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Frequently Bought Together
Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Life In Technicolor |
| 2. Cemeteries Of London |
| 3. Lost! |
| 4. 42 |
| 5. Lovers In Japan |
| 6. Yes |
| 7. Viva La Vida |
| 8. Violet Hill (Album Version) |
| 9. Strawberry Swing |
| 10. Death And All His Friends |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk review
To say there has been a lot of anticipation for Coldplay’s fourth album, Viva La Vida, is an understatement. Having enlisted legendary leftfield producer Brian Eno, borrowed their album title from a painting by renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and made tantalising remarks about sonic reinvention, the world has been curious (to say the least) to hear what the ‘new’ Coldplay might sound like. Viva La Vida definitely makes some departures from the band’s usual formula, which happens to be one of the most commercially successful rock-pop blueprints of recent years. The plangent chords, emotive melodies, stadium-rock rhythms and universal lyrical concerns remain, but Martin and co. have gone out on several limbs here, incorporating instrumental tracks ("Life In Technicolour"), using subtle North African and Latin elements ("Yes", "Strawberry Swing"), and overhauling previously strict verse-chorus-verse structures in favour of slightly more avant arrangements. The old Coldplay still shine through (see tracks like "Violet Hill" and the title song) but even their classic sound feels more muscular and confident. The band’s new flourishes, cosmetic and self-conscious as they may be, are enough to make Viva La Vida a welcome break from the old routine--Danny McKenna
Review
Paradoxically everything that fuels cynicism about the stadium-proof nature of Coldplay is also what makes them undeniably great. Yes, if you find huge choruses that contain wordless exhortations, ponderous one note bass lines and vaporous lyrics that convey nameless heartache to be the very tools of Satan, then Viva La Vida has much to wind you up. If, however, you're one of their millions of fans then it's an unqualified triumph. The rest of us (and EMI, for whom, allegedly, their very future depends on this selling by the shedload) can also rest easy. For, by bringing Brian Eno onboard as sonic nurse, Coldplay have managed to effortlessly make a record that's accomplished and yet pulls off the same trick that U2 managed when they employed the bald one - massaging their sound into something different enough to keep the formula (and make no mistake it IS a formula) fresh.
Two years in gestation, with a break in the middle to do a bit of cultural tourism (and touring) in South America, Viva La Vida wrong foots you by starting with Life In Technicolour; an instrumental that reeks of Eno's ambience while also utilising something that sounds suspiciously like a zither. The world music tropes are limited however. Cemeteries Of London may have an off-kilter rhythmic undertow and Lost! seems to sport bongos in its mix, yet it's the plaintive voice with its vague sense of regret, the lifts from minor key piano forays into vast, pumping rock and also a strident optimism that people are going to come here for. The band deliver all this in spades: 42 and Death And All His Friends most notably.
Elsewhere it's that patent (and potent) mix of upbeat and fatalistic that reminds you why the band hit the bullseye every time. Only on Strawberry Swing does Chris' chirpiness start to grate.
It all sounds so easy, yet when you imagine the pressure on all concerned to deliver the goods, it's little short of miraculous. Again, cynics may argue that it's Eno's fourth world fairy dust that sugar coats songs that really don't live up to Martin's promise of a very different sound. The string/brass mutations that bolster a track like Viva La Vida may not be a million miles from his mates, The Arcade Fire, but I bet they'd donate several limbs to conjure tunes so sweetly melancholy. Any way you look at it, this is a massive album. Get used to it, you'll be hearing it a LOT over the next two years. --Chris Jones
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Coldplay have without doubt produced some of the most euphoric and uplifting songs, those which raise the hairs on your arm to those which bring a tear to your eyes. On listening to their first three albums, however, it soon becomes clear that if you take away the tracks which were released onto the global audience as singles, and study what is left, the material is distinctly average, and three or four great tracks don't make for a five star album.
On Viva La Vida, however, they have addressed this issue, not only do we have the uplifting crescendo singles we instantly recognise, but the tracks inbetween are also worthy of note and recognition. A mature album that takes one step forward from the others in its experimental ways, and is all the better for it. A crisp production really takes you into the heart of the Coldplay sound, unlike X&Y, where the sound production lost the euphoria that should have been felt when listening to 'Fix You' for example, and, as such, led to the albums detriment.
So, probably the first Coldplay album that you can tolerate from start to finish, without having to skip two tracks or more, (well one isn't that bad).
On Viva La Vida, however, they have addressed this issue, not only do we have the uplifting crescendo singles we instantly recognise, but the tracks inbetween are also worthy of note and recognition. A mature album that takes one step forward from the others in its experimental ways, and is all the better for it. A crisp production really takes you into the heart of the Coldplay sound, unlike X&Y, where the sound production lost the euphoria that should have been felt when listening to 'Fix You' for example, and, as such, led to the albums detriment.
So, probably the first Coldplay album that you can tolerate from start to finish, without having to skip two tracks or more, (well one isn't that bad).
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I listened to this on a long car journey and was impressed how good it was, so good in fact that i didn't change the cd going there or coming back.
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Plain and simple - I've never been a big Coldplay fan but this is honestly one of the best albums I have ever listened to and I have listened to thousands and thousands - most of which have been over-rated. This is a must buy for both the hardcore Coldplay fans and for anyone who respect and enjoy quality music.
Give respect where respect is due!
Jamie Frayne
Give respect where respect is due!
Jamie Frayne
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great Service!
These CD's arrived promptly and well packaged so I would certainly use this company to order the CD's in future. They were very reasonably priced also!
Published 20 days ago by Ms. Cheryl Allen
Total awsome forgot how good vinyl really is !!!
Everybody thinks digital is the way forward but you can not beat the tune playing through a needle in your very own eyes specially listening to this fantastic album like this... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mark Hopkins
viva la viva cd
Fantastic service, delivered sooner than expected. Cold Play just get better, this album is fabulous i don't know why i waited so long to make my purchase. Read more
Published 3 months ago by biker john
surprised customer
Was sent Bob Marley Legend CD in Viva la Vida case instead of the Viva la vida cd!! Anyone out there order a BMW Legend cd?!!!
Published 3 months ago by surprised customer
Another good CD from Coldplay
Bought this Coldplay CD for my daughter and I have listened to it a few times, it continues with the unique quality of sound and music Coldplay make and it is overall very good... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. S. Palmer
ColdPlay classic
The title track alone is an incredibly moving piece of music, one of ColdPlay's best - stunning music, getting right under your skin. Magnificent and memorable. Read more
Published 4 months ago by clive
CHRISTMAS GIFT
This was a christmas gift fof my grandson who is enjoying it very much.Came very quickly and well in time for christmas,and is very good and well worth buying.
Published 5 months ago by Angela Brown
Good Buy!
After years of putting off buying this album, for one reason or the other, I finally decided to take the plunge! I wish I had bought it when it had first come out! Read more
Published 5 months ago by Tom
Viva La Vida
Some fantastic songs on this album, with a beautiful opening; 'Life in Technicolour'. Attention is lost with a couple of songs which become slightly unimaginative but on the whole... Read more
Published 5 months ago by E.L.M
An absolute must...
..Not just for the 'Cold Play' fans.
As others, I bought this only for a couple of hits, but was enormously pleased with the vast majority of all the tracks. Read more
As others, I bought this only for a couple of hits, but was enormously pleased with the vast majority of all the tracks. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Rosie
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