AND, she's not even that attractive. That's right, I said it.

Seriously though, top form Chris Martin really is a stunning melodist. There's about five tunes in Strawberry Swing alone that can loop in your head for days.

On a side note, has Chris Martin ever been pictured in regular blue jeans? He's either in track pants, parachute pants or a silly costume.

Don't be a pig. Big boobs or a big ass don't mean someone is beautiful or attractive or vice versa.

Fun is extremely bland. The only redeeming factor in it is Jonny's guitar riff, and even that gets swallowed by all of the unnecessary sounds that try to make the song more "modern" and "top 40 hit material", but yet, it sounds like something a Duran Duran-influenced 80s tribute band would do if they were awarded studio time for winning a Battle of the Bands competition. It just doesn't sound right for Coldplay at all. 

Taylor's got song writing chomps. Take Ryan Adam's cover album of 1989. He made it sound like a sad lonely indie acoustic album. On her 1989 album she wrote almost all the lyrics with the music sometimes credited to the producer of the track.

I'm not saying she's shite, but she's just another 'phenomenon' which, at the end of the day, isn't much different from all the other new fads that have come and gone in the last few years. Like Adele, 1989 may be a mass selling hit with admittedly many redeeming features (and yes, more so than Coldplay's recent output) but it is sad if that is what we call cultural heavyweights in today's music. And look at all the writing credits on these kinds of albums - Paul Epworth for Adele, Max Martin and Ryan Tedder for Swift - the go to men for a chart melody. This is mass produced music of little substance, but the really sad thing is that the likes of Adele or Taylor Swift are able to dominate the airwaves, magazines and TV shows simply because of money. The best money will hire the biggest pop producer and the biggest pop songwriter and the biggest marketing campaign ever. These companies know they've got a product here that will sell, sell, sell and one that can be moulded into the most profitable dream ever.

This is the big problem. When you start reducing music to material means, then it demeans the whole point of it all. Who Taylor Swift and Adele really are, well we don't know. They are reflective of someone else's dream (i.e. record company), and not reflective of the singer's own reality. And what you inevitably end up with - because there has been such a large personnel involved in the making and marketing of the record - is music and an image that is in no way whatsoever reflective of the actual 'artist'. And ideally, cultural phenomenon's should be so because they are genuinely unique and special people. It's not the case here.

At best, they merely produce fine ear candy that is pleasant to listen to. But the entire furore surrounding these singers and their songs is completely overhyped.

I wouldn't call Taylor Swify a "fad". She's won a Album of The Year at the Grammys and Song of The Year. She's consistently sold millions of albums per release going on a decade plus. She's been the biggest selling artist over the last 5 years globally. She's going to be around for a long long time. Embrace the Tay Tay.

I'm not sure the breakdown on how much writing the producers did for her? Is it all the music or just some? A couple of lyrics here and there? Not sure. She use to write it all. And sold million doing it. I'm not really bothered either way. Shit, I wish Liam had people helping him write lyrics/music so we can get a KICK ASS solo album.

Just a sign of

Hope it continues to drop like a stone.

Like I said, this is the first album of theirs I don't hear a hit single (even if they try desperately with a Beyonce collab). I've listened to their other ones and there's been at least one tune you're sure will be on the airwaves for a good while (even if you don't particularly like the song) but with this one? Not a sausage.

matt, I pretty much agree with everything your saying. Especially the hired hands and label stuff, I mean i don't think anyone is claiming that Adele or Swift are legit game changing artists. Taylor in particular seems to be a marketing genius, where as the people around Adele (Record companies) seem to market her well. Thing I like about Taylor, more so than with Adele, is that she's willingly to take risks. Adele is blessed with an outstanding voice but she makes dull music watered down soul/r&b music. Taylor can't sing nearly as well but I respect the fact she tries new things with her music.

That said i don't think its fair to call Taylor a "fad". She's been an A-list popstar for at least 5-6 years now, I'd say Britpop (aka Oasis) was more of a cultural fad than Taylor is. That doesn't mean i think her music will last longer, but she is relevant culturally and musically right now and has been for a while. I think she's written a couple legit tunes that will stand the test of time, but who knows.

Think the other thing that bums me out about coldplay and The Escapist kinda brought it up, is that its funny in and of itself that we are even comparing these three artists. Just goes to show how insanely far Coldplay have slipped. Its not a reach to discuss these three anymore because they all operate in the mainstream, and have huge $$$ behind them. I only hear that Coldplay song on ESPN of all places, and its funny that their just as corporate and empty as some of the popstars people hate on. People who are holding out on them to make something artful musically (and I'm one of them) are kinda delusional. Its like Dad-pop.