NationStates Jolt Archive

I just wondered what everyone on this forum's opinion was on Coldplay, particually the new album and singles. Before we go any further, I dont want people saying "their brilliant" or "their ruibbish" without giving any reasons as to why they think that way. I think its perfectly fine to say "not my thing" or "Its not really my scene" and then to explain what your scene is more, but I think its just stupid to label them as excellent, brilliant, rubbish or stupid without qualification. If you think they are objectively good/bad then give reasons. In my opinion they are excellent because

1) They are very real in their emotion/feelings that are being displayed

2) They are talking about love in a potent and real way in an era where popular music is dominated by sex

3) They write their own songs and play their own instruments

4) They came out of a time when rock was "who can shout the loudest/stoop the lowest"

5) They refused to sell out to corperate America by refusing several deals from advertisers to use their songs in adverts

6) They have confidence in their abilities but are not arrogent about them

7) The melodies are simple and work elegantly IMHO

I dont know enough about the technicalities of music to say anything in significent detail.

jolt

I have to respectfully disagree with Avalon. I think Coldplay is somewhere between the "overrated" and "rubbish" slots. (only judjing from the last album)

I found the entire album was hyper-charged emotionally; it was more like a constant onslaught on my emotions, but for the fact that it didn't work; there was no bablance. the entire album was so uniformly poignant that I just stopped taking it seriously, and had to laugh. Now I don't know who's fault that reaction is, but their gratuitous earnestness, their goody-two-shoes morals, and unselfconcious preaching, just REALLY rubbed me the wrong way.

Yes, some of the melodies are memorable, and the musicianship is good, but ovelall, I the album had the feel af an older religious man preaching at me while trying (and failing) to be cool. Just too obvious, way too heavy in the religious/spiritual allusions, in my opinion. Not just that, but every song's lyrics were heavilly laced with cliche, and images from other, better, songwriters. And Chris Martin's falsetto sucks.

Alll in all, nothing I would ever want to listen to again, given the choice.

I just wondered what everyone on this forum's opinion was on Coldplay, particually the new album and singles. Before we go any further, I dont want people saying "their brilliant" or "their ruibbish" without giving any reasons as to why they think that way. I think its perfectly fine to say "not my thing" or "Its not really my scene" and then to explain what your scene is more, but I think its just stupid to label them as excellent, brilliant, rubbish or stupid without qualification. If you think they are objectively good/bad then give reasons. In my opinion they are excellent because

1) They are very real in their emotion/feelings that are being displayed

2) They are talking about love in a potent and real way in an era where popular music is dominated by sex

3) They write their own songs and play their own instruments

4) They came out of a time when rock was "who can shout the loudest/stoop the lowest"

5) They refused to sell out to corperate America by refusing several deals from advertisers to use their songs in adverts

6) They have confidence in their abilities but are not arrogent about them

7) The melodies are simple and work elegantly IMHO

I dont know enough about the technicalities of music to say anything in significent detail.

Youve made a number of points there that I would like to respond to. I wonder about 1) as theyre lyrics are so vague that you dont know what they are talking about. They seemed specifically designed to appeal to everyone for mass universal appreciation at those stadium gigs, which isnt sincere but contrived. Theyre like a form of crooning imo. Everyone can find meaning in them but if you look at them they have no meaning at all.

2) Ok, I agree with that but a lot of bands do the same.

3) It says something about the state of music when playing instruments becomes something of an exception. It should be the rule.

4) I agree with this if your talking about american rock which is unoriginal and basically drones.

5) Thats cool, but they are swimming in money as it is.

6) Yes, they arent like U2 in that respect. They dont assume that in their bid to become the biggest band in the world they immediately become better than others.

7) Their music is pleasant to listen to but bland. For theyre new album they could have done something different, progressed musically and experiment instead of rehashing a rush of blood to the head in order to secure commericial success and that biggest band in the world title theyre so desperately after, sadly the least deserving band to hold it is U2 and they followed the same pattern- release another "back to basics" album rather than doing something new. I forgot though, originality isnt valued these days in music.

coldplay are just pretenders to radioheads crown. to me, every album has sounded very similar, and as poumpous world said, they are horribly mainstream. that said, although i dont care at all for their music (except 'the scientist', that was alright), they are accomplished musicians, and their politics are in the right place.

Their OK. But their new song is always always always always on MTV anytime

I've never listened to them (or at least, I've never knowingly listened to them). But even if they're a good band (big if when it comes to mainstream music), they're probably overrated.

imitation radiohead

with that in mind, they're decent enough

Not my scene. Their music does nothing for me. If it came on the radio I'd change the channel, but I wouldn't be angry about them getting airplay like I am when I hear Aerosmith.

I tend to avoid the stuff, because its not my thing really. Though I don't deserve to be the 'God of Judgement' for anything in particular, I'd say depending on the stories behind the song and the band itself would be my deciding factor to see if its good or not.

Coldplay as a group have great talent, but they're starting to run dry. Parachutes and Rush were incredible albums; ones that I never get sick of. Their most recent one, however, seems almost mass-produced.

It's not fair to judge them based on this album; they have produced some brilliantly melodic songs in their time. It's a bit strange though that you guys in the 'States are starting to get into it just as it's starting to become a bit bland and monotone.

It's not fair to judge them based on this album; they have produced some brilliantly melodic songs in their time. It's a bit strange though that you guys in the 'States are starting to get into it just as it's starting to become a bit bland and monotone.


Indeed. I have to agree. I can say I enjoyed their older albums - and especially songs like Spies, Daylight, We never change, and Don't Panic bring across some interesting use of harmony and transition from verse/chorus (most especially Don't Panic. I absolutely love the transition and the chorus itself).

Their music, most especially pre-newest album, was well done and showed great talent - but my only complaint has been that in regards to their style of music, they're heading "up against" quite the heavy weight. Radiohead. Unfortunetely for my opinion of Coldplay, Radiohead outdoes them on just about every aspect of the music - save for the fact that Chris Martin from Coldplay has a potentially less annoying Falsetto than Thom Yorke. Most people dislike Radiohead because of that voice. Outside of that, they are both talented groups of musicians - but Radiohead still comes out on top in my preference. Emotionally charged, musically exciting and experimental, fascinating range of "flavors" on their distinct albums...

For this, I had to vote that Coldplay was Over-rated, but it doesn't mean I completely dislike them.

I know a lot of people love them, but to me they're quite depressing, there singer has a very monotonous voice.

I think their songs sound incredibly boring.

Radiohead outdoes them on just about every aspect of the music - save for the fact that Chris Martin from Coldplay has a potentially less annoying Falsetto than Thom Yorke. Most people dislike Radiohead because of that voice. Outside of that, they are both talented groups of musicians - but Radiohead still comes out on top in my preference. Emotionally charged, musically exciting and experimental, fascinating range of "flavors" on their distinct albums...



very much agreed. i cant imagine coldplay daring to break the mould and come out with their 'kid a' for their next album.

its crap, utter crap.

They aren't exactly radical, but I don't think anyone's better at what they do. And it's refreshing to see such success for a group who write their own songs - and mostly interesting and well-written ones, too - and don't pander to commercial interests at every opportunity.

The comparisons to Radiohead definitely don't help, though. Radiohead certainly outdo Coldplay (and just about everyone else) for innovation.

clocks was their only good song.

I think their songs sound incredibly boring.

EXACTLY

clocks was their only good song.

I'd definitely add Fix You, Don't Panic, Trouble, Yellow and Speed of Sound to that list. There's a few more too, but those are the best to my ears. Though Clocks is among their best, for sure.

I really, really don't like Coldplay. It could have been because of the endless air time that just made me want to strangle a few presenters every time I heard The Scientist. It could have been because of Chris Martin's annoying voice. People always say how much emotion there is in his singing, but to me it sounds incredibly bland and without feeling. It could be that their songs all sound roughly the same.

But in the end, all of these are reasons for me just to dislike them, nothing major. The reason why I wish that Coldplay had never existed is the tidal wave of imitators, each less talented and more pretentious than the last. I think that the people on the Radio 4 comedy Crimes Against Music put it best when they sang:

"Everything sounds like Coldplay now
This could be Keane, Embrace, or Snow Patrol"

Dodgy rhyming notwithstanding, they have a sadly valid point. Maybe if this hadn't happened I wouldn't hate them, but as it is, every last whining vocal part, every indistinguishable piano line fills me with sadness at the slow death of creativity in music.

its crap, utter crap.

Please read my first post regarding saying its rubish without justification

"Everything sounds like Coldplay now
This could be Keane, Embrace, or Snow Patrol"

Dodgy rhyming notwithstanding, they have a sadly valid point. Maybe if this hadn't happened I wouldn't hate them, but as it is, every last whining vocal part, every indistinguishable piano line fills me with sadness at the slow death of creativity in music.
Keane...

*shudder*

As a listener, I wasn't too impressed by the new album. Now don't get me wrong, I think 'A Rush of Blood to the Head' was very well done, but the newer stuff just doesn't cut it. It just sounds kind of bland nowadays, just not as original. As a Piano player, I am almost disgusted by Coldplay's musical antics. I think up better crap than the stuff they out out daily, and I don't get paid for it.

*Harumph!*

I think overall that Coldplay is overrated, but not a terrible band-just one that ran out of steam a little quickly.

From your description of them, they seem like emo crap.

From your description of them, they seem like emo crap.

Newp... Coldplay's not Emo.

More "Brit Pop" if anything else. Crappy name for the genre, if you ask me...

Keane...

*shudder*
Oh yeah, Keane make me wanna ritually murder a dozen of furry kittens...
You know that song where they go "Yeah,
Yeah,
Yeah,
YEAHEAH"

They used it here in a cheese commercial that is aired every single commercial break. The mere smell of cheese infuriates me now.

Anyways Coldplay sucks in my book now too. Yellow was cute, wished he'd written it for me, the song after that was nice too, liked the backwards shot video with the car crash, but mostly everything after that is more of the same. It's like what happened with U2. They made this nice album, with Beautifull Day on it, and then started copying that over and over again, until it sounded like they just re-released their last album. But Bon Jovi is even worse in that department. It might be my bad musical ear, but it sounds like they just change one or two words in the lyrics of the one song they have, have somebody actually artistic make a 'hip' video and people actually pay money for it.
All in all ther are worse bands than Coldplay out there. They at least had one or two original and agreeable albums. That's more than you can say of Bon Jovi or Keane...

Am I the only one who thinks Chris Martin sounds like he has no bottom teeth when he's singing?

Meh, probably.

Anyway, I hate Coldplay with all the firery fury of the thirteen hells (there used to only be nine, but with all the new Wal-Marts they had to expand). The only real reason I hate them is because they are way too mellow sounding and monotonous. I mean, if I have to hear one more twangy, slow-moving, brain-knifing song by Coldplay, I'm going to kill the person immediately to my right.
Don't get me wrong, they're probably great and talented too, but I just can't stand Rock and Pop music. I even hate Rock and Pop more than I hate Rap, and to me, there are only two good Rap bands: Cyprus Hill and Immortal Technique.

That being said, sorry for ripping on your band, Coldplay lovers, but not every band can be Bad Religion.

Please read my first post regarding saying its rubish without justification
that wont change the fact that they're crap.
listen to their CDs. crap.

They aren't exactly radical, but I don't think anyone's better at what they do.
True. just when you thought Moby was boring, along came Coldplay

They used to be alright, listenable. But they keep on writing the same song, over and over again, a la AC/DC, except they don't kick reckless amounts of ass like AC/DC. They are horrendously overplayed, which only serves to accentuate the one-sidedness of their music. They also feel like a vehicle for the lead singer dude, something I always hate about mainstream bands.

A quote from the 40 year-old virgin: "You know how I know you're gay? 'Cause you like Coldplay!"

They are excellent, after you remove the influence from the mainstream media.

This is judging solely from "A Rush of Blood to the Head."

I don't currently have Cable TV, and when I do, I don't waste it on MTV. Before listening to the album, I had heard nothing of their work (to my knowledge), so my bias consists mostly of their first song on the CD, which annoyed me greatly with its overbearing monotony of guitar strums. :gundge: And I don't care if they were going for that effect, it got to me, and that's my point.

The album had more than two amazing works in it. Clocks and Daylight were my personal favorites, though similar in emotion. (Come to think of it, I had heard snippets of Clocks before, but didn't know the band playing.)

Their musical writing is excellent, though I haven't explicated their words yet, and their musicianship is completely adequate to their style (no negative connotations accepted here). They get an A-, losing points only for not having awesome guitar solos and sweet Chicago brass sections.

BTW, if I could choose the definition of "emo", (emo) = (Linkin Park) - (angst). Therefore (emo) = Nothing. And everyone knows you can't fight math. :cool: There is no such thing as emo. Sorry, that was a little random.

Music 9/10
Lyrics ?/10
Style/Tilt 8/10
Playing 10/12
..

90% [A-]

Coldplay is like a different style of one of the Metallicas minus the awesome. :D

3) They write their own songs and play their own instruments
That should be an absolute dealbreaker for good music, not a plus point in their favour.

Coldplay are probably the best thing in the charts at the moment. However that really says more about the poor state of the charts than about Coldplay's music

Coldplay are probably the best thing in the charts at the moment. However that really says more about the poor state of the charts than about Coldplay's music.

That's a pretty good point, and one I'm not going to disagree with. Coldplay may be one-trick ponies, but name a popular act that aren't. At least Coldplay's trick is a decent one, IMHO anyway.

that wont change the fact that they're crap.
listen to their CDs. crap.


Thats not my point. You think its rubish but you havent provided any justification for your opinion. I think its brilliant and have said so at the begining as to why. All you've said is "crap" and left us with no idea as to why you think that.

That's a pretty good point, and one I'm not going to disagree with. Coldplay may be one-trick ponies, but name a popular act that aren't. Green Day. They have two tricks. :)

bland

I do like a few of their songs, and they're ok I guess, but the are massively over-rated. Especially 'Fix You'. That song would be ok, but Chris Martins voice sounds utterly dire.

I think their incredibly depressing.

While I don't own any of their albums, I enjoy Coldplay's music when I hear it. I like them, and I've actually gotten flak for this from some people. But they were boobs anyway, so their opinion means nothing to me.

Others have expressed surprise that I like them, given my love for underground music and hatred for most mainstream music. Hey, they sound good, the songs are well written, nicely structured and their overall sound is quite nice to my ears.

Dido in Drag.

They at least had one or two original and agreeable albums. That's more than you can say of Bon Jovi...

That's total rubbish. Bon Jovi have proven they can produce many different sorts of song. Coldplay and Keane, haven't/can't.

i think they are awesome.
Their first album is the best then this one and then the 3rd one.
Yellow and Trouble Kick arse.
I was greatly disturbed to find Crazy Frog number 1 in the UK and stopping Coldplay from getting it though Fix you is better than the first song of the new album and if that had come out 1st it would have kicked that stuid frogs butt.

Did you know Chris Martin watched Porn for Inspiration for this album?-At least thats hat he told Gwyneth. ;)

They are quite melodic, great to listen to, and I would've loved having them around when I was a stoned teenager:). Now, if they could add a little, "SMASH THE STATE" into their lyrics, I would actually buy their albums instead of just being happy when they get radio play!

Tbh, when Parachutes came out i thought they were ok, working for a student radio station i put it on the playlist and people liked it, but it was still a singles album (i.e. a few good songs and some filler). Yellow was a good song though, and having seen them live it's still one of their best.

Then they got all high and mighty when A rush of blood to the head came out. it was pretty reasonable, compared to other albums in the mainstream out at the time it could be described as good, but it relied on simple melodies and the repetition of said melodies. Nothing really challenging or mind blowing, hence once again good for the radio.

With the latest X and Y, its basically AROBTTH revisited with a little change to the production. It's simply repetition, nothing new. Fix you is a pretty decent example of this, live i don't doubt for one minute i would dislike this song as it is a concert song for making the crowd buzz, yet it's hollow on the radio. I found the album to be much the same.

As another said, its like the more recent U2 offerings. Hit the big time (comeback in their case) with a decent catchy song, then re do it as much as possible to keep riding the wave of success.

I have written that live they are pretty good, and i honestly think they are, but it relies as much on the fans who create a feel good atmosphere as it relies on the band themselves.

Musically, chris martin is talented, but compared to the likes of bellemy from Muse, rob dougan, tommy guerro etc it remains to be seen whether he can combine his catchy riff writing with more in depth music. I don't doubt that he can, but he needs to show it soon.