Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends : Coldplay : Review : Rolling Stone

Coldplay's fourth release has been billed as their experimental record, as well as their political record. And it is both, relatively speaking. Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends opens with an anthemic riff played not on guitar but on a Persian santur — a hammered dulcimer common to the traditional music of Iraq and Iran. The album's lead single, "Violet Hill," describes a scene in which "priests clutched onto Bibles/Hollowed out to fit their rifles." Half the album's tracks float images of war, while others evoke God, religion or death.

Fun, right? It is, weirdly enough. Viva la Vida is Coldplay's effort to raise the creative bar in the wake of both huge commercial success and some not-insubstantial critical drubbing. But befitting their brand, the record isn't that much of a departure: It's still about stadium-scale melodies and singalong choruses. And while the experimentation makes this their most musically interesting album to date, its political messages are too vague to be heard amid its outsize hooks.

Coldplay have toured the world, and their frontman, Chris Martin, has done outreach in Africa with Oxfam International. So it makes sense that, from the title to the tunes, the set reflects some of the diversity of the band's global fan base, which made 2005's X&Y; a Number One record in countries as far-flung as Lebanon, Chile, Malaysia and Thailand, as well as in the U.S. and the U.K. "Cemeteries of London," which evokes an English country ballad, begins the journey in Coldplay's own back yard, with images of a river "where Victorian ghosts pray." The plinking melody of "Strawberry Swing" has the breezy North Pacific lilt of Japanese music. "Yes" finds Martin dropping his voice to an uncharacteristically low octave amid bracing bursts of Arabic-flavored violin in a song addressing that universal pop-song problem: lust. Producer Brian Eno also helped bring the world-music vibe. (While Eno gets top billing, Coldplay enlisted other producers, including Markus Dravs, whose work with Björk and Arcade Fire also merges the odd and the anthemic.) Of course, Eno's work on The Unforgettable Fire and The Joshua Tree, by U2 — a band Coldplay revere and aspire to be — is probably more relevant here.

There are many U2 echoes on Viva la Vida, most notably Jonny Buckland's guitar tone, which is more aggressive than ever. The album's most sublime pop moment is probably "Lost!" a song about holding on against the odds that has the breathtaking loft of "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." It builds on a simple church-organ riff, a kick drum and some hand claps to a rhythmically soaring, Edge-like guitar solo. Later, the slashing chords on "Chinese Sleep Chant" are so fierce that Martin's hollered vocals are overwhelmed, the melodic outline of his phrases barely discernible before searing psychedelic riffs erase him entirely.

Which isn't all that difficult to do. One of Martin's signature qualities is his anti-rock-star persona — a big part of what allows so many fans to project themselves into his boots when he's singing about pain or yearning or hope. It's also what makes him a surprisingly excellent hook singer, as he's proved playing foil to artists like Jay-Z ("Beach Chair") and Kanye West ("Homecoming"). No way is Martin going to challenge these egos. He has an admirably Zenlike ability to get out of the way of even his own songs.

But there's something troubling about his lack of clear political messages. In "Violet Hill," he declares, "I don't want to be a soldier/Who the captain of some sinking ship/Would stow, far below" — adding later, "Bury me in armor." In "Lovers in Japan," he states, "Soldiers you've got to soldier on/Sometimes even the right is wrong." Are these peace anthems or encouragements to valiant warriors? Can they be both? Similarly, the title track seems to be about the end of an empire. But its rousing chorus — "I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing/Roman cavalry choirs are singing" — feels like a rallying cry for a Christian empire. Where's an Arabic violin break when you need one?

Coldplay's desire to unite fans around the world with an entertainment they can all relate to is the band's strength, and a worthy goal. But on Viva la Vida, a record that wants to make strong statements, it's also a weakness. Sometimes, to say what needs to be said, you need to risk pissing people off.

WILL HERMES

(Posted: Jun 26, 2008)

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Give us your review of Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends

Review 1 of 18

4of 5 Stars

What metric are the reviewers using? How does Britney Spears "Blackout" get the same rating as "Viva"? Is Coldplay too melodic to be considered "credible"? Since when is that a detriment? And their lyrics? Better than Wolfmother who score higher than CP. Had this album been released from a newly signed band certainly it would be an instant classic. But since the NYTimes has already judged Martin, insufferable, I guess weaker minds have chosen against objectivity. Continually choose to declare "Strokesesque" bands reviving American Rock and Roll. But add all their record sales up and they don't surpass ROTB, X and Y, and probably soon to be Viva La Vida.

RS. Your aesthetic is out of touch with the Zeitgeist. Your declarations are compensation for the misfires you continue to include in your magazine. If you could only get your music reviews as well as Travers does his movie reviews. We are awaiting a stateside version of NME to replace your obsolete view of music in modern times. You have become a receptacle for publicists and fashion advertisements.

Jun 17, 2008 00:57:28

Review 2 of 18

4of 5 Stars

Must admit I'm cautious about Coldplay, period. Any band that gets hyped as much as they do can't possibly deliver to everyone's satisfaction. That said, I've enjoyed listening to this album without paying much attention to the lyrics (I'm long past searching for or finding meaning in rock lyrics). For me, the music itself is enjoyable and Eno's presence is certainly felt (for a self-described non-musician he certainly has a gift for sound manipulation -- I wouldn't be surprised if he got another Grammy nod for this one). It's no masterpiece in the songwriting dept., but my ears were pleased and that's what's important at the end of a listen. It's just a record, folks. Not the second coming.

Jun 16, 2008 19:59:30

Review 3 of 18

5of 5 Stars

whata stupid band... LOL

Jun 16, 2008 19:44:48

Review 4 of 18

1of 5 Stars

awful lyrics..........has to be one of the worst lyricists in all of music right now.......Radiohead and U2 rip-off is all he has ever been and all he ever will be.......piss poor album.

Jun 16, 2008 16:54:13

Review 5 of 18

4of 5 Stars

Relax CP fans. It's only a matter of time before RS changes its mind on this and other albums of merit. Remember this 3.5 stars is the same rating that RS has given to albums like "New Adventures in Hi-Fi by R.E.M.," and The Pretenders "Last of the Independents," both of which are among these groups' best recordings.

Remember too the 3-star rating given to Nirvana's "Nevermind." Shoot, even Lil Wayne only had a two star or less rating last week on the now 4.5 start rating. It's a credibility issue based on the fact the magazine has no consistency on things like this. It's a great publication as far as the content, but don't expect and sense of reliability or credibility from the reviews. Just relax and trust your own judgement. This and other CP albums will endure for the fact that they are a fantastic band with a great future.

Jun 16, 2008 12:41:25

Review 6 of 18

5of 5 Stars

Rolling Stone continues to confuse me. Lil Wayne gets 4.5 stars and Coldplay gets 3.5 stars? As for he who reviewed Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, politics is not all that's important. Critics consistently try to bash Coldplay for being too much like U2 yet ultimately they insist that they become them? Doesn't make sense to me. I shouldn't be shocked though since Rolling Stone's consistent liberal bias and political motivations are more important than the music.

Jun 16, 2008 12:32:49

Review 7 of 18

5of 5 Stars

It's hard to think that a band can make it through the thick of three talented, yet repetitive albums with new tricks up their sleeve. With the help of Mr. Eno Coldplay has done just that. Their new album's experimentalism makes it that much better. Nobody likes a turn for the worst. It's good to know that Coldplay didn't do that.

Jun 16, 2008 11:19:13

Review 8 of 18

5of 5 Stars

Come on Rolling Stone. you give 4 star reviews to the very overrated Fleet Foxes and give this cd by coldplay only 3 1/2 stars? giving it only a half star more than X&Y is kinda lame..when i thought X&Y was a 4 star album..which ya gave only 3. I give this 4 1/2 cause its not as good as Rush Of Blood To The Head that is a 5 star album..but its amazing tie with Parachutes as their 2nd best. Parachutes is not a 3 1/2 star album atleast a 4. ya are ridiculous with ya's half star crap..like lil wayne's new turd?? what a shitty wannabe.

Jun 16, 2008 09:04:03

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