Coldplay is the biggest selling British rock group of the new millenium, and are firmly on their way to establishing themselves as the biggest band of the last decade. While their first full length CD Parachutes included the chart topper and fan favourite Yellow, it was the sophomore effort that broke the door wide open and brought this group worldwide fame and success thanks to hits such as Clocks, The Scientist, In My Place, and God Put A Smile Upon My Face. In fact, A Rush of Blood To The Head has sold over 12 million copies worldwide and won a number of international awards including 3 Grammy awards, which places it at the top for commercial and critical recognition for the band's three album discography.
Their third release, X and Y, did not garner the same success of Rush Of Blood, although it still managed to sell over 10 million units worldwide and included a couple of Top Ten hits with Speed of Sound and Fix You. But there was no denying that this effort lacked the vitality and originality of it's very impressive predecessor that is an undisputed masterpiece.
So when it came time to record their fourth album, the band decided that they would venture into new musical and production waters, ostensibly to avoid being tagged as redundant or yesterday's musical news. And there is no mistake whatsoever that they achieved their goal admirably, as they've created an album that is totally different from anything else they've ever done, but still manages to capture the listeners' ear in a unique kind of way.
There is no doubt that Viva La Vida is a product of the whole band, and Chris Martin has taken a step back to allow the other members to bring their talents to the forefront. It is also obvious that legendary producer Brian Eno had an enormous influence on all aspects of this album, to the point that he has helped them to transition their sound in the same manner U2 did back in '86 with the release of another Eno co-production, The Joshua Tree.
The most impressive quality of this effort is in the unique soundscape that Eno has created, in a manner that is totally unlike anything in their 3 previous releases. Because just as the Joshua Tree was unique from any other contemporary release, the same can be said of Viva. There are a number of firsts for the band on this disc, and they can be heard immediately as the album opens up with an instrumental alt/rocker that sets the stage for just how much of a departure from the past this musical experience is going to be for the listener.
In fact, the only Coldplay sounding track is the first single, Violet Hill, which has received tremendous critical and commercial success since its' release in late April. The biggest difference between this album and all the others is that the rhythm section of bassist Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion seem to have stepped up and seized control of the reins of the group, so that they define the band's sound more than Martin's trademark voice and Beatlesque piano playing of previous efforts. This would undoubtedly be called a bass heavy effort, and the drumming is so creative, original, and unique that there is no doubt that multi-instrumentalist Will Champion has proven that he is as important a piece of the puzzle as any other member of the band.
Even guitarist Jonny Buckland veers off into unchartered waters, but still manages to define many of the songs with his contributions of usual brilliance. Most notably the songs Lost, Lovers In Japan, and Strawberry Swing, highlight both his talents and the ability to shake things up creatively, while still managing to remain true to hardcore fans that have high expectations for this band that is being compared to Oasis, U2, Radiohead, and even the Beatles for their musical genius.
Viva La Vida is a daring and risky effort that will not disappoint most fans of the group, and might even garner them a few new ones along the way. But the listener has to hear with an open mind, and an expectation of something entirely different. If you're looking for another Rush of Blood, then you'll be sadly disappointed as like all great bands in rock history, Coldplay is changing and evolving in order to stay fresh and relevant. And if that's what you're looking for as you sit down to listen to Viva La Vida, then you won't be disappointed in an album that grows on you with every listen and lives up to the standards the band has made for itself over the last decade.