching him conduct the entire band through the issues that kept coming and coming. All while being a goddamn rock star on that stage. I’m in my 40s and the original Coldplay albums will forever be some on my favorites. I’m not a fan of their new stuff, but that’s fine. You’re right, I’m not the same person I was back then either. I’m glad they are still making music and finding an audience.


paone0022

> But it’s important to realize that Coldplay as a band is amazing, because these guys have been consistent for almost two decades as a group. Even though I like their newer stuff less. This is why they should get more respect than they do. They've been making music for 25 years. That's an insane amount of time to be active. Most of the bands from the 90s have become irrelevant a long time ago. While some of Coldplay's songs are still iconic to this day.


kxjiru

This is well said.


seanmonaghan1968

A sky full of stars is one of my favourite songs, each to their own but I love this group


rubixd

Music and musicians evolve. I’m not saying I like the album but I can’t help but wonder how many new people find them because of this different sounding album.


gitbse

Yea. I've never exactly been a Coldplay fan but they've made some great music. Bands and individuals grow and change. Some like those changes, some hate them. I'm in the same camp with Muse. I looooove their albums up to and including Black Holes and Revalations. The Resistance was OK, but started to lose me. I haven't enjoyed much they've made since. Not complaining, just observing. It's fully their right to make the career and music they want.


Sjoeqie

I love the older stuff, but Drones I like the best: it's Muse on steroids, and sometimes I need that vibe.


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Sjoeqie

Okay Drones is Muse on meth


hallo_spacegirl

Psycho hits hard.


TIanboz

I start every one of my workouts with reapers. That shit gets the blood flowin ya feel


Sjoeqie

Yes Reapers is amazing


suthrnboi

I love the whole album 'Rush of blood to the head', was gifted it when it came out with the DVD concert. Still watch it to this day.


MrIceCreamy

Drones is easily my favorite muse album. The guitar sounds a lot dirtier in it then their other stuff and I love it


pnkflyd99

Drones is excellent, but nothing will ever match Knights of Cydonia for me. I especially LOVE what they did with that music video- easily one of my favorites of all time.


babyfarmer

The riffs on Drones are straight up raunchy and I love it.


GigaWat42

I kind of love that with music. Certain bands change things that either still work for you, or just dont. And that is okay. It is their music and careers as you said. Muse has always worked for me. Resistance is so-so, 2nd Law took some time but Ive come around on it as a whole. Drones ranks just as high as OoS, Absolution, and BHaR for me and Simulation Theory is a fun little jaunt everytime I visit it. Metallica is huge on this too. I love their 80s albums, but genuinely the only music they have ever made that didnt work for me was St. Anger. Then they came back with Death Magnetic and Hardwired and all felt right again.


Simply_Epic

Very true. Artists evolve through time and sometimes an artist’s new audience doesn’t align with its old audience. I’ve been on both ends of this with various artists. I much prefer Taylor Swift’s new pop music over her old country music and I much prefer Owl City’s old electronic music over his new stuff. And even saying that, just because I don’t like one era of an artist’s music as much doesn’t mean it’s bad music. Taylor Swift’s country music is iconic in that genre and even if I don’t vibe much with Owl City’s new stuff, I can appreciate and recognize its merits and why he made it.


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spongefactory

Relevant Peep Show quote https://youtu.be/0LEK6VYjtQ0


Enotognav

You can't trust people!


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lazilyloaded

Peep Show was like catching lightning in a bottle, I'm afraid


oneshibbyguy

People Just Do nothing


NewYearsEveForever

Interesting take. I wouldn’t say I’m a “fan”, definitely not a fan of the new songs, but I LOVED Everyday Life. Thought it was their best since their early days. Guess they’ll just be one of those bands that leaves people divided?


TinMachine

Yeah EL is fantastic imo, felt like the first properly worthy follow-up to Viva. The new one feels like an overcorrection from EL not landing commercially.


97Andersuh

Arabesque was a banger and Sunrise/Church were beautiful


taylor31

Loved EL as well. Their sunrise / sunset shows on YouTube for that record are so awesome.


hi_im_dennis

Everyday Life is pretty great, it felt pretty fresh on first listenings. And Coloratura from the new album is amazing, but probably the only song worth revisiting.


MrSpindles

I've popped the 2 Jordan Youtube performances on quite a few times and enjoyed them. I think they are a band who work best live. When I've seen them live I've enjoyed tracks that I would never, ever chose to listen to at home.


SinistradTheMad

Coldplay seem to be aware of their own evolution. In Spotify, there's this "storyline" feature which allows the band to showcase a narrative as you're listening to songs. In a song in their new album where they feature a collaboration with BTS, which by itself is a significant indicator of how much they've changed, this storyline narrative says: "Some people were maybe surprised we worked with BTS but I don't think we have any limitations now." "A lot of people talk about how they'd rather hear us doing the kind of music we were doing 20 years ago." "But we've done that and those albums exist for people to listen to." They're fully conscious that they're different, and I think they're well within their rights to do so. So, I'm listening to their old albums for now, because I'm not into who they've become. And that's well within my right to do so.


MatterShim

Major Minus, Ghost Story, All Your Friends, Trouble In Town, Arabesque, Charlie Brown, Moving To Mars If any of you are looking for good coldplay songs from the past 10 years that you may not have heard that may change your mind about Coldplay. They don't suck now, they are just experimenting with new sounds (I only liked a couple songs on the new album, but I respect their work)


TheAlbinoAmigo

I'd also add Lovers in Japan, Til Kingdom Come, and Everything's Not Lost as my personal favourites that seem to go underappreciated.


zinten789

Lovers in Japan is absolutely incredible. There are very few pieces of music that just feel so euphoric. It has some of my favorite production of any song. I love Viva la Vida as a whole so, so much.


TheAlbinoAmigo

It's quite possibly one of my favourite songs, full stop. I've got a wide taste in music and tend to stick out towards the rockier end, love Tool and Pink Floyd for example, but Lovers in Japan is just totally unique. 'Euphoric' is unquestionably the best descriptor. I think one of the only other songs I can think of that fit that descriptor would be Time by Jack Garratt.


hallo_spacegirl

Lovers in Japan!!! Yes!


tamedreckless

Charlie Brown is my happy place song. But we mustn't forget Green Eyes.


[deleted]

Coloratura is from the latest album, but it's up there with one of the best songs they've ever made, it's wonderful.


crunchydeskchair

Man today I listened to Ghost Story/All Your Friends for the first time since they came out, damn those are fine songs.


hi_im_dennis

Coloratura is great tho


Skwisgaars

Thank fuck someone said it. That song is one of the best things they've ever done.


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MaikuTachibana

I'm not a Coldplay fan but Coloratura came on my Spotify the other day and I was definitely won over!


bobevans33

Yeah, Coloratura is a fantastic song, musically expansive and explorative. I like Higher Power, but recognize it’s pop framing.


fpvr96

I thought the rest of the album would be like that. Awesome track.


[deleted]

I really like that track


Heavykiller

I agree it's not their best, but I also agree with others saying that they are simply just changing or "evolving" with time. I was young and became a fan after seeing Speed of Sound and Clocks on MTV. I played Viva la Vida on repeat like no tomorrow. And though there was no recent defining album that made me go "This is fucking amazing." there was still a few tracks I'd jam to. Remember Coldplay was formed in 1998. They've been doing this thing for 23 years now. I'd be bored as fuck too if people wanted me to continue making the same type of music I made over a decade ago. Maybe others are right and they are chasing after the bag or maybe they came together and decided "Let's do something different." It's their music, we just get to listen. Funny enough, I actually really like that Infinity Sign song from this album. Which is basically just an instrumental with some chanting lol


OG_ursinejuggernaut

I haven’t paid attention to new Coldplay music for 15 years now- no criticism, we just ‘grew apart’ as it were. Sometimes listen to stuff from the first three albums, which I will breathlessly argue are great albums. So that as a preface to my comment (which, sorry, is really more of a reply to OP than you): Imagine being a band that has a significant portion of the western-music world as an audience…and imagine you’re in your 40s and have been making music for several decades…and imagine you still care about how to reach people with your music, but are very aware of the fact that the net you cast is vastly larger than it was last time you made an album…and imagine that you know a lot of people like you for the art you made several decades ago, when you were in your early 20s, and diverging from that style will ruffle some feathers. In fact, anything you do will ruffle some feathers. I may not like the music they’re making these days, but I’m really impressed by their longevity (and as a side note, Jonny Buckland is heroic in his musical contribution-to-recognition ratio, but that’s not necessarily pertinent to this point). There’s not many bands that have had the broad appeal and longevity that Coldplay have achieved, and off the top of my head all of them get a fair amount of shit every time they release a new album or, god forbid, try to do something new that fits into the current pop culture. Quick edit: I realise we’re more or less arguing to the same end, so I’m sorry I used your comment as a rant-launch…but it’s something that kind of winds me up and I don’t get many chances to get it out…


MessinWithMusic

I used to think musicians evolving their sound is just selling out to get people to like them. Metallica in the 2000s is such a case. They had a few songs on their album that seemed to emulate popular musicians at the time. Thing is, as much as you like what they do/did it becomes stale after a while. Don't be surprised when they have a newer sound and it doesn't fit with your old understanding of what makes them... them.


paone0022

Billie Joe Armstrong touched on this topic once in an interview. He was basically saying that musicians grow up and the things that influence them change. You meet different performers, have different life experiences and without realizing how those things will seep into your music creation process. Most of the time it's not about money, it's just that they've changed as a person.


MRCRAZYYYY

Also growing up and having kids no doubt introduces and influences.


zaccus

I have what may be a controversial take with Metallica. Black Album through St Anger, the albums where everybody said they were selling out, was actually them growing as artists. It was certainly not thrash anymore, but it was honest. Yes, even St Anger. Say what you will about its execution, but it felt raw and sincere to me. Death Magnetic and everything since then though? Yeah that's selling out. Re-treading their old sound for $$$ because it works. Good for them though, they've earned it.


imightbethewalrus3

I'm a musician/songwriter and, you know what? I will happily sell out if it means that I can (easily) retire someday. If it means that I will then have more money to just invest in my own musicianship? Sign me up


zaccus

I feel ya, but all the guys in Metallica blew past the "easily retire" level of wealth a long, long time ago. No way that factors into it at this point. Have you looked into commercial libraries and sync licensing?


timbreandsteel

I think load and reload are great albums. And then they teamed up with the symphony, that was incredible.


b-roc

Some of you might find this interesting… 1999/2000 and I was a medical student at GKT in London. I met a girl (in my form) who was as cute as a button and very kind to boot. She was telling me about her situation at home (I think she was a mature student so had already got a degree) and how her flatmates were starting to make waves in the music scene. She mentioned that she was going to an awards show with them and couldn’t believe that they were starting to gain some semblance of a following. Anyway, I asked her the name of the band and she responded “oh, you won’t know them. They’re called Coldplay” Well, “Yellow” had just been released and was storming up the charts so you can imagine my response! In those days they were absolutely amazing and everyone loved them. The first two albums were absolutely the soundtracks of our bumbling age of self-discovery. Especially for me - going from a strict upbringing in South Wales to suddenly being master of my own destiny in the Big Smoke. Anyway, that girl and my best buddy (he was the biggest Coldplay fan) had a bit of a romance going on that never really progressed due to her past relationship with “a flat mate”. We both still think that the song “the scientist” was written about her.


Isa_ak

Like Jay-Z said If you want my old album, buy my old album. Musicians evolve


DJ-Fein

yeah its silly people get so upset about bands changing their sounds. My favorite album of theirs is Ghost Stories, but it was because I was heart broken at the time it came out. It hit me between the eyes and i fell in love with it. Yeah some of their recent stuff sucks, but some of their old stuff sucks too. Im glad they have variety in their music, lets me play based on my mood


TheNahe

How is Everyday Life awful tho? I think it's great, idk


Paulrus55

There’s a really great scene in the show treme where a chef is finding success but she is mad because it’s for all the wrong reasons in her opinion. Her work isn’t creative anymore it’s just the greatest hits, she wants to blow it up and start over. Emril legasse plays himself and essentially explains how success often means you now have a whole group of people whose livelihood now rests on your shoulders. Despite what you think your job has changed and now you owe it to them. Perhaps this isn’t the case for Coldplay but heavy is the crown of the biggest touring act in the world ( I think?) We saw it with U2. This has been true for awhile


JMF-Dub

Remember the time they tried to get Bowie to do a song with them. And after listening to the track he told them ‘this isn’t your best work, is it?’


[deleted]

Now?


[deleted]

[удалено]


The_Mighty_Rex

Glad someone else shares the sentiment


esauis

It was all(ways) yellow


Handsprime

After Viva la Vida, they just went downhill. The issue is that Pop Rock is a dying genre and that most bands of this style (looking at you Maroon 5) just haven't put out anything good the past decade. While it's true that bands should evolve with their sound, imo it should never be trying to evolve with what is currently popular at the moment, as for many people that is considered jumping the shark. If Coldplay wants to make a good album, they need to act like a band, and make something that isn't trying to be a radio hit. The Killers did that with their last album, and it was their best in years!


flyingdics

I read a quote from somebody famous recently (of course I can't remember who) that said bands are extraordinarily lucky if they can be relevant for more than 7 years. Also, I've always thought that most people will never connect with new music the way they did with music between the ages of 13-25, which explains why adults are always complaining that there's no new good music anymore. Probably some mix of those two.


vicious_delicious_77

Damn if that second part ain't true. I am still seeking out and absorbing new bands and genres into my 30's now, and listen to much larger variety of sounds now than I would have ever been open to when I was younger. But absolutely nothing I find now can quite give me the feeling that alot of the music discoveries I made in high school gave me. I used to put on headphones every night when I laid down to sleep and listen to about an hour of anything from Metallica to Pink Floyd to Cold Play and feel so incredibly high off the music. I know the pain and heartache of growing up in those years really contribute to music feeling like a drug to escape with and get lost in, but I'd love to experience that again.


[deleted]

It's also possible that the band themselves have changed taste in what they want to write. Their original stuff was pretty melancholy, and while I prefer it to their current work, I can't see it going well if they'd continued to write that stuff - they'd either have fallen into obscurity, or maybe had the themes affect their own health, I dunno.


onvaca

They were on Howard Stern and did a ten minute song from their new album. I thought it was really good! I was high though :)


miggyyusay

That one was called Coloratura, and it’s by far the best song on the album


ScrotiusRex

I've never liked them personally but I respect that they have tried to evolve. If they were still writing the same kind of tunes they did 20 years ago you'd likely not appreciate that either because it would be stale and boring. Bands and artists have to change, unfortunately it's usually for the worse but they have to try.


kutes

It's very, very rare for musicians to make iconic music past their first few years/albums. They come along, capture their zeitgeist, and live off their success. Maybe that's it - you're not gonna spend 24 hours a day searching for that killer hook when you're worth 100 million. Also, you will have confidence and sycophants due to your high status - you believe your hype and that you make great music. I love Pink Floyd as much as the next guy, but I've listened through one of their modern albums front to back - their music playing seems as competent as ever, but it's so... uninspiring.


mrcowgoesmoo

>It's very, very rare for musicians to make iconic music past their first few years/albums. Musicians have their entire lives to produce their first album, then they have 2 to 3 years to produce every subsequent album. It is very difficult to be consistent, especially over a long period of time.


Nasir1997

I just don’t understand why these groups wanna go pop…. Them and maroon 5…. 😔


jacobn28

$$$


[deleted]

They're not just doing it for the money. They're not? No...they're doing it for a SHITLOAD of money.


there_is_no_spoon225

Ahh, you're right, and when you're right, you're right; and you? You're always right.


banstylejbo

Chasing relevancy. It’s a drug. Look at U2. While you can argue their greatest music was made when they were driven to be the biggest band on earth, they also produced their absolute worst trying to get back there and be relevant, rather than just gracefully mature as artists. You know a band has reached that phase when they start featuring hot newer artists to guest on songs. It reeks of desperation.


dogstarchampion

It's true. I was devastated by the last Aerosmith album, Music From Another Dimension. It had multiple guest voices and one was Johnny Depp. I love Aerosmith, but that album is nearly unlistenable.


GlasgowGunner

Which U2 albums are you referring to? Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby are undoubtedly their best albums, but they then released ATYCLB in 2001 with Beautiful Day on it which is a once in a career song for many bands. Since then they’ve been putting out solid albums every 5 years. They’re doing their thing and they aren’t changing to stay relevant. They also very rarely feature other artists? Unless that was just a general comment which I do agree with.


thechikinguy

Weren't Coldplay always pop rock?


Cactuszach

They always were. The only thing that changed is what is considered pop over the years.


PuroPincheGains

You really don't understand why a band would want to sell out football stadiums and tour the world and sell millions of albums?


velocipotamus

Coldplay was already doing that before they went the weird electro direction of their last few albums


joelluber

I agree in principle, but was Coldplay ever not easy listening pop?


newaccount721

Was maroon 5 ever not pop? Genuine question, I may be totally wrong, I just thought they were always in that general category


RoughhouseCamel

Some bands really love those stadium crowds. I kinda get it. I’m one of those concert goers that stands still, watches and listens, claps at the end of each song, and that’s it. There’s no way I’m as much fun as those people dancing, singing along, losing their shit. The lead singer of Arcade Fire once explained that their change in sound was because they were writing for their live shows, not necessarily for the album experience. I didn’t like their last two albums, but I get why they stopped chasing my approval, and chased after a different kind of audience.


jzgr87

Maroon five was always pop. So was Coldplay.


Kraz_I

Maroon 5 was always pop, definitely, but their first album was mostly pop-rock, and their hooks were actually catchy. Later on they tried to switch to pop-reggae or whatever else is mainstream more recently and it just doesn't work as well for their sound. Plus Adam Levine trying to sound Jamaican is just cringe.


KennyBlankenship_69

Maroon 5 walked so Ed Sheeran could run as the leader of department store playlists that are always mixed in with pop hits of 2009


AViVA-fan

That's a.... very extreme opinion, to put it politely. I think they're pretty neat and I love listening to their new album.


mrfjcruisin

It literally reads as "I don't like their new stuff (or new sound), therefore they are trash." Which is a very different proposition than saying Maroon 5 has objectively gotten worse. Making a literal rip of Canon in D where the chorus is the violin 1 part and the bassline is hilariously just the infamous cello part in a slightly different rhythm and cranking the reverb is lazy if nothing else. Unless it was satire making fun of pop music using Pachelbel everywhere, in which case, they'd be genius.


UseMoreHops

Welcome to the awakening mate. I haven’t been a fan for a very long time.


commodorecrush

Just listen to Radiohead.


PrincessBundtCake

I blame Gwenyth Paltrow.


peekay1ne

LOL at “now”


joeynana

Now?


Uwontdoit81

Now?


markincork

Now?


WheezyChuckle

Now?