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Post by Lennon2217 on Oct 2, 2021 17:10:58 GMT -5
I mean at the end of the day they still do care about sales, charts and cater to parlaphone. Their record company basically told them on Everyday Life they need a big single and that a song ear marked for “Spheres” was pulled into the EL orbit. The band could have kicked back saying we are going with an Orphans less EL but didn’t. This happens a lot. Look at Noel and DBTT. Record executives said we need a single(s) and he tossed in Lyla and Idle very late into the game. Imagine that album without their two big and last #1 singles? Geez!!!!! Do you have a source for that? Not saying it's not true, I just haven't heard it. I remember Chris saying Orphans was planned for being part of the next album after Everyday Life, but that "one of the band" said the album needed something more musically upbeat. I think it was the right call. As matt says, the protest lyrics on the song work beautifully. Not on hand. He said it a couple times. It was also on Reddit a month before announcement that a more experimental album would proceed a poppy mainstream album back to back and a single from it was being moved to the former album. Who knows. All that Info that leaked in September/October 2019 ended up being true. |
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Post by The Escapist on Oct 2, 2021 17:26:40 GMT -5
Do you have a source for that? Not saying it's not true, I just haven't heard it. I remember Chris saying Orphans was planned for being part of the next album after Everyday Life, but that "one of the band" said the album needed something more musically upbeat. I think it was the right call. As matt says, the protest lyrics on the song work beautifully. Not on hand. He said it a couple times. It was also on Reddit a month before announcement that a more experimental album would proceed a poppy mainstream album back to back and a single from it was being moved to the former album. Who knows. All that Info that leaked in September/October 2019 ended up being true. Oh, it's confirmed that Orphans was moved to Everyday Life last-minute and was the final song recorded for the album - but Chris said that it was a member of the band's idea to do so, with the rumours on Coldplay forums being that it was Will. I thought you might have meant Champion of the World, to be honest, which feels like the only other "single" type track on the record. |
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Post by Lennon2217 on Oct 2, 2021 17:37:10 GMT -5
Not on hand. He said it a couple times. It was also on Reddit a month before announcement that a more experimental album would proceed a poppy mainstream album back to back and a single from it was being moved to the former album. Who knows. All that Info that leaked in September/October 2019 ended up being true. Oh, it's confirmed that Orphans was moved to Everyday Life last-minute and was the final song recorded for the album - but Chris said that it was a member of the band's idea to do so, with the rumours on Coldplay forums being that it was Will. I thought you might have meant Champion of the World, to be honest, which feels like the only other "single" type track on the record. He might have said it on one of his home streams live during the pandemic on IG too. He was doing a lot of Q&A with fans. That’s where the stuff about a new UFO and Us Against The World reworked was first mentioned. He also said a rarities outtake album is something they’ve considered. Lots of cool nuggets during early pandemic. |
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Post by matt on Oct 2, 2021 17:57:53 GMT -5
Orphans would make sense, in fact the clues were all there about the next record, certainly in who would produce. Max Martin has a credit on that song playing keyboards so would have come from those sessions I believe?
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Post by Manualex on Oct 2, 2021 18:40:12 GMT -5
Yeah, Orphans was the one planned for the next album. But it was Coldplay who moved it to Everyday Life as far as I can tell, not Parlophone or any other executives. Like I said, feels like the right decision. The more guitar-led sound of it suits Everyday Life's earthiness, and it works so well with those tragic lyrics that it fits the concept too. That situation has happened in the past with Charlie Brown being picked for an acoustic album, but then decides to scrap that album and put that on MX, which was a great choice. |
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Post by World71R on Oct 3, 2021 18:09:31 GMT -5
I dig that Travis album too, especially Re-Offender but I just use it as an explicit example of political protesting. Chris Martin did similar with Politik - great great song, but as he's got older, I think his approach to it has matured. I love All That You Can't Leave Behind but I don't think its an age thing - I don't see Coldplay similarly writing bad songs like U2 have been doing (You're The Best Thing I just despise). It's about staying true to yourself and U2 haven't done that. I have no doubt that Chris Martin is staying true to himself - his music tastes were always a lot more poppy than U2, so its his natural forte and you can tell that in their songs. He said in the early 2000s he ideally wished Coldplay were more like N-Sync! I think he has grown Coldplay into the band he always wanted them to be. U2 never aspired to be with the pop kids, in fact, Bono scorned them when they released Achtung Baby so their career trajectory has become somewhat hypocritical in their current state.At that point in time, Achtung Baby wasn't trying to be a rejection of pop or embrace of classic 80s rock - it was the sound of an ensemble with pure creative freedom, not hunkered down by current trends. This allowed AB to be a cultural shift that impacted the music industry. Pop music, rock music, hip-hop - Achtung Baby was one of those albums that shifted the cultural zeitgeist, alot of those late 80s/early 90s records (Nevermind, Stone Roses, Straight Outta Compton) brought out a sound that would become mainstream and attempted to be replicated throughout the 90s and into the 2000s. Those same pop kids Bono mocked became fans to musical themes that were ushered in from AB. Also, I will disagree that Bono isn't sincere in liking newer music. He's praised modern musicians and worked with them numerous times over the last two decades and because some of that material has been lackluster, I don't believe that's him and U2 in general trying to latch on to trends. Those guys are in their late 50s and early 60s, their perspective will for sure be different from Martin and Coldplay, but I wouldn't say they really don't like newer pop material. The whole "true to yourself" arguement was the same one we were having back in 2015 with A Head Full of Dreams, calling the band sellouts, everything we still call U2. The perspective on here has only shifted in the last couple of years to a more understanding one. Chris is alot more likeable than Bono, and has a better perception of the current musical landscape, but he's also seventeen years younger. It's interesting to think of the trajectories of each band, because I see Coldplay going until they've had enough and retiring because they want to or they've covered everything they've wanted to with immense success. They've spent the first 20 years in love with pop music and any type of music they like with an eye to the pop audience (even if it's been inconsequentially). U2 spent the first 20 years sonically expanding with whoever their audience was to be and then the next 20 trying to chase a particular audience with a certain sound to get there. I don't think the two bands are comparable, for as much as many music fans want to try comparing them, but I think U2 is a good lesson for Coldplay on what not to do once they get to the twilight of their career in 10 years' time. |
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Post by girllikeabomb on Oct 6, 2021 2:01:46 GMT -5
Not very into Coldplay myself, but for any fans who didn't see this: they'll be doing a "residency" on James Corden's Late Late Show the entire week of October 18th, playing every night.
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Post by Lennon2217 on Oct 13, 2021 23:38:32 GMT -5
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Post by Lennon2217 on Oct 14, 2021 0:26:06 GMT -5
It’s out there folks.
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Post by Lennon2217 on Oct 14, 2021 0:33:05 GMT -5
SPOILER..................................................................................
The rumors are true. Infinity Sign is "Life Is Beautiful" but it has indeed been stripped of the lyrics from the live version from years past that has much been anticipated. Very "Life In Technicolor". Hopefully the full fledge song pops up on Volume 2 or an EP. Bizarre decision although this version is a good listen.
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Post by Lennon2217 on Oct 14, 2021 8:33:34 GMT -5
I think I'll wait for the full release. Only a matter of hours! So, this is part one of a three-part album, right? Chris is saying we'll get three Music of the Spheres releases, and then one more release, and that's the end of Coldplay. I don't believe him, but there we go. Excited for their first multi-album release. I’ve only heard that there is a volume 2. Heard whispers of a volume 3 but have not yet read or heard Chris say that. Maybe I missed it. I wonder what the gap will be between volumes? I can’t imagine stringing out this fake planetary universe past 2022. Spheres already sounds skimpy with material. 41 min long but 11 of that is “Colortura” plus 3 interludes and 1 instrumental. 8 full on band tracks which is comparable to Everyday Life’s 6 band tracks for a double album. |
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Post by Gas Panic on Oct 14, 2021 8:47:56 GMT -5
They've just announced Wembley Stadium gigs for next August.
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Post by The Escapist on Oct 14, 2021 8:54:52 GMT -5
I think I'll wait for the full release. Only a matter of hours! So, this is part one of a three-part album, right? Chris is saying we'll get three Music of the Spheres releases, and then one more release, and that's the end of Coldplay. I don't believe him, but there we go. Excited for their first multi-album release. I’ve only heard that there is a volume 2. Heard whispers of a volume 3 but have not yet read or heard Chris say that. Maybe I missed it. I wonder what the gap will be between volumes? I can’t imagine stringing out this fake planetary universe past 2022. Spheres already sounds skimpy with material. 41 min long but 11 of that is “Colortura” plus 3 interludes and 1 instrumental. 8 full on band tracks which is comparable to Everyday Life’s 6 band tracks for a double album. I think it comes from the "story in three parts" or whatever it was, from the Higher Power video. I'm fine with the short runtime / lack of full material if we really are getting a Volume Two/Three. Plus, you all better get used to my endless tracklist ideas for a single Music of the Spheres: Complete when we do get them all. If nothing else, it's something new. Plus, there are those rumours of an "Aurora" bonus track, maybe for Japanese edition. Also, lol at Pitchfork giving it the same score that they gave A Rush of Blood to the Head. |
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Post by Lennon2217 on Oct 14, 2021 11:14:32 GMT -5
I’ve only heard that there is a volume 2. Heard whispers of a volume 3 but have not yet read or heard Chris say that. Maybe I missed it. I wonder what the gap will be between volumes? I can’t imagine stringing out this fake planetary universe past 2022. Spheres already sounds skimpy with material. 41 min long but 11 of that is “Colortura” plus 3 interludes and 1 instrumental. 8 full on band tracks which is comparable to Everyday Life’s 6 band tracks for a double album. I think it comes from the "story in three parts" or whatever it was, from the Higher Power video. I'm fine with the short runtime / lack of full material if we really are getting a Volume Two/Three. Plus, you all better get used to my endless tracklist ideas for a single Music of the Spheres: Complete when we do get them all. If nothing else, it's something new. Plus, there are those rumours of an "Aurora" bonus track, maybe for Japanese edition. Also, lol at Pitchfork giving it the same score that they gave A Rush of Blood to the Head.I think if the Japanese edition had an extra track on it not found anywhere else we would know about it by now. I’d imagine with potentially 2-3 more Spheres albums of 8-12 tracks each, they gotta keep stuff back. Chris did say last year they have a new song called “UFO” that is not to be confused with the previous Mylo track. He also said we would soon hear the final version of “Us Against The World”. No idea what that means or where it will end up. |
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Post by batfink30 on Oct 14, 2021 12:01:43 GMT -5
Anyone heard the full album then? Im fairly disappointed by it. Like some of it but overall IMHO it's not good.
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Post by defmaybe00 on Oct 14, 2021 17:44:49 GMT -5
So, completed my first listen, wouldn't say I'm massively satisfied with it
It's better than AHFOD, but it feels to me as if the overall quality is lacking and the whole mood/vibe/concept is not enough to make up for it
It's definitely meant to be listened to as a journey instead of a collection of random tunes and that's something I can truly appreciate in today's pop world, but it's just not *enough*
As for the tunes themselves, I've already talked about Higher Power, actually thought I would've liked Humankind as the first single much better
Lyrics are a bit cringe, but there's more energy to it
Let Somebody Go could be a nice enough song but it's just so cliched in its "male and female vocals meet to sing a sad love song" thing, People Of The Pride just doesn't go anywhere and that plastic sound surrounding that glam guitar riff ain't it
First two instrumentals don't do much, the last one is quite fine actually, I enjoyed it as an introduction to Coloratura
My Universe is definitely not my thing, guess it reaches its audience though?
The tune with Collier and Biutyful were the highlights, the first one is a nice and again unexpected idea on a pop record, the second reminded of Us Against The World in a way
The one thing I'm gonna take away from this is Coloratura though, great song, ambitious, colourful, heartfelt, contains all the things that made me fall in love with Coldplay at first
I'm definitely gotta give it another spin at some point, but I have to say I don't really feel the urge to do it
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Post by batfink30 on Oct 14, 2021 18:27:12 GMT -5
Humankind- Really like it would have chosen that over HP as first single.
Let Somebody Go- Bit boring,meh
Human Heart- Really like it
People- Ok, nothing special.
Biutyful- High voice thing is awful, what on earth is that all about?! Not good.
Universe- Catchy but not for me.
Infinity The "Ole,Ole,Ole,ole,Ole" thing is cringe. Nice after that but again, a bit meh.
Coloratura- Never fully got it, avarage to me but what do I know?
Disappointed overall, thought EL was heading in a good direction but this is downhill. ☹️
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Post by Sadie on Oct 14, 2021 18:45:05 GMT -5
Why the fuck wasn't Humankind the first single?? Literally the perfect middle ground between old and new Coldplay and the melody is infectious as hell
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Post by Sadie on Oct 14, 2021 19:18:23 GMT -5
Why the fuck wasn't Humankind the first single?? Literally the perfect middle ground between old and new Coldplay and the melody is infectious as hell I just finished listening to it and I can't help but feel a bit regretful of the fact that Music Of The Spheres is gonna get all the promo and attention that Everyday Life rightfully deserved and never got enough of, it's a far superior album |
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Post by Lennon2217 on Oct 14, 2021 22:07:29 GMT -5
Got the album late last night. Gave it two full spins on the drive to work and another two spins on the ride home. Pretty short album when you consider that "Colortura” takes up almost 11 minutes!!!! Coldplay has teased us before with engaging with spacey-rock odyssey (X&Y) but never full throttle so this was always going to peak my interest.
Music of The Spheres - I wish this intro was longer. Say 2 minutes minimum. Just as it is getting interesting with those slow pulsating keyboards it ends. Reminds me of Brian Eno material on those Apollo LPs. Never like when sold play make songs 20-50 seconds in length and take up a track listing spot.
Higher Power - The song they jammed down our throats nonstop for almost 5 months. It felt like a forced hit single because the review were ok and it didn't go #1 anywhere which I'm sure was their aim with that full court press attack. No idea why they needed to release a single that early before the album in October. It kind of made me want to turn against it. It isn't a bad song but their weakest lead single thus far. I do like the chorus. Catchy. Wish it had more guitar solo work like in the live versions.
Humankind - A lot of early reviews are gravitating towards this more "classic" Coldplay rocker. I think it is just ok. Feels like an offshoot of "Hurts Like Heaven" but also "Spanish Rain", "Don't Let It Break Your Heart" and "Life Is Beautiful". Those last 3 are all cut from the same cloth with that "Ole Ole Ole" chant and fast tempo energy. Not digging the church procession like passages.
Alien Choir - Another interesting interlude that I wish was longer.
Let Somebody Go - The first of the BIG collaborations on the LP with this tune featuring Selena Gomez doing a duet appearance. When people say Noel Gallagher can write acoustic guitar ballads in his sleep, Chris Martin can write piano ballads at will. This particular one is very generic and cliche lyrics. Reminds me of “Everglow” which I did not like at all on AHFOD. Coldplay nailed the break up ballad years ago with the dagger that is “The Scientist”. No need to keep re-writing a broken heart piano plea.
Human Heart - A lot of people’s early favorites from the LP. For whatever reason it reminds me of a combination of “Midnight” meets “BroKen” along with “When I Need A Friend”. Electronic meets organic. I probably won’t listen to it often but I respect it being a good different.
People of the Pride - This is a clear highlight of the new album. Such a moody little fucker. Coldplay has always done darker songs so well, think “A Whisper”, “Pour Me” or “Major Minus”. I wish the band would dip into that well more often. Love the callback to forgotten Viva demo lyrics. This will be an awesome live song on their tours for the next decade. More please.
Biutyful - Sorry to say I’m not feeling this one at all. I just can’t get into those Alien chipmunk vocals. It sounded ok on “Cry Cry Cry” but for whatever reason I don’t like it here. Wish it was just Chris singing all of it in his normal register.
Music of the Spheres II - A complete waste of a track and time. Serious what is the point of adding this to the album and selling it? Its 20 seconds!
My Universe - This song was always going to be a massive mega hit ever since the band revealed months back that BTS would feature on it heavily. Two titanic global forces with legions upon legions of fans ready to eat it up. This really isn’t my bag at all. Its extremely poppy which isn’t the problem, the lyrics are so bland and cliche. I feel like it isn’t offering anything. The production is very good but its all empty calories. Just not for me. I’d take “Higher Power” 6 days a week and twice on Sunday over this track.
Infinity Sign - I like this instrumental but it is also my biggest let down on the album. All the teaser clips over the last 2-3 months featured the backing track to live favorite “Life Is Beautiful” which really fired up the fan base. Originally that song was going to be a charity single to raise money for devastating earthquakes in Mexico back in 2017 but it never materialized. Later it was highly anticipated to be the lead single (think Moses) from their upcoming live album “Live In Buenos Aires” but that didn’t happen and it was completely omitted from that live album. So strange. Coldplay decided to strip off the vocals on “Life Is Beautiful” minus the “Ole Ole Ole” chants. Not sure why they did that. Feels like another “Life In Technicolor” situation but that song works much much better as an instrumental. I think this album could have used the full version of “Life Is Beautiful”. That energy is badly needed because “Infinity Sign” doesn’t really go anywhere and is sorta filler before the big epic send off on the next track. I hope the full version appears on a future album or EP.
Colortura - Part Disney Fantasia and part “Moving To Mars” from 2011. I wish the band made more songs like this. I’ve said repeatedly that Coldplay is at their best when it is the 4 of them cranking out material/ideas. This is a perfect example. They honestly don’t need fancy collaborations. They rose to the top of the mountain long before doing any of that stuff. Sometimes I want Coldplay to just be Coldplay. An epic Jonny solo on this tune. I feel like Jonny has been trivialized slightly over the last few albums. He can shred if given the chance and be a guitar rock God. Let it rip boys.
Overall this album is a mixed bag for me. Despite this being a concept album with a detailed planetary system of made up worlds and artwork, it is kind of lacking substance and meat. Maybe more will be revealed in volumes 2 and 3? This project as of now seems undercooked. 8 full tracks with 4 interludes/instrumentals. To me that isn’t enough to justify all the heavy promotion and concepts presented leading up to release day. I will most likely cherry pick the best songs off and move on. Maybe make a playlist of the best of the Spheres volumes.
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Post by The Escapist on Oct 15, 2021 5:19:28 GMT -5
Good review. Undercooked is definitely a word I might use as well, the album sorely lacks a big opener and I'll no doubt be making a "complete" Music of the Spheres whenever the second volume drops. It's not bad music, I like the variety and the colour, but like I said - a bit slight. I'll do my full thoughts at some point today.
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Post by Lennon2217 on Oct 15, 2021 6:11:17 GMT -5
Good review. Undercooked is definitely a word I might use as well, the album sorely lacks a big opener and I'll no doubt be making a "complete" Music of the Spheres whenever the second volume drops. It's not bad music, I like the variety and the colour, but like I said - a bit slight. I'll do my full thoughts at some point today. And perhaps out of context from volumes 2-3 it does sound skimpy. We shall see what transpires. If I had to guess, volume 2 drops next February right before the world tour and volume 3 in late summer/fall 2022. Purely guess work. |
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Post by The Escapist on Oct 15, 2021 6:30:02 GMT -5
Good review. Undercooked is definitely a word I might use as well, the album sorely lacks a big opener and I'll no doubt be making a "complete" Music of the Spheres whenever the second volume drops. It's not bad music, I like the variety and the colour, but like I said - a bit slight. I'll do my full thoughts at some point today. And perhaps out of context from volumes 2-3 it does sound skimpy. We shall see what transpires. If I had to guess, volume 2 drops next February right before the world tour and volume 3 in late summer/fall 2022. Purely guess work. I have a feeling we might have to wait a bit longer than that, but within the next twelve months for sure. Once we get the chance to make a "Music of the Spheres" that has about 12-13 full tracks, it'll feel more of a complete era. This is definitely the start of the band wanting to move away from "conventional albums", though. It's basically an EP with interludes. |
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Post by Lennon2217 on Oct 15, 2021 6:52:38 GMT -5
The more I think about it, I’m shocked Coldplay didn’t try to give the show Ted Lasso to use “Infinity Sign” during their season 2 finale that wrapped up the previous Friday. Perfect tie in for soccer and album promotion. Low key stuff since people wouldn’t know at first who made that song.
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Post by World71R on Oct 15, 2021 22:37:32 GMT -5
Man, Everyday Life and AHFOD really had me going with all of the album hype but this didn't do much for me. It might be something for me personally, it's been an insane time. I'll be checking out the album very soon though.
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Nov 4, 2024 5:04:30 GMT -5
Nov 4, 2024 5:04:30 GMT -5