COLDPLAY, EVERYDAY LIFE REVIEW
I am not one of those people that can listen to an album and know instantly whether I love it or not. Instead, I listen to it a couple of times and after hearing a song that I like. If I like a couple more I will keep listening to it, and after a couple of weeks if I am still listening to it then it’s an album that I like.
Pretty deep – I know.
Coldplay has always been a favourite band of mine. I was intrigued when I found out they were releasing an album but just as quickly announced that they would not be touring with it. What this told me was that it was going to be an album that was against the grain; perhaps an album not built to conform or be trendy but instead an album put together primarily for themselves.
I was right.
Since Coldplay came together with their first EP entitled ‘Parachutes’ every album after has been about being aligned with popular music. ‘Everyday Life’ (in a way) is the first album by Coldplay since ‘Parachutes’ where they are just being themselves.
I’ve had a good listen. Although it’s a double album, it is actually a collection of songs. By that I mean, it is not Viva La Vida – which was an album built to be ‘an album’. Each song crafted by producer Brian Eno in response to their previous album X & Y which was not received well critically as an ‘album’ but instead a collection of singles.
As a Coldplay fan yearning to hear them just as they want to be, ‘Everyday Life’ delivers.
Present, are the commercial hits that will keep you humming all day like ‘Orphans’, ‘Church’, ‘Arabesque’ and ‘Champion of the World’. Ballads that only Chris Martin can explore like ‘Daddy’ and ‘Everyday Life’ are present as well.
But after that, the songs are all over the place. And that isn’t a bad thing – you just have to listen to the album appreciating that. Social commentaries exist with ‘Trouble in Town’, ‘Guns’. Then there are the tunes that you get the distinct feeling are put on there by Coldplay saying, ‘we don’t give a fuck’.
With ‘BrokEn’, and ‘When I Need a Friend’ the band is exploring their spiritual side. I feel like I am at Church.
Then there are songs written that make ‘Everyday Life’ what it was meant to be. ‘Cry Cry Cry’, ‘Eko’, and ‘Old Friends’. These are the songs that make ‘Everyday Life’ a unique Coldplay album.
I didn’t ignore the songs brought in for continuity either. Martin’s go at classic piano and the band’s instrumental ability is in full swing in this album.
I have to admit, when I heard about this album and the lack of a tour, I was worried about what they were going to release. Make no mistake – this album is in no way the progressive assault Coldplay has been pushing for over the last bunch of years to stay cool. In fact, it’s the opposite. It’s Coldplay saying, ‘we are doing what we want to.’ And for me – it works.
Favourite songs in order:
Champion of the World (singing this one non-stop)
Orphans (you just can’t not like Orphans!)
Old Friends
Cry Cry Cry
Daddy
There is no question that Coldplay will return for their 9th studio album with commercial sparkle and the desire to maintain their place as one of the world’s biggest bands. But for now – I say enjoy ‘Everyday Life’. It’s Coldplay being who they want to be for a change.
Enjoy. What do you think?
