reviews and musings of a music geek
I really like it. Granted, I love this song, but the video here just really fits with the song. It feels very epic to me. Granted, Chris Martin is flopping around weirdly, but I love the camera angles and hues. I’m thinking that this song will be a good contender for my end of the year ‘Best of’ list.
Viva La Vida – Coldplay
Over the weekend, I got to see one of the bands that I’ve been wanting to see for a very long time – Coldplay. I gushed about them earlier this summer with the release of their latest album, Viva La Vida. Since July, they’ve been on the road around the United States.
Thus far, this was the largest concert that I’ve been to – multiple thousands of people were there, and while my seat was really far from the stage, the sound was good. Despite that, I don’t think that this sort of thing compares to the concerts that I’ve gone to at the Higher Ground in South Burlington, or the Iron Horse in Northampton. This was far less personal, where I was just watching and listening, rather than sinking into the music. It was still quite an experience, if somewhat detached.
The band was great on stage. They played an excellent set, mostly their notable songs, such as Clocks, Violet Hill, Fix You and Yellow being some of the biggest hits. I’ve seen a couple of videos from when they played at Brixton Acadamy and at the BBC, and Chris Martin seemed a bit flat and off from the studio recordings, but that didn’t seem to be the case here on Saturday. Martin, however, does get the prize for having the most awkward stage presence – the guy is like a ragdoll. Kudos to their drummer, Will Champion, who sang
1- Life in Technicolor
2- Violet Hill
3- Clocks
4- In My Place
5- Viva La Vida
6- Yes
7- 42
7- Fix You
8- Strawberry Swing
9- Chinese Sleep Chant
10- God Put a Smile On Your Face
11- Square One
12- Hardest Part
13- Yellow (Audience Participation)
14- Lost!
15- Back to the Start
16- The Scientists (Acoustic – Stands)
17- Death Will Never Conqueror (Stands)
Encore
18- Politik
19- Piano Piece
20- Lovers in Japan
21- Death and All His Friends
22- The Escapist
Looking through youtube, here’s a couple of videos:
Viva La Vida
Strawberry Swing
42
Lost!
Clocks
Yes
Yellow - Coldplay
The Scientist - Coldplay
Strawberry Swing - Coldplay
Continuing with Coldplay things this week, I did a little digging around and found a couple of good covers that Coldplay has done recently of other artists, and a couple of Coldplay songs that have been covered by other artists.
Coldplay’s done two pretty good covers – 2000 Miles, originally by the Pretenders, and Can’t Get You Out Of My Head, originally by Kylie Minogue. In both instances, they provide their own solid sound to each, which is pretty nice to hear. Helena Noguerra also does her own version of Can’t Get You Out Of My Head, which is pretty neat.
As far as Coldplay covers go, I’ve found two. Clocks, by Jeff Bujak, which is a fair cover. I heard a couple mistakes here and there, but it’s a pretty faithful version of the song. The second cover is by one of my favorite artists, Gregory Douglass, who’s doing covers on Youtube, this one of Coldplay’s newest hit, Viva La Vida. It’s also a pretty fair cover. This is certainly something that’s new with the youtube era, for artists to cover something for their fans, using Youtube as a way to distribute things.
2000 Miles (The Pretenders) - Coldplay
2000 Miles - The Pretenders
Can’t Get You Out Of My Head (Kylie Minogue) - Coldplay
Can’t Get You Out Of My Head (Kylie Minogue) - Helena Noguerra
Can’t Get You Out Of My Head - Kylie Minogue
Clocks (Coldplay) - Jeff Bujak
Clocks - Coldplay
Viva La Vida (Coldplay) - Gregory Douglass
Viva La Vida - Coldplay
To celebrate (not sure that’s the right word or not) the release of Coldplay’s latest album Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, I’m bringing back the Duets feature with a couple of favorite times that Coldplay has performed with some other people. This time around, it’s In The Sun, originally a Joseph Arthur song, where they perform with Michael Stipe, of R.E.M. fame. The second one is of a very favorite song of mine, Bittersweet Symphony, where they play with Verve’s lead singer Richard Ashcroft.
Both duets are really fun to listen to, although in both cases, Chris Martin says of each song: This is the best song ever written. So, which is better?
In The Sun (Joseph Arthur) - Coldplay & Michael Stipe
Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve) - Coldplay & Richard Ashcroft
Coldplay’s back with their latest album in a couple of years. I’ve long been a Coldplay fan, and this album is particularly welcome. A Rush of Blood to the Head and Parachutes were fantastic albums, but X&Y was more of a letdown, and it took me some time to really get into it. Viva La Vida reverses the trend, and in my humble opinion, is one of the best Coldplay albums out there.
Viva La Vida is lively, full of energy and intensity, right from the first track of the album, Life in Technicolor. The rest of the album follows suit – Cemeteries of London, Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love, Yes, Viva La Vida, Violet Hill, Strawberry Swing, all full of life. This album really shows a transition with the group, and I like the shift in sound. The album is tighter, intense and interesting to listen to. There are songs here that are on par with Clocks and Speed of Sound, and I suspect that Viva La Vida will be the band’s biggest album thus far.
One of the things that I really like here is that they group manages to pack a lot of material into the album. It’s relatively short – 45 minutes or so. But several songs could almost become two songs, changing completely into different sounds halfway through, such as Yes and Lovers in Japan.
I’m hoping to see these guys in August, (although I’m a little worried that the date will conflict with something else) because I’m sure that their live shows this summer will be outstanding.
Viva La Vida - Coldplay
Oooh, they’re coming to Boston. I’d love to get tickets to that show. Or the Hartford one. Hm…
Sleeping Sun – Coldplay
Life in Technicolor - Coldplay
Viva La Vida - Coldplay
Coldplay’s changing things up a little with a bit of a newer sound, and like Lee, I’m thinking that this will be one of their better albums. I can’t wait to hear the rest of it.
Cath… - Death Cab for Cutie
Grapevine Fires - Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie’s latest album also changed things up quite a bit, and on the whole, it’s stronger, edgier and it sounds fantastic.
Robots - Flight of the Conchords
I love these guys, they’re absolutely hilarious. Robots is just a geeky song to begin with, and they just make me want to burst out laughing.
Lucky - Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat
This is a nice, cute duet from these two.
Killing for Love (Beatfanatic Remix) - José González
I love Gonzalez’s work, and while I’m not a huge fan of remixes, this is a really good one that I’ve been listening to a lot.
Magnetismo (Magnatism) – Landon Pigg
Landon Pigg’s off to a good start with his first EP, and I think this is the strongest song on the album.
Meet Me By The River - Matthew Ryan
This song is raspy, emotional and really, really good. I suspect that Ryan’s album will make it to the end of the year as one of the best.
Dream - Priscilla Ahn
I saw Ahn last year with Cary Brothers, and I really liked her sound, it’s sweet and calm. I picked up her EP, and have been waiting eagerly for more news about her next album, due to be released this June. I can’t wait.
The World, The People Together - The Dandy Warhols
The Dandy Warhols are back, and they’ve got energy. This reminds me a lot of Bohemian Like You, which is a fantastic song.
Orbiting - The Weepies
I really dug these guys 2nd album, and this is one of the best songs on there. Very sweet, easy on the ears.
Violet Hill – Coldplay
