Three years, four months, thirteen days and two Grammys for Best Rock Album and Best Selling Album of 2008 later, Coldplay released their fifth studio album, Mylo Xyloto.
Pronounced My-low Zy-letoe, the title, like the album, presents a much different feel with new uses of sounds and instruments from previous Coldplay albums, most notably the very successful 2008 album Viva La Vida.
As I listened to the album for the first time, I was unsure if it was actually Coldplay playing through my speakers. Mylo Xyloto is completely divergent from Viva La Vida due to the many unfamiliar instruments. Viva La Vida erupted in 2008, winning the Grammy for Best Rock Album, but I truly believe Mylo Xyloto has the potential to be up in the running again at the upcoming Grammys.
Mylo Xyloto really brings lead guitarist Jonny Buckland out of his shell. Before this album, Buckland seemed to constantly be in the background, rarely getting the opportunity to show his talent. This album really shows his ability to shred on the axe, which makes me wonder why he did not do this in earlier albums. Had the band included Buckland’s stunning solos to their songs sooner, chances are I would have become a Coldplay fan much earlier.
I first noticed his amazing guitar abilities when I saw Coldplay this summer at Lollapalooza. Buckland threw his talents at the crowd and put me, and the rest of Grant Park, in awe.
With songs like “Hurts Like Heaven”, “Paradise”, and “Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall”, I can tell that Mylo Xyloto will be an instant stadium album. It’s not hard to picture thousands of screaming fans singing along to their new hits, just like previous Coldplay albums.
The use of electronic music throughout the album shows that Coldplay can experiment and still make an exquisite album, one that gives me chills down my spine.
The only thing that made me angry about the album was Coldplay’s collaboration with Rihanna in the song “Princess of China”. I felt that Coldplay’s intentions in this collaboration were solely on a monetary basis, using Rihanna’s popularity to attract more listeners. To me this seems unnecessary for Coldplay, especially since they have already established a name for themselves as a reputable band. They don’t need any of Rihanna’s help.
Still, like Viva La Vida, this album will receive a ton of publicity throughout the music world and will make the band more popular among listeners than it already is.
