Coldplay: Prospekt's March Review

Review of Bonus Follow-up EP to Viva La Vida, Featuring Jay-Z

Nov 22, 2008

Coldplay's record breaking album of 2008 is followed up this month with a superb 8-track EP, the culmination of a hectic year's work for the British supergroup.

It’s been a busy year for Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Will Champion and Jonny Buckland. They’ve finished a world class album, embarked on a spectacular and highly acclaimed worldwide tour which has, without doubt, produced some of their most exhilarating live performances to date, and won awards including the Q Awards’ Best Act in the World Today. Now, just to round things off with a flourish, they are releasing an 8-track EP to accompany and extend the impressive effort that was Viva La Vida.

And the timing is perfect. Just as Britain welcomes its favourite ‘hard soft-rockers’ home for Christmas to finish off their world tour, fans can look forward to re-worked versions of ‘Lovers in Japan’ and ‘Lost!’ (yes, the new one featuring Jay-Z) as well as 6 entirely new songs. But why an EP? And why now? Not your average supergroup behaviour, surely?

Martin claims the tracks weren’t quite polished enough in time for inclusion in Viva La Vida, but insists they had always been intended as part of that collection. It seems a little nervousness may have played a part too. Martin explains the band’s thought process: "Let's put the album out and then if it does OK we'll put out those songs that we were maybe a little shy about putting out" (coldplay.com).

Whether the band were also trying to avoid the same criticism that plagued previous album, X & Y, remains to be seen. Despite that record’s big tracks, 'Fix You', 'Talk', and 'Speed of Sound', many critics and fans found that the album dragged, lacking the polished and tightly cut feel that abounds in Viva La Vida.

The EP has already been previewed on the band’s equally acclaimed official site, coldplay.com and through its ‘Glass of Water’ Facebook application.

‘Life in Technicolor II’ is hugely satisfying and develops Viva La Vida’s addictive intro track with a belting and uplifting melody. The delicate, upbeat, racing sound and innovative string sections of the ‘Rainy Day’ are exquisitely playful and cement the rhythmic change of direction, building on the foundations of what was started in the track ‘Viva La Vida’. Meanwhile ‘Glass of Water’ is another fast-paced tune that packs a deeper punch with some heavyweight guitars kicking in for the chorus. With this EP the Viva La Vida journey sprints home to completion and is near perfect. Or, should that be ‘perfekt’?

A New Direction for Coldplay

These tracks belong together, a standalone companion to the Viva La Vida journey, distinct and yet joined. More noticeably, they mark an upbeat and joyful new direction for Coldplay: breathless, excited and full of promise and optimism, this is a side to the band that we haven’t seen before. Perhaps that’s why Coldplay continue to enjoy such a privileged position on the world stage – they evolve and progress, always.

What’s really refreshing is the new emotional range they can now convey – gone is the endless woeful introspection of pre-2005 Coldplay, replaced with something newer, fuller and significantly more positive but without losing an ounce of that intensity. Martin’s vocals have developed too, he’s found new pace and energy, and he’s now embracing that powerfully resonant lower register whilst also employing his trademark smooth yet feathery falsetto.

Coldplay’s detractors will probably find something to whinge about, perhaps the new upbeat momentum will be seen as too mainstream, too popular. But in truth will anybody really care? Coldplay certainly don’t need critical approval anymore; they will, as they should, care more about whether they deliver the goods to their many fans.

And there is no doubt that this 8-track bonus album addition delivers. What’s more the band’s new confidence, their comfort with themselves, their creative direction and range, and their prowess live on stage, has finally presented itself in this collection. As for the band’s shyness? May they long keep it, it is that sort of humility which drives their development, and keeps them in touch with the fans.

What Can We Expect Next?

This is a band at the top of their game. 2008 has been a landmark year for Coldplay, and yet there remains the sneaking sensation that there is much more to come. A heavily hinted-at stadium sized concert at a large UK venue is on the cards for 2009, as well as a fifth studio album.

With live performances really pushing the boat out in terms of technical experimentation and ever more accomplished and entertaining sets being attended by legions of fans worldwide, Coldplay just seem to be getting it right, time and time again. That glass of water, Chris? Definitely half full.

Prospekt’s March is released in the UK and the US on November 24th. It is available as a standalone EP or in a re-packaged version of Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends.

The copyright of the article Coldplay: Prospekt's March Review in Current Pop Music is owned by Lisa Sutlieff. Permission to republish Coldplay: Prospekt's March Review in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.