After buying this album on the day it came out, it hasn’t left my car or iPhone. I’ll describe some of the songs, but this album thrives on its flow and sequence. Listen to it from start to finish, and let me know what you think. Here are some highlights:
Mylo Xyloto/Hurts Like Heaven- One of my favorite 1-2 punc
hes on a CD. A nice intro track leads into possibly my favorite song of the year. The feel of these songs really draws me in. I love the vocals, and I could sing the chorus lyric all day: “You use your heart as a weapon, and it hurts like heaven.”
Paradise- Simply an epic song. If you buy one song from this album, it’s this one. Great strings and bass back up Martin’s vocal and piano. This is truly an innovative and exciting track.
Charlie Brown- Another Coldplay anthem with many layers. This one is growing on me. I love the isolated piano and strings at the end of the song. Many of the songs have transitions and effects. These details and nuances make for a great album.
Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall- Anyone who has spent time with me over the past month has heard me sing this song. It’s a feel good song that makes me want to get up and sing.
Princess of China- Everyone (minus The Soloists, to this point) has worked with Rihanna. Like her music or not, she can produce a dynamic vocal that climbs the charts. It’s better than expected, with some interesting electronics. Another diverse song in Coldplay’s repetoire.
Up With the Birds- I love this song. It’s like two in one. A beautifully mixed finale leads into a cool, guitar-driven chorus.
Simply put, this diverse, intriguing album really gets to me. At the end of the day, my favorite artists write music that reaches out to my emotions. That might sound silly, but that’s definitely the case with Mylo Xyloto. Collectively, one might not view this as the strongest set of Coldplay songs, but it is definitely a dynamic, modern staple in my music library.
-Pat