:: Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto

Coldplay

Sitting down to review a new Coldplay album is always a daunting task. Yes, they have released some brilliant tracks over the years and deserve the massive amount of album sales they have had over the years, but they have also released some dull-as-dishwater tracks over the years that would be enough to cure anyone’s insomnia… I know at least one Melbourne radio DJ who would support that idea. Now along comes Mylo Xyloto the next album in the Coldplay juggernaut. Two things standout instantly with this an album that lead singer Chris Martin proudly promotes as a ‘concept album’, the first one is that Coldplay have really found their groove here and secondly the experimental feel to the album makes it very easy to see that Brian Eno was involved in the process. The change in Coldplay is evident throughout Mylo Xyloto. Pushing aside the experimental filler tracks, like the title track, ‘M.M.I.X.’ and ‘A Hopeful Transmission’ and you've got an album chock full of tracks that show the talent that Coldplay really have hidden away all these years. ‘Hurts Like Heaven’ sees Coldplay hit the ground running at a fast pace, and while it seems like a throwback to what the Manic Street Preachers and Pulp did early on in their careers it is a sound that really suits Coldplay. ‘Paradise’ is the second single from Mylo Xyloto and while I’ll admit I wasn’t a fan the first few times I heard it, it has actually grown on me. ‘Charlie Brown’ is where Coldplay hit their straps. To be blunt this is the perfectly orchestrated rock song. Martin also uses Mylo Xyloto to show off some talent; his acoustic tracks (‘Us Against The World’, ‘U.F.O.’ and ‘Up In Flames’) showcase a wonderful voice that it is getting better with age. First single, ‘Every Teardrop is A Waterfall’ has the ability to plant itself in your head, while Jonny Buckland’s guitar playing is a standout on ‘Major Minus’. However, the standout on the album is the duet with R’n’B princess, Rihanna, ‘Princess Of China’. It is sensational; showing how far Coldplay has come and should be the next single released from Mylo Xyloto. The fact that the album closes with Martin’s smooth vocal stylings on ‘Don’t Let It Break Your Heart’ and then the heavenly (take one listen to the choir and say it’s not) ‘Up With The Birds’, really does leave you wanting more. While it does take a hard listen to hear the concept that Chris Martin says this album is based on (apparently it’s a love story between two people, one called Mylo and the other called Xyloto, and it has a happy ending), it’s not hard to hear one thing – and that is that Coldplay have finally delivered a beautiful pop-rock album with awesome talent for all to see.