Over the course of the past decade, Coldplay has become one of the most famous alternative rock sensations in the world, producing four multi-platinum albums and selling over 50 million copies. At the same time, the group has garnered critical acclaim, including an astounding seven Grammys and six Brit Awards. It is against this impressive backdrop that Coldplay released their fifth studio album, "Mylo Xyloto," on October 24.
This alien-sounding name is tied to the album concept: a tale of two struggling lovers, Mylo and Xyloto, as they explore the ups and downs of their relationship. The concept is interesting, but one gets the sense that it was not really important to the album's production. In fact, if I had not researched the album before listening to it, I do not think the "troubled lovers" narrative would have been immediately clear to me.
Its underdeveloped theme notwithstanding, the album suffers from a lack of innovation. When one compares "Mylo Xyloto" to Coldplay's previous albums, it feels like it was produced with the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality, and I cannot help but feel let down.
After Coldplay established their sound with "Parachutes" (2000) and "A Rush of Blood to the Head" (2002), they moved onto more experimental projects like the raw guitar and piano sound of "X&Y" (2005). Then in 2008, they released "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends," an adventurous album filled with orchestral sounds that served as a backdrop for Chris Martin's epic vocals as in "Viva la Vida" and "Violet Hill."
Fast forward three years. Coldplay seems to have settled into a groove; their single attempt at innovation in "Mylo Xyloto" is the collaboration with Rihanna on one single, "Princess of China." Unfortunately, the choice to feature Rihanna appears to be more of a sales decision than a creative one. An effort to extend the established brand also appears to have influenced the tracklist and features of the tracks themselves.
The album is engineered around four radio-ready tracks: "Hurts like Heaven," "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall," "Princess of China," and "Don't Let it Break Your Heart." With the exception of "Princess of China," each of these four songs is preceded by an instrumental. These instrumentals—and the songs that precede them—are characterized by a downturn in tempo that is meant to prepare us for the singles that follow.
These decisions regarding the album's arrangement are mirrored by choices pertaining to track content. As is often the case with Chris Martin's lyrics, it is not so much the words that matter as it is his voice and the multiple "oohs" that he belts out in falsetto during the choruses.
Compared to "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends," Coldplay's newest album is a disappointment. After the new ground that Coldplay broke in that 2008 release, "Mylo Xyloto" feels like a step in the opposite direction. While "Viva La Vida" compelled me to listen to the album straight through again and again, "Mylo Xyloto" instead leads me to pick and choose my favorite tracks. Given the way the album was produced, I do not feel guilty doing so.
The artificial feeling that one gets from "Mylo Xyloto" is compounded by the pop-oriented sound of its radio-ready songs. Though the album is not a groundbreaking creative project, it nevertheless succeeds as a comfortable Coldplay album. The slow songs give Martin a chance to seduce us with his voice while the aforementioned hits are only days away from radio play.
If the past is any indication of the future, a lack of innovation will hardly be enough to affect record sales. Coldplay has amassed a huge international following as a result of their distinctive sound within the bounds of popular alternative rock. "Mylo Xyloto" is the tried-and-true formula.
Though the album's theme could have been developed further and many songs play minor supporting roles, I will definitely replay songs like "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall" or "Princess of China." I am sure radio stations will do the same. "Mylo Xyloto" is a creative step down from its predecessor, but still deserves some praise.