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Post by The Invisible Sun on Sept 24, 2021 9:51:56 GMT -5
I've never previously listened to kpop. Can't say that I cared to either. Didn't really know what I expected.
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Post by The Escapist on Sept 24, 2021 10:29:16 GMT -5
Well what can I say about My Universe - it does everything I expected them to do and then some. Some great production, great backing vocals and big hook. For a band in their 40s, they still somehow uncynically latch on to trends and smash it out the park unlike their peers. I'm thinking to Who Built The Moon as a kind of benchmark (although different styles) - if they keep the album a full on bombardment of colourful sounds like that album, then it will be very strong. Just don't veer into saccharine sentimentality like half of Head Full of Dreams and they should have a strong effort. This era feels like AHFOD done right, so far - all the talk about colour, joy, and freedom from that time but now actually backed up by music that feels limitless in it's appreciation for different genres, vibrant in it's mood, and neon in tone. Like you say, keep the variety and onslaught of colour coming, and it'll be a strong late-stage effort for a band that by rights should have stopped being relevant decades ago, if not for their innate love and ability for great pop tunes. I was thinking earlier about the musical sea they emerged from: where are Athlete now? When did you last hear of Star Sailor? Two decades on, and there hasn't been one moment in that time when Coldplay stopped being a globally relevant behemoth. Can't say that about many bands. My two biggest fears for the record is that it lacks a great opener, and that the song Chris played on piano a few months ago sounded too much like a plain ballad for my liking. I think that will be the Gomez track, Let Somebody Go. Hope it has a bit more spice and vibrancy to it on the record, Human Heart uses that Imogen Heap / Bon Iver influence to add a deeper sadness to a track that could sound quite plain if done acoustically, so I'm hoping the same thing happens there as well. |
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Post by batfink30 on Sept 24, 2021 12:55:17 GMT -5
People of The Pride spoiler........LIVE from the Apollo. (Contains song from the deep past) Sounds like Achtung Baby era U2 which is a great thing, I can imagine Bono's lower register moody crooning from that era on this one too. Coldplay channeling U2 isn't it? |
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Post by glider on Sept 24, 2021 14:30:08 GMT -5
Sounds like Achtung Baby era U2 which is a great thing, I can imagine Bono's lower register moody crooning from that era on this one too. Coldplay channeling U2 isn't it? Interestingly it sounds more like latter day Songs of Innocence/Experience U2 than Industrial Berlin U2. I thought of songs like The Blackout and American Soul. |
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Post by Lennon2217 on Sept 24, 2021 14:47:53 GMT -5
Coldplay channeling U2 isn't it? Interestingly it sounds more like latter day Songs of Innocence/Experience U2 than Industrial Berlin U2. I thought of songs like The Blackout and American Soul. Yeah I’m not feeling early 90s U2 on this track. Maybe 2009-2021 U2. I still think it’s more Muse or Queens of the Stone Age riffage. |
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Post by batfink30 on Sept 24, 2021 16:56:32 GMT -5
Interestingly it sounds more like latter day Songs of Innocence/Experience U2 than Industrial Berlin U2. I thought of songs like The Blackout and American Soul. Yeah I’m not feeling early 90s U2 on this track. Maybe 2009-2021 U2. I still think it’s more Muse or Queens of the Stone Age riffage. Yeah, can hear Muse and Queens too. |
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Post by matt on Sept 24, 2021 17:12:30 GMT -5
Just realised Music of the Spheres is the same title of a classical Mike Oldfield album I bought ten years ago, similar planetary themes too. Who knows, ten years from now, a reunited Oasis will continue with Noel's cosmic pop and call their album the same name.
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Post by The Escapist on Sept 26, 2021 18:18:46 GMT -5
Not a massive fan of acoustic versions that are basically just the studio vocals with guitar under them instead, but I think this does highlight the melodic strengths of the song. BTS's tunes and vocals are so good throughout.
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Post by matt on Sept 27, 2021 20:34:40 GMT -5
Always really liked this one. It should have been on the album. Nice riff from Jonny Buckland and the chorus is so catchy.
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Post by matt on Sept 28, 2021 11:31:30 GMT -5
I've always said the poppy version of Coldplay is not the problem.The major criticism I had with new Coldplay was the extremely insipid and lightweight songs that filled out Head Full of Dreams - I mean stuff like Everglow and Amazing Day are abominations that deserves all the criticism it gets. Spot on. I know I'm someone who enjoys a lot of modern chart-pop sounds in the first place (I think BTS are a talented collective with real potential), but the songs that an indie-forum such as this might hate - A Sky Full of Stars, Hymn for the Weekend, My Universe - are not what I'm scared of for Music of the Spheres. As you say, it's songs like Amazing Day that need to be avoided at all costs. Schmaltzy, cruise-ship instrumentals with milquetoast melodies. Fun is another one. Two of the worst songs the band have ever done. My Universe won't be the new Viva la Vida, but at least it sounds like a vibrant and confident song with some rich production and a sense of joy to it. Give me that any day over the second half of AHFOD. Another angle on why I enjoy their recent pop-focused material is that, ridden with clichés as they might be, I much prefer this lyrical take on love to the one that they had from 2000-2005. S o many songs, particularly on Parachutes and X&Y, are hard for me to enjoy because of the cloying and self-pitying love lyrics. Shiver is unlistenable because of them. Even a sweet song like Sparks or Parachutes, or What If, they all make me want to clip Chris round the ear and either go "She's not into you, mate" or "Just go and fucking talk to her, then". Songs like Birds or Hymn for the Weekend present a much more romantic and celebratory take on love that I prefer. So, yeah, I'm fine with the collaborations and the pop sounds. It's not the only thing they're doing, and as long as it's not insipid or self-pitying, they have no chance of being in the weaker annals of their material. And I don't know, this sounds like a fun collab with a good chorus and a colourful sound. Looking forward to it: I was thinking of this recently about what you said, particularly their very early stuff. It seems to have been particularly bad early on (listened to a very early one For You today which I felt had these unattractive mopey traits), becoming not quite as cloying as you say during Rush of Blood and X&Y. Viva was partly a reaction to the reputation as miserabilists and they haven't really done that ever since. Personally, I much prefer the more upbeat tunes from Coldplay recently - like Flags, Orphans (upbeat tune masking melancholy lyrics but not of the self indulgent kind previously of course) or Strawberry Swing. I think Chris Martin prefers writing these too. |
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Post by Lennon2217 on Sept 28, 2021 12:43:40 GMT -5
Spot on. I know I'm someone who enjoys a lot of modern chart-pop sounds in the first place (I think BTS are a talented collective with real potential), but the songs that an indie-forum such as this might hate - A Sky Full of Stars, Hymn for the Weekend, My Universe - are not what I'm scared of for Music of the Spheres. As you say, it's songs like Amazing Day that need to be avoided at all costs. Schmaltzy, cruise-ship instrumentals with milquetoast melodies. Fun is another one. Two of the worst songs the band have ever done. My Universe won't be the new Viva la Vida, but at least it sounds like a vibrant and confident song with some rich production and a sense of joy to it. Give me that any day over the second half of AHFOD. Another angle on why I enjoy their recent pop-focused material is that, ridden with clichés as they might be, I much prefer this lyrical take on love to the one that they had from 2000-2005. S o many songs, particularly on Parachutes and X&Y, are hard for me to enjoy because of the cloying and self-pitying love lyrics. Shiver is unlistenable because of them. Even a sweet song like Sparks or Parachutes, or What If, they all make me want to clip Chris round the ear and either go "She's not into you, mate" or "Just go and fucking talk to her, then". Songs like Birds or Hymn for the Weekend present a much more romantic and celebratory take on love that I prefer. So, yeah, I'm fine with the collaborations and the pop sounds. It's not the only thing they're doing, and as long as it's not insipid or self-pitying, they have no chance of being in the weaker annals of their material. And I don't know, this sounds like a fun collab with a good chorus and a colourful sound. Looking forward to it: I was thinking of this recently about what you said, particularly their very early stuff. It seems to have been particularly bad early on (listened to a very early one For You today which I felt had these unattractive mopey traits), becoming not quite as cloying as you say during Rush of Blood and X&Y. Viva was partly a reaction to the reputation as miserabilists and they haven't really done that ever since. Personally, I much prefer the more upbeat tunes from Coldplay recently - like Flags, Orphans (upbeat tune masking melancholy lyrics but not of the self indulgent kind previously of course) or Strawberry Swing. I think Chris Martin prefers writing these too. I remember Coldplay performed at the 2003 MTV VMAs. I believe it was “The Scientist”. Chris Rock, who hosted, immediately said following the performance “well I hope you all didn’t slit your wrists”. Chris was def stung by that commentary to a huge audience but it was their rep at that point in time. It’s changed dramatically since Viva. |
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Post by The Escapist on Sept 28, 2021 13:39:47 GMT -5
I was thinking of this recently about what you said, particularly their very early stuff. It seems to have been particularly bad early on (listened to a very early one For You today which I felt had these unattractive mopey traits), becoming not quite as cloying as you say during Rush of Blood and X&Y. Viva was partly a reaction to the reputation as miserabilists and they haven't really done that ever since. Personally, I much prefer the more upbeat tunes from Coldplay recently - like Flags, Orphans (upbeat tune masking melancholy lyrics but not of the self indulgent kind previously of course) or Strawberry Swing. I think Chris Martin prefers writing these too. Yeah, it's one of the reasons I think they overall became a better band after 2005. A Rush of Blood isn't too bad for it, that album has a starker and more confident tone, but Parachutes and X&Y are just coated with these self-pitying lyrics that I struggle to vibe with. And it's not like Ghost Stories where there's a good reason for them; a lot of the time I feel Chris was going through the motions of what a "sad indie song" was supposed to be about - The Hardest Part reeks of that. I think that's what he meant when he talked about the newer songs, even if they're not as poetic, being ones where he makes sure that he means every single line. For me, lyrically, Viva and Mylo are by far the band's peak. More interesting themes and more poetic ways of getting them across in that art-pop era of the band. And even in the simple, quite generic lyrics of a song like My Universe, at least I don't feel like I'm hearing the diary of a kid who thinks it's deep to talk about how he's lonely because he doesn't have the personality to actually ask a girl out. Some of the old songs, like Shiver, are just ruined by those kind of lyrics. |
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Post by thespiderandthefly on Sept 28, 2021 15:54:15 GMT -5
“My Universe / Electricity” - Double A-side
Missed opportunity there…
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Post by tomlivesforever on Sept 28, 2021 17:39:12 GMT -5
Fucking hell, that song is fucking dreadful.
Challenging Ashcroft for the worst of the month, or year.
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Post by thespiderandthefly on Sept 28, 2021 18:06:06 GMT -5
Fucking hell, that song is fucking dreadful. Challenging Ashcroft for the worst of the month, or year. But I just heard it in Baby Gap, so it MUST be good! |
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Post by The Escapist on Sept 28, 2021 18:09:32 GMT -5
Another Human Heart performance, sounds lovely again.
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Post by glider on Sept 28, 2021 18:23:12 GMT -5
Another Human Heart performance, sounds lovely again. If you told me this video was from 2011/2012, I'd believe it - the MOTS aesthetic is nearly identical to the MX one, even Chris's hair 😁 |
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Post by glider on Sept 28, 2021 18:24:59 GMT -5
Fucking hell, that song is fucking dreadful. Challenging Ashcroft for the worst of the month, or year. Rather listen to this than any of Richard's recent bs tbh. |
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Post by The Escapist on Sept 28, 2021 18:41:42 GMT -5
Another Human Heart performance, sounds lovely again. If you told me this video was from 2011/2012, I'd believe it - the MOTS aesthetic is nearly identical to the MX one, even Chris's hair 😁 Ha! Chris is obviously a big fan of this colourful/alien/graffiti aesthetic - and I think it does suit them, to be fair. I've always had an irrational hatred for that grey jacket from the Mylo era, though. I know the theme for the album was "a spark in the grey", but still, it seemed far too staid for such a vibrant era. I prefer their current look overall, other than those goofy trainers he insists on. My best friend is a costume designer, so I'm used to long conversations about these things, ha. I hope we get more "alien" vibes as the era goes on, though. And you're right, My Universe crushes anything Ashcroft has done for a while. It's not fair to compare the two acts, in truth - more talent in Coldplay's goofy trainers than there has been evidenced in Richard Ashcroft's solo career. Hell, BTS are better than him these days. My Universe might come with flat-pack pop lyrics and some tacky sonic choices here and there, but it's got more energy and melody to it than anything Ashcroft has done since Forth. Sounds like something that could conquer the world, Ashcroft's tunes sound like they would struggle to take over a Wendy house. And if you start introducing tracks like Coloratura, well. Richard better hide. |
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Post by defmaybe00 on Sept 29, 2021 11:24:16 GMT -5
I keep hearing "baby you light up my world like nobody else"
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Post by Rolo on Sept 29, 2021 14:27:28 GMT -5
This came on shuffle today, one of my favourite Coldplay songs.
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Post by Lennon2217 on Sept 29, 2021 17:41:12 GMT -5
I keep hearing "baby you light up my world like nobody else" Hit me baby one more time!!!! |
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Post by Lennon2217 on Sept 29, 2021 23:31:40 GMT -5
The aesthetics in these videos swing from cool as fuck to nightmare-inducing with no gaps. Better than the prequels..................  |
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Post by matt on Sept 30, 2021 14:49:47 GMT -5
Fucking hell, that song is fucking dreadful. Challenging Ashcroft for the worst of the month, or year. Rather listen to this than any of Richard's recent bs tbh. Always thought their career trajectory could have been similar if Ashcroft wasn't a prize bellend (Urban Hymns was just setting them up to be the biggest band in the world). Chris Martin at his worst is still better than 'RPA' in his solo guise. He still taps into the zeitgeist constantly unlike Ashcroft's David Brent tribute act. Still remember Ashcroft performing as a special guest with Coldplay at Live 8 in 2005. How fortunes have changed since then, Coldplay wouldn't be seen dead with that covid denying tool these days. In fairness, the comparison isn't valid as I think Chris Martin is definitely more 'solo artist' material than Ashcroft. Mad reality is that with humility, Ashcroft could still pack stadiums and be on that frontman level with Chris Martin simply by accepting his role as a great frontman rather than the self-proclaimed god he thinks he is. Watched The Verve's Glastonbury 2008 appearance recently, nostalgic as I was a teenager watching that one when it was live - such great memories. They were fantastic, up there with Coldplay's performances at the festival. These days I can only think 'what an absolute waste'. |
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Post by Lennon2217 on Oct 1, 2021 13:44:24 GMT -5
I guess “Infinity Sign” really is “Life Is Beautiful” which was once upon a time “Spanish Rain”.
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Nov 4, 2024 5:04:30 GMT -5
Nov 4, 2024 5:04:30 GMT -5