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List Price: $18.98
Our Price: $9.99
You Save: $ 8.99 (47%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Capitol
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 5099921688607
Label: Capitol
Manufacturer: Capitol
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Capitol
Release Date: 2008-06-17
Studio: Capitol
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Editorial Reviews:
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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
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Colplay Expand Their Musical Horizons, and Don't Disappoint!
Comment: There's already been a lot of reviews of this latest release by Coldplay. I know I probably don't have much to say about the album that hasn't already been mentioned by other reviewers, but I still feel like putting my two cents in, I guess.
First off, I would like to say that I've been a Coldplay fan from day one. Even before they became really popular. Their first album, Parachutes, to me, has always been the bands best work so far, and their third album, X & Y, was somewhat of a disappointment for me. After hearing about this newest effort and how the band was planning to expand their musical boundaries a bit, I was very hopeful that Viva La Vida would be an improvement from X & Y. After hearing the first single "Violet Hill", I knew that the band had definitely taken a step forward in their songwriting.
Upon purchasing this album, I would have to say that Vida La Vida is, in my opinion, the band's best effort since Parachutes. To say that this record is a huge departure from Coldplay's other work may be stretching it a bit. Its not like Radiohead's Kid A compared to OK Computer or anything like that, but the band has definitely brought in other elements to their work with this release, and it works very well. This album isn't one of those records that feels like the band tried too hard to be different. There's the right amount of balance to it. Make no mistake about it, this is still very much a Coldplay album, but there's just enough change in it, but make you raise up and pay attention, and realize that this isn't the "same old stuff" from Chris Martin and Co. First of all, the subject material of some songs have changed. There's not as many of the patented Chris Martin sad love songs on Vida La Vida that many people have grown accustomed to. Here, lyrical content also focuses on war, politics, and religion. As far as the musical changes, there are definitely recognizable. There are more strings than in any other Coldplay album, along with unique instruments such as the Persian santur. But again, the signature Coldplay sound is still very much present with plenty of melodies and sing-a-long choruses.
When trying to single out the best tracks here, its a bit difficult, all the tracks here are really good, its just a matter of opinion of the best songs I suppose. My personal favorites are "Lost", "Violet Hill", and "Yes", with the latter of these quite possibly being the most experimental song the band has ever written.
In closing, if you're a Coldplay fan, there absolutely no reason not to like Viva La Vida, in fact, you might become like me, and decide that this may be their best record yet. And if you're not a Coldplay fan, this may be the album that wins you over. In either case, the record is a definite buy. And when all is said and done, I feel that this will end up being one of Coldplay's finest records.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Much better than XY
Comment: Great, great, great album. You can definitely hear the Brian Eno influence but it still feels like Coldplay. It doesn't touch A Rush of Blood...but then again, what does? It's a great album and one of the best I've heard this year.
Customer Rating:
Summary: COME ON U2 KNOCKOFFS!
Comment: HEY IF IT WASN'T FOR THE FACT THAT CHRIS MARTIN IS MARRIED TO A MOVIE STAR
WOULD HE EVEN HAVE A RECORD DEAL!
AND BRIAN ENO, HE SHOULD KNOW BETTER........
HEY BRIAN!
WANT TO PRODUCE MY NEXT CD!
MR. JIMMI
Customer Rating:
Summary: Colplay - Viva La Vida
Comment: I have to say that I've been a huge fan of Coldplay's since I first heard Yellow almost a decade ago. So I always anxiously await a new Colplay album. And I always have super-high expectations (probably too high).
So upon first listen to Viva La Vida, I was immediately disappointed. It seemed way too short, which lead me to think that they just mailed this one in. My friend said he liked it though, and that it reminded him of the Beatles, which I thought a bit odd.
So upon a 2nd and 3rd listen, I grew to like it a little more with each listening. However, I don't think it's ever going to be as good as their other albums, no matter how many times I listen to it. There is some good stuff on here, but just not epic-good-stuff.
Am I going to be listening to Viva La Vida five years from now like X&Y or A Rush of Blood? It's tough to say... and I think that's the real measure of an album for a band like Coldplay.
Customer Rating:
Summary: lost in producer's paradise
Comment: I really love Coldplay's work, but i have to say that this Album is a bit overproduced in a way. Where are all the simple and adictive melodies that the first two albums offered? The guitars? It's like it is Chris Martin and the producers album, not Coldplay's. I'm sure some people apreciate the turn to a more electronic sound and the big sound of the orchestra, but I miss the simpleness of songs like Yellow, Spies and the Scientist. Favourite tracks though are "Yes", "Violet Hill" and "Lovers in Japan"
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