Coldplay goes for respect (20080621)

From WikiColdplay

Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends

It was a bit surprising hearing Coldplay singer Chris Martin say he wanted to make a record even the cool kids would like. Might that razzing he took in "Knocked Up" be getting to him?

So he went to a guy who doesn't even like Coldplay to make the next record. And sure enough, producer Brian Eno strips a lot of the excess on "Viva la Vida," ensuring this is the band's most intimate, musically diverse record yet.

It's also the least Coldplaysounding, which defeats the purpose. Why would a band revolt against the sound that made them superstars? Way too many songs here hint at something big, only to retreat and settle for Eno's usual icy coating. Melodies are discarded for mood; guitars are stripped of their power.

In their hunt for respect, Coldplay have lost some of their grandeur.

That doesn't make this a terrible record, just a frustrating one for fans who may not warm up to Eno's chilly approach. After a soaring instrumental to lead things off, the band concentrates on the small stuff, exploring different sounds and structures in the spirit of 1980s art rock. The U2 angle is hard to miss -- Eno also guided "The Unforgettable Fire" -- but you can also hear Peter Gabriel and Pink Floyd flowing through lush tracks like "Cemeteries of London" and "Violet Hill," along with contemporaries like Arcade Fire on the organ-heavy "Lost!"

Even when the old Coldplay shows up on the rhythmic "Strawberry Swing," Eno kills any arena rock intentions.

It could be an album Coldplay regrets -- plenty of good songs done Eno's way instead of theirs.

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