I definitely agree, it's just coffee table music really and they're a poor watered down version of various bands who are superior.

Isn't that just a desciption of mainstream and successful music in general though? The vast majority of the biggest acts in the world (at the moment, anyway) are just inferior versions of someone more interesting.

I personally think critics should listen to their new album a few times before they criticise it anyway. I have all of their albums but before they've all been ok and have a fair amount of filler on them and I've always thought they get far too much stick but also far too much praise at the same time. But the new album is stunning, it's completely different and far more interesting than anything else they've done. It's not something I'd ever think, but I really feel that they have made an album of the year and that they may finaly be worth of their tag of being the biggest band in the world.

But the new album is stunning, it's completely different and far more interesting than anything else they've done.

 

But is that down to them, or is it down to Eno's genius in the studio, has Eno just made them sound interesting......? Eno's productions usually never fail to impress, the guy is one of the best in the business... Just listen to his stunning work on U2's "Unforgettable Fire"....

 

Maybe it is but I don't know, the opening track on it is a two and half minute instrumental, 3 of the 10 songs are over 7 minutes long, the singles are tracks 7 & 8. Which massive bands these days ever takes these kinds of risks? None at all!

Maybe it is but I don't know, the opening track on it is a two and half minute instrumental, 3 of the 10 songs are over 7 minutes long, the singles are tracks 7 & 8. Which massive bands these days ever takes these kinds of risks? None at all!

 

i dont see that as taking a risk...

Lydon is a t***, im sure he done alot in his time but he needs to get over himself :rolleyes: people have different tastes and are going to like different things.

i dont see that as taking a risk...

Of course it is. No, it's not incredibly risky but remember their stature and where they are. Look at how many recent albums by big acts have been so safely played, full of four minute pop songs no different to what was on the bands last album, even Coldplay have done it themselves twice! These days, the general thing for big and huge bands is not to take risks but to make an album which will sell a lot, which is partly why we have the 'new' music culture we have today and barely anyone can get two decent hit albums. Coldplay have done something different, to what they've ever done, to what people expect, and to what everyone else is currently doing! This album should be their legacy, whether it will or not I don't know...

Of course it is. No, it's not incredibly risky but remember their stature and where they are. Look at how many recent albums by big acts have been so safely played, full of four minute pop songs no different to what was on the bands last album, even Coldplay have done it themselves twice! These days, the general thing for big and huge bands is not to take risks but to make an album which will sell a lot, which is partly why we have the 'new' music culture we have today and barely anyone can get two decent hit albums. Coldplay have done something different, to what they've ever done, to what people expect, and to what everyone else is currently doing! This album should be their legacy, whether it will or not I don't know...

 

but historically its irrelevant, and if todays youth cant listen to more then 2 albums, or a track longer then three minutes , by any one artist then that says alot for the state of 'musical youth' today..

 

im not suggesting that anyone shouldnt like coldplay if thats there taste... but theres no comparison between martin and lydon.... they are leagues apart.

Has anyone seen this? Coldplay related article. Have a listen to the songs - they do sound fairly similar but then again ... a lot of songs contain bits that remind people of others.

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertai...and-849992.html

 

I've posted this here as it is too trivial to go in news/perspectives and it would seem like an attack if I plonked it in the Coldplay forum. As I've said - my feelings on Coldplay are really neither one way or the other. As this is a Coldplay related thread it seemed like a suitable place.

 

Norma

 

 

but historically its irrelevant, and if todays youth cant listen to more then 2 albums, or a track longer then three minutes , by any one artist then that says alot for the state of 'musical youth' today..

 

im not suggesting that anyone shouldnt like coldplay if thats there taste... but theres no comparison between martin and lydon.... they are leagues apart.

Is anyone really comparing the two? They make completely different styles of music and are from two completely different genres. You might as well compare Rihanna to Blondie...

Has anyone seen this? Coldplay related article. Have a listen to the songs - they do sound fairly similar but then again ... a lot of songs contain bits that remind people of others.

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertai...and-849992.html

 

I've posted this here as it is too trivial to go in news/perspectives and it would seem like an attack if I plonked it in the Coldplay forum. As I've said - my feelings on Coldplay are really neither one way or the other. As this is a Coldplay related thread it seemed like a suitable place.

 

Norma

Meh, it's likely to be nothing. There's always some little known artist trying to generate a bit of publicity for themselves and they're never proved right. Avril and RHCP have had the same thing and nothing was proved. I read a few of the comments on that article and it seems like mostly they're by complete morons saying Coldplay 'ripped off' Kraftwerk for 'Talk' despite it being a sample which was given permission and credit is given in the sleevenotes of the album!

Edited June 21, 200817 yr by RabbitFurCoat

Meh, it's likely to be nothing. There's always some little known artist trying to generate a bit of publicity for themselves and they're never proved right. Avril and RHCP have had the same thing and nothing was proved. I read a few of the comments on that article and it seems like mostly they're by complete morons saying Coldplay 'ripped off' Kraftwerk for 'Talk' despite it being a sample which was given permission and credit is given in the sleevenotes of the album!

 

The article does go on to say that its more publicity for the lesser known band (so lesser I've forgotten the name already! :lol: )

 

I wouldn't say anything about the Avril song (forget the one that it was supposed to be a rip-off from - I think Toni Basil had more reason to sue!)

 

All songs have bits in that remind you of others and the Coldplay one does sound a little like that other one - but as the Colplay camp claim that theirs was written first, then who is plagiarising who?

 

Either way, the song is just 'ok' not anything brilliant.

 

Norma

 

Has anyone seen this? Coldplay related article. Have a listen to the songs - they do sound fairly similar but then again ... a lot of songs contain bits that remind people of others.

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertai...and-849992.html

 

I've posted this here as it is too trivial to go in news/perspectives and it would seem like an attack if I plonked it in the Coldplay forum. As I've said - my feelings on Coldplay are really neither one way or the other. As this is a Coldplay related thread it seemed like a suitable place.

 

Norma

 

I've listened to the track and I don't think they sound anything alike. Is just some band attempting to cash in on Coldplay's success after someone probably noted that there was a vague sound that connected the two tracks.

 

Coldplay's new album is very inventive and musically it's the best thing they've done yet. I'm sure i've read in interviews before that the first three albums were seen as a trilogy and this album was a new start for them (which it really is). Music in this decade is much more a business than it was 20 years ago, just look at Annie Lennox. She's sold millions of records yet she was dropped from her label. Of course bands will always sound similar to other acts... they were influenced by stuff, which is how they get into music in the first place and is what they base their sound on. Music's been going on for tens of years, not everything is going to sound new, original and inventive because most of it has already been done before.

 

Is anyone really comparing the two?

 

well yes actually! lol, that was the point of the thread :)

 

I thought the point of the thread was:

 

Do you think Coldplay are a gang of little poncey masturbators or do you think John Lydon is wrong?

 

To finally add my answer to the original question I posted.........

 

I think they are BOTH right!

 

Coldplay are the natural heir to the vacancy of the biggest band in the world taking over from U2 (after Radiohead abdicated from it with the release of Kid A, and Arcade Fire decided to turn down the generous offer :lol). Coldplay make music for the masses, which by its nature means it is going to be mainstream like the likes previous British & Irish Rock acts like the Police, Queen & U2 were before them, and therefore popular, but clearly taking inspiration from other "left-field" more credible acts.

 

Viva La Vida is clearly their most musically adventurous album (although songwise I don't think it beats their second album), thanks to using Brian Eno, but I suspect the reason Coldplay asked Brian Eno to help out on production duties was due to the fact they wanted to "push the envelope" musically....

 

However John Lydon is right, because Coldplay do seem to have picked up the same disease that harmed the likes of Bono/U2, Sting/The Police & Phil Collins/Genesis, in so far that they try too hard to show that they have a sense of humour, but it comes across as at best contrived, and at worse insincere. Hence justifying John Lydon's criticism.

I thought the point of the thread was:

 

yep.... :)

Just listen to his stunning work on U2's "Unforgettable Fire"....

 

Well actually, Chris Martin has recently said he thinks their new album is their 'Unforgettable Fire'. ;)

 

I think Viva La Vida is a good album, but I was expecting something really different, and overall as an album it is'nt exactly a change in direction. Still it's better than X&Y, but I still perfer their first two albums. However, I would'nt accept they have taken over from U2 as the biggest band in the world yet. In terms of overall success, with album sales and touring (which is really where the money is these days), U2 are still confortably the biggest. Coldplay in terms of touring are really not that massive. I'd even go as far as to say Oasis could still attract larger crowds on a global scale.

Well actually, Chris Martin has recently said he thinks their new album is their 'Unforgettable Fire'. ;)

 

I think Viva La Vida is a good album, but I was expecting something really different, and overall as an album it is'nt exactly a change in direction. Still it's better than X&Y, but I still perfer their first two albums. However, I would'nt accept they have taken over from U2 as the biggest band in the world yet. In terms of overall success, with album sales and touring (which is really where the money is these days), U2 are still confortably the biggest. Coldplay in terms of touring are really not that massive. I'd even go as far as to say Oasis could still attract larger crowds on a global scale.

 

oh i prefer oasis by a mile to cold play... i can overlook the beatles rip offs oasis do but coldplay leave me.... cold...

Well actually, Chris Martin has recently said he thinks their new album is their 'Unforgettable Fire'. ;)

 

I think Viva La Vida is a good album, but I was expecting something really different, and overall as an album it is'nt exactly a change in direction. Still it's better than X&Y, but I still perfer their first two albums. However, I would'nt accept they have taken over from U2 as the biggest band in the world yet. In terms of overall success, with album sales and touring (which is really where the money is these days), U2 are still confortably the biggest. Coldplay in terms of touring are really not that massive. I'd even go as far as to say Oasis could still attract larger crowds on a global scale.

 

Well, I've listened to "Unforgettable Fire" many a time, and I HAVE actually downloaded "Viva La Vida" just out of curiosity.... Frankly, it just doesn't even come close to matching "Unforgettable Fire" in terms of scope or musical inventiveness.... Great production by Eno, but Coldplay just cannot get around the fact that they are a "mini-me" version of U2, Echo and the Bunnymen and Radiohead, ALL of whom can do this sort of thing way better, oh, they try alright, but they can try til the cows come home, they just aint gonna elevate themselves to that level of greatness that these three bands all attained at one point..... Coldplay just don't involve me..... Like Rob says, they just leave me 'cold'.