| Coldplay-Mylo Xyloto |
| Written by Emma Robertson | |||
| Wednesday, 02 November 2011 13:42 | |||
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 British alternative rock band, Coldplay released their newest album, Mylo Xyloto earlier this year. A somewhat unprecedented new sound for Coldplay, who are typically known for their more gritty, deep and soulful songs, Mylo Xyloto is one of their most light-hearted albums to date. Coldplay has described the album as the romantic story between lovers, Mylo and Xyloto, and much of the album plays with a happier tone as a result. Mylo Xyloto is infused with dance, pop and electronic sounds, and, on the other hand, contains a lot of acoustic guitar riffs, completing the “concept” feel of this album; the combination of opposite ends of the musical spectrum produces a strange outlet for the kind of adventurous, love-struck tone of the album.
Mylo Xyloto’s first single Every Teardrop is a Waterfall is the backbone of the more synth-pop and electronic half of the album: with a very catchy and a more dancehall melody, the album’s first single is reminiscent of a top 40 club anthem, but lacks the power to make it so. Coldplay has clearly attempted something very different and much less alternative here, but unfortunately, it falls a little short. The song itself is pretty commercial; the uplifting melody is strong and lively, but Chris Martin’s voice and lyrics are not nearly exciting enough to give the song a well-rounded edge. Another one of the more dancehall tunes is the surprising collaboration with pop R&B singer Rihanna, Princess of China. Rihanna’s sound is very different from Coldplay’s, so it came as quite a surprise when the two sounds actually worked well together. One of the stronger tracks on the album, the song features a heavier resonance and a darker beat, which works very nicely with Rihanna’s vocals. Though the mix of so many elements becomes somewhat overwhelming at points, the collaboration is a great addition to the album. Mylo Xyloto also features a number of much slower songs, based in acoustic guitar and sweet piano melodies. U.F.O., one of a few very short songs, is a little more reminiscent of Coldplay’s older work, in which Chris Martin’s vocals are the focal point of the piece, but the song could definitely have gained from being longer. Mylo Xyloto features a few 40 second songs that help provide a cohesiveness to the album. Paradise is the album’s second single, and is a blend of classical acoustic melody, with an epic beat that makes it incredibly catchy, not to mention beautiful. This aspect of Coldplay’s album is what makes it so interesting as the actual harmonics of the song are powerful. However, the lyrics fall short due to their cliché and repetitive nature. Paradise is somewhat reminiscent of Coldplay’s 2005 hit Speed of Sound in the power of the melody; the difference lies in the force of the lyrics, which the entire album seems to lack. One of the more interesting songs on the album is Up in Flames, a song that reverts back to the same deep, soulfulness as their 2005 ballad Fix You but with a much more uplifiting and playful tone. A nice addition to the album, Up in Flames adds to the positive vibe of what is truly an experimental album for Coldplay.
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