Others say...

"I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing; Roman Cavalry choirs are singing"
Viva La Vida has seven Grammy nominations, and I hope they win them all, including best album. I haven't actually heard the other contenders, but I find it hard to believe that any album better than Viva La Vida could have slipped past my radar. Perhaps best selling Tha Carter III by Lil Wayne should get runner up or honorable mention, but 2008 was really Coldplay's year. They have hit their stride with their fourth album, and Brian Eno was the perfect producer for them at this juncture in time.

Some ambitious fans have posted the chords and tablature to the entire album, explaining which songs are played with a capo or whatnot, and it makes it easy and fun for me to play along with the whole record, from start to finish. I really like the way it all flows together, with a variety of keys, tempos, moods, and grooves, that all work together to form a cohesive whole. I wouldn't change the order of any of the songs, they are not just random songs, they all fit together perfectly.

The band plays as an ensemble, without much in the way of guitar solos as such, but they always craft their ensemble sound so it gives a lush carpet of support for singer Chris Martin. There is some amazing playing, but it just doesn't get in the way of songs.

I am voting Viva La Vida top album of 2008, whether or not it gets the Grammy. Viva La Vida! Long Live Life! Live Long and Prosper!

10 Records to Compare and Contrast with Viva La Vida


1. Low by David Bowie and Brian Eno (1977) .... Speed of Life, also an instrumental overture, if you will, kicks off this Bowie/Eno collaboration, just like Life in Technicolor, a Coldplay/Eno collaboration, kicks of Viva La Vida, or Death and All His Friends.

2. The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths (1986) .... Cemetry Gates, for starters, but how about I Know It's Over, Never Had No One Ever, The Boy With the Thorn in His Side, There is a Light That Never Goes Out, or Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others, to compare and contrast The Smiths with Cemeteries of London by Coldplay(?)

3. Into the Great Wide Open by Tom Petty (1991) .... The title track is somewhat similar to Lost! in that it starts in Em and then goes to a forceful statement with Major Chord cadences. Into the Great Wide Open is actually closer to Cry, Baby, Cry, by The Beatles.

4. Axis: Bold as Love by Jimi Hendrix (1967) .... One Rainy Wish is kind of like 42, in that it starts with a pensive, dreamy, minor riff, then builds up into a heavy part. Coldplay's 42 kind of has a middle where the energy ratchets up and then there is a release, where they surf the wave, like an ice cube on a skillet, riding to its own melting.

5. Disintegration by The Cure (1989) .... Lullaby has that Japanese sound, as if they are playing kotos, and that is what links it with Lovers in Japan, beneath the Osaka sun, in my mind; but this whole album by The Cure compares nicely with Viva La Vida.

6. Violator by Depeche Mode (1990) .... DM master the techno beat, but with its slow and heavy groove of Policy of Truth, or even Personal Jesus, it kind of brings to mind Coldplay's Yes!

7. Is There Love in Space? by Joe Satriani (2004) .... Joe Satriani claims Viva La Vida is a rip off of his song, If I Could Fly. Coldplay say, Joe, with all due respect, it is only a coincidence.

8. Peter Gabriel 1: Car by Peter Gabriel (1977) .... Solsbury Hill is not so much like Violet Hill, but both Peter Gabriel and Chris Martin really cover a lot of musical territory, and the songs, though diverse, weave together in a tapestry that tells a single story.

9. Around the World in a Day by Prince (1985) .... Raspberry Beret is my pick to compare and contrast with Strawberry Swing. Hah. I bet you thought I was going to compare it to Strawberry Fields, by The Beatles. But I am saving them for last. ATWIAD by the AFKAP (Artist formerly known as Prince)--in other words--Prince, is a good album to compare with Viva La Vida because it also incorporates psychedelic sound, as well as sitars, middle eastern, and world music, into its rock.

10. Abbey Road by The Beatles (1969) .... The End, a song fragment that is the culmination of a suite of shards (Golden Slumbers, Carry That Weight) is very much like the end of Death and All His Friends, which also ends on a song fragment called The End:

And
In the end
We lie awake
And we dream we're making our escape

While of course, The Beatles end their The End with:

And
In the end
The love we take
Is equal to the love we make.

"a letdown"
I tried. I tried, i tried oh, how I tried to like this album. I own all of Coldplay's albums and was extremely excited when I first heard about this release. I listened to it maybe about 50 times from beginning to end, but it just fell flat for me. I don't get it. It seems as though Coldplay was lazy with this album. The songs are predictable and formulaic. This is an extremely poor exhibit of their talent. Better luck next time, Coldplay.

"Good Coldplay album"
This is my first Coldplay album. I got in mainly for "What I Ruled the World." Yeah, I know, that's not the name of the song, but it makes more sense to me than the actual title. I think it's a great original song, and I enjoy the other songs too. If you aren't familiar with their music, I think this is a good intro to Coldplay.

"Give it a chance"
For those of you who have heard people say that this cd is not up to par with the rest of Coldplay's cds, let me say this: Give it some time. Listen to it, in its entirety, all in one sitting, at least once. Replay it over and over again. Believe me, it grows on you. Although I originally bought the cd for the most popular song, "Viva la Vida," it is now one of my favorite cds and "Viva la Vida" isn't even my favorite song on the cd. It's different, you have to be prepared for that, but it's worth taking a second (or third or fourth) look.

"Viva La Musique!"
Coldplay has done it again. Nothing is more relaxing than the soothing sounds of "Viva La Vida". Coldplay's musical hooks continue to dazzle, and Martin's voice is more full of spirit than ever, despite the album's main theme of death.
Many criticisms are based on this fact. Yet, the album is anything but depressing. It is uplifting, pleasant, and hearing each track for the first time was like discovering buried treasure.
The title track, "Viva La Vida," is not only musically pleasant and extraordinary, but also philosophical. Many songs are of a sweet nature, and many a time, I've found myself curled up with a book or just relaxing to the ten tracks, which whiz by in what seems like seconds, even though the album lasts for over 40 minutes.
I urge all fans of music, whether you are into Coldplay or not, to check out this triumphant album. I'm glad I did.