Upcoming...Coldplay: Mylo Xyloto

    Though a little more mainstream than most of the bands I listen to on a regular basis, Coldplay consistently surprises me with their original sound and composition. Clear props go to Chris Martin, whose voice unmistakably represents Coldplay, as iconic as Thom Yorke is to Radiohead. Released on Parlophone Records, Mylo Xyloto will be Coldplay's fifth studio effort and is set to hit the shelves October 24th. Their previous work includes: Parachutes (2000), A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), X&Y (2005) and Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008). Some of my favorite songs go all the way back to their earliest work, with "Spies" from Parachutes; "Politik", "Clocks", "Daylight", "A Whisper" and the title track from A Rush of Blood to the Head; and of course from Vida la Vida or Death and All His Friends, "Cemeteries of London", "42", and "Yes". Obviously, I felt like X&Y was their weakest effort.
    Mylo Xyloto is claimed to be a concept album, following a "love story with a happy ending" about Mylo and Xyloto, two characters that according to Coldplay's Wikipedia: "Mylo and Xyloto, who are living in an oppressive, dystopian urban environment, meet one another through a gang called 'The Lost Boys', and fall in love." As I'm not typically one who pays a lot of attention to lyrics, I cannot say how well they achieve this end, but it does seem like there is a smart progression to the songs. I do, however, dislike how there are these 30-40 second tracks labeled as individual tracks, "Mylo Xyloto", "M.M.I.X." and "A Hopeful Transmission". They give the appearance that there is more music than there actually is, and they should have just been included as part of the next song they lead into. Although, from a stories perspective, perhaps they are warranted.
    Apparently, Coldplay intended to make this release more intimate and acoustic than Viva la Vida, but I do not think what they ended up with after numerous trips to the recording studio actually reflects this goal. Instead, there are a lot of songs that are grandiose in scale, with dance house leanings and full string sections sweeping overtop a throbbing pulse and intense vocals. There is acoustic guitar and piano throughout, but it seems like the band just kept adding layers in the studio until there is a little too much wash sometimes, in my opinion (as if they got caught up in the dream pop that hit so suddenly last year and has come and gone quickly, thankfully). Probably they could have accomplished their original plan very well if they were still in the Parachutes era. Overall, the album is really a splash, much like the cover depicts, which I love along with the graffiti inspired music videos, such as "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall", which you can watch here (I love the guitar riff, one of their best!). And, most if not all of these songs will make for excellent remix material. I expect to hear some remixes that may even be better than the original. The R&B artist Rihanna makes an appearance on "Princess of China", which doesn't really make sense to have a hip hop infused track merged with what should be more oriental in nature by definition. Also, in "Charlie Brown" there is a singer right at the start of the song that sounds like the vocalist from the song "Baptism" by Crystal Castles, but I doubt there is any real connection, just interesting.
    You can see more of their videos on their website here, just click the links and they will take you to YouTube videos. Also check one of the more unknown best songs, "Hurts Like Heaven" with its slight punk influence (there are really no hidden gems as the hits "Paradise", "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall" and "Major Minus", from the Every Teardrop is a Waterfall EP that released June 3, 2011, are going to be well known to everyone in due time if not already), over under the 'Monthly Sample Tracks'. Enjoy!