By James Grimes

Stars:  *|*|*|*|

Summary:  Though not as awesome as it could have been,  Coldplay’s third hit boasts great Electronic Rock paired with intelligent, sometimes cryptic themes.

Art Assessment: Slick and strange.

Review:  After their mostly acoustic and piano led success ‘A Rush Of Blood To The Head’, rising British Alternative Rock band Coldplay released a more electronic and Kraftwerk inspired album, ‘X & Y’.  Instead of going into a whole lot in this introduction, let’s dive in.

‘Square One’:  This a good opener for the album, introducing the band’s new direction.  The theme of the song is rather mournful, referring to someone who finds themselves either unable to move forward into their dreams or under the impression that they are thusly stuck.

‘What If’:  A more quiet, romantic song that hearkens back to the previous ‘A Rush Of Blood’ success ‘The Scientist’.  The protagonist of the song wants to connect with the one he loves, or else his world would essentially fall apart.

‘White Shadows’:  Jumping back into the electronic fray, this one tells the story of the protagonist losing innocence and becoming part of The System.  What he desires now is take the people who he loves out of the emptiness of this controlled life.  Or at least, that’s my interpretation of the lyrics.

‘Fix You’:  A simple, romantic song, beginning with organs and ascending to become an anthem.  It’s beautiful, moving, hopeful, and mournful all at once.

‘Talk’:  This track has the most obvious Kraftwerk influence.  Coldplay borrows the riff from ‘Computer Love’, one of their more famous songs, and adjusts it for clever use here.  This song is about the break up of communication, perhaps between the general population of the human race.  The idea being that, if we achieve true dialog, we can realize what we were meant for, and the inherent creativity and God-given glory of the human race can be restored.  It’s a compelling, catchy, mysterious song.  One of my favorites of all their work.

‘X & Y’:  This one strikes at the same themes expressed by the previous two themes, as kind of a joint sequel.  This one makes me think of long car rides, falling asleep as you drive past snow covered trees and lamp posts, as everything blurs together…

‘Speed of Sound’:  Both lyrically and musically, this is the closest we’ve gotten to a sequel to the hit song ‘Clocks’, off their previous album.  This one refers to the wonder of life, though in a very intriguing, intentionally cryptic way.  It’s supposed to draw you in.  It succeeds marvelously.

‘A Message’:  Suddenly we are back in the acoustic wonderland of ‘A Rush Of Blood To The Head’, and though that’s not unwelcome, it feels kind of out of place.  Thankfully, though, the electronic backup soon returns about a third of the way into the song.  Unfortunately, this is where the album feels repetitive, in a bad way.  It’s another straightforward love song, yet again about communication.

‘Low’:  A great tune, with more of the Kraftwerk feel that I personally enjoy, but again the lyrics refer to the same basic themes.  Only this time, there’s more emphasis on letting go of perfectionism and embracing the beauty of the world’s design as it is, as a key to hope.

‘The Hardest Part’:  This one sounds a bit more bubbly and happy than the previous few tracks, so it helps defuse the greatest threat to an album’s integrity: boredom.  This song is absolutely key to killing that problem in ‘X & Y’.  This one is happier in tune, yes, but it still deals with the introspective acknowledgments of the songwriter, and never strays too far from the overall themes.

‘Swallowed In The Sea’:  If you really pay attention to the lyrics, this is one of the strongest songs on the album.  Two people encounter loss of hope in their relationship, and this is a poetic plea for their love to be restored.

‘Twisted Logic’:  This song is amazing.  It’s my personal favorite of this release.  Unlike the rest of the songs, it’s dark and somewhat angry, while remaining cryptic, and you just get caught up in it.  It’s got huge scope, in contrast to the personal nature of much of the rest of the album.  It’s a great touch, and I think a great teaser for the next album, ‘Viva La Vida’, which shares its thematic darkness.

‘Til Kingdom Come’:  This hidden track makes a tearful goodbye, not really to the album, but to the person who was supposed to sing it… Johnny Cash.  This was going to be one of his last songs, but he passed away before he could perform it with Chris Martin, Coldplay’s lead singer.  It’s beautiful, elegant, and very strong and memorable.

So now that it’s all said and done, what do I think of ‘X & Y’ on its own merits?  Well… very good, but not as strong as it could have been.  It teeters on the edge of becoming boring, especially near the end.  Nevertheless, armed with rich lyrics and strong rhythms, it is an excellent release and a must-have for fans of electronic and Alternative Rock.

You cut me down a tree
And brought it back to me
And that’s what made me see
Where I was going wrong
You put me on a shelf
And kept me for yourself
I can only blame myself
You can only blame me

And I could write a song
A hundred miles long
Well, that’s where I belong
And you belong with me

And I could write it down
Or spread it all around
Get lost and then get found
Or swallowed in the sea

You put me on a line
And hung me out to dry
And darling that’s when I
Decided to go to see you

You cut me down to size
And opened up my eyes
Made me realize
What I could not see

And I could write a book
The one they’ll say that shook
The world, and then it took
It took it back from me

And I could write it down
Or spread it all around
Get lost and then get found
And you’ll come back to me
Not swallowed in the sea

Ooh…

And I could write a song
A hundred miles long
Well, that’s where I belong
And you belong with me

The streets you’re walking on
A thousand houses long
Well, that’s where I belong
And you belong with me

Oh what good is it to live
With nothing left to give
Forget but not forgive
Not loving all you see

Oh the streets you’re walking on
A thousand houses long
Well that’s where I belong
And you belong with me
Not swallowed in the sea

You belong with me
Not swallowed in the sea
Yeah, you belong with me
Not swallowed in the sea

Swallowed In The Sea

You cut me down a tree
And brought it back to me
And that’s what made me see
Where I was going wrong

You put me on a shelf
And kept me for yourself
I can only blame myself
You can only blame me

And I could write a song
A hundred miles long
Well, that’s where I belong
And you belong with me

And I could write it down
Or spread it all around
Get lost and then get found
Or swallowed in the sea

You put me on a line
And hung me out to dry
And darling that’s when I
Decided to go to see you

You cut me down to size
And opened up my eyes
Made me realize
What I could not see

And I could write a book
The one they’ll say that shook
The world, and then it took
It took it back from me

And I could write it down
Or spread it all around
Get lost and then get found
And you’ll come back to me
Not swallowed in the sea

Ooh…

And I could write a song
A hundred miles long
Well, that’s where I belong
And you belong with me

The streets you’re walking on
A thousand houses long
Well, that’s where I belong
And you belong with me

Oh what good is it to live
With nothing left to give
Forget but not forgive
Not loving all you see

All the streets you’re walking on
A thousand houses long
Well that’s where I belong
And you belong with me
Not swallowed in the sea

You belong with me
Not swallowed in the sea
Yeah, you belong with me
Not swallowed in the sea

… te emociona y hace que te muevas a lo loco como si estuvieras en uno de sus recitales …

Nosé si tanto como para ponerte a bailar un vals con Swallowed In The Sea o a lo flogger con Clocks…

… pero si como para parecer poseído por un ritual en Fix You o mejor dicho, que te quedes haciendo danzas tribales con Lovers In Japan!

O si es que te gusta bailar breakdance escuchando Talk, lo hagas…

… sin embargo, estamos  seguros que con Viva La Vida te animarías a hacer el ridículo,  divertirte mucho,  copiar los movimientos de Chris en el escenario o quien te dice… bailar en el caño!

BONUS: Banderazo Viva Coldplay!!

Iata-le aici, nealfabetic si fara ierarhie:

• John Lennon – Imagine*

Numele blogului o spune – sunt o visatoare. Melodia asta e manifestul nostru.

• Faultline feat. Chris Martin – Your love means everything

Un vis pe note, frison si inghet, paralizie de uimire. Si imi da permanenta impresie de prezenta a cuiva. Cuiva anume.

• Coldplay – Swallowed in the sea*

Expresia armonica a partea de “emotie” ce inseamna marea pentru mine. Mai exista si partea de “libertate”. Mai jos.

• Snow patrol – Chasing cars

Iata o melodie enervanta. E plina de speranta. Speranta ma irita. As putea sa o pun fata in fata cu “End of all hope” ca sa o neutralizez. Da, ce sa zic, ma reprezinta, n-o sterg.

• Nightwish – Beauty of the beast*

“Ars poetica” a ce a insemnat Nightwish inainte de 2005 (pentru dupa nu bag mana nicaieri), de fapt a autorului versurilor, ati prins voi. Unul din artistii pe care ii apreciez intr-adevar – cu idee poetica centrala, si totusi original de fiecare data, iesind din tipare cat sa nu fie paralel cu avangarda cu care e contemporan, dar pastrand doza de clasicism necesara ca sa se transmita, si recreand praf de sublim intr-o limba in care n-a plans cand era copil. Un aplauz aici, va rog.

• Bjork – Pagan poetry*

Artistii sunt anormali, iata dovada. E un fir de martisor melodia asta, patima cu aripi.

• Metallica – Nothing else matters*

Sunt iubiri si iubiri. Iubiri in care ne privim in ochi, iubiri in care stam spate in spate, iubiri in care stam umar la umar si mergem la pas catre inainte. Asta e din ultima categorie.

• Queen – I want to break free*

Asta pentru ca stiu ca exista lanturi.

• Pink Floyd – Shine on you crazy diamond*

Libertatea gandirii inseamna sa fii ceea ce in ziua de azi se numeste nebun, sau cel putin ciudat. Mie imi plac oamenii liberi. Au o pana in plus la palarie.

• Enya – May it be

Nu e doar din cauza filmului. Serios. Ce canta ea e aer.

• Deep purple – Smoke on the water*

Sunt in Cartea Recordurilor pentru World’s Loudest Band, si sunt unii din cei 3 tatici ai heavy metalului. Need i say more?

• Phoenix – Balada Negru-Voda*

Showdown a ce inseamna Phoenix in istoria muzicala autohtona. Pregnanta combinatie de folclor cu acorduri ce nu pot fi numite decat “rock”. Nu “metal”, nu “grele”, nu “heavy”, nu “electrice”, nici orice alt adjectiv care mi-ar putea veni in cap cand ma gandesc la o muzica astfel. Folclor pe acorduri rock, spuneam.

• Yael Naim – New soul

Pur. Corelati cu Vali Sterian – Cantec de oameni. E vocea copilului, nu a parintelui aici.

• Gnarls Barkley – Crazy

Despre viata. Si trecut. Si control. Si ce inseamna nebunia intr-o lume de tipare.

• Yann Tiersen – Comptine d’un autre ete

Asta e singura la care recunosc ca e luata din film. Dar doar luata de acolo. Pasiunea a venit ulterior. Pasiunea ei, nu a mea. Frumoasa in film, punem pe player (adica telefon). Senzatie (la propriu) de preinfarct de fiecare data cand atinge acel punct, “intriga melodiei”. Tulburator. Organic vorbind, tulburator.

• U2 – Walk on*

Celalalt cantec de vis cu ochii deschisi, capul in nori si drept inainte. Si si asta imi aminteste de cineva, cineva anume. Acelasi anume dintr-o data.

• Iron maiden – Fear of the dark*

Pentru frica mea. Care nu e de intuneric. Doar.

• AC/DC – Back in black*

Sfarsitul unei ere, inceputul alteia (Scott/Johnson), riff nebun, plete, negru, headbanging, curent electric. Sentiment de “liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiibeeer”.

• Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Snow(Hey Oh)*

Libertate, litoral, White Horse, bere in rauri, lumea deodata prietena, pletosi agatati unii de gaturile altora si inganand sincron, din varf de bronhie: “Heeeeeeeeeeyoooooooh”. Revin: libertate…

• Iris – Corabia cu panze*

Expresia armonica a partea de “libertate” ce inseamna marea pentru mine. Mai exista si partea de “emotie”. Mai sus.

• Audioslave – Show me how to live

Tudor Arghezi in Psalmi, cam asa ceva. Razvratire. Necaracteristica mie catre astfel de tinte superioare, dar inteleasa. Pe principiul: WWD intelege pe toata lumea.

• Cornershop – Brimful of Asha

Toate se naruie in jurul tau, la modul nu prea major al cuvantului, totusi, hai sa zicem ca ai o zi proasta. Nu am de gand acum sa o si descriu, cum ca te-ai trezit prea tarziu, si cafeaua era prea rece sau cola prea calda si sendvisul prea tare, ca autobuzul te-a facut sa intarzii si mai mult, dar ai ajuns la timp pentru a iti pica examenul catre care alergai, si de la care iesi intr-o ploaie de neevitat pentru ca soarele de azi dimineata a prevenit umbrela din geanta, si deci mergi udandu-te sa iti platesti facturile, si pe langa ca unul din oficiile de care ai nevoie, singurul a carui factura are scadenta azi, e inchis, iar la ultimul tot nu iti ajung banii, cu toate ca pe una, dupa cum ziceam, nu ai platit-o, intr-un final ajungi ud la intalnirea cu el/ea, care are chef de cearta pentru ca cine stie ce ai uitat sa faci, deci te-ai deplasat juma’ de oras doar ca sa te certi, si ajungi intr-un final acasa, nu inainte de a fi stropit din crestet pan’ la glezne de un sofer binevoitor si de a fi olecuta clantanit de un caine de altfel lenes de langa bloc pentru ca i-ai parut suspect asa murdar cum erai, destul de adanc cat sa iti trebuiasca alti pantaloni, si erau aia buni, ca doar ai mers la examen,  si sa te doara piciorul cand urci scarile pana la ultimul etaj la care locuiesti, pentru ca nu se pune problema ca liftul sa functioneze tocmai azi, ca doar e pana de curent, acum ca ai de lucrat la calculator, si chiar voiai sa lucrezi, pentru ca din pat a sarit azi noapte un arc, motiv pentru care te-ai zvarcolit, dormind prost, toata noaptea. Nu am de gand sa spun asa ceva, chiar nu. In orice caz, sa ne imaginam o zi in care toate merg prost, dar nu de netrecut si de nereparat intr-o zi ceva mai buna. Punem asta in casti si un zambet de la ureche la ureche si o idee buna vor veni de la sine.

• Epica – Cry for the moon*

Cruzime realist-lucida plus voce feminina clara, curata, invizibil fortata. Esenta Epica. Intepator, dar frumos. Nu intepator de frumos. [Stiu ca voi scrie extensiv o data despre asta, nu detaliez.]

• Depeche mode – Enjoy the silence (2004)

Nu pot sa o ascult mai niciodata. Imi place, da. E electrizanta, e ca un vartej ce te atrage, simti la modul fizic cum te invaluie sunete din ce in ce mai grele, cam cum sunt plantutele alea in videoclip, care distrug intreaga cladire. E puternica intr-un sens distructiv, dar iti da si un calm aparte – parca iti paralizeaza muschii,lasandu-ti doar respiratorii. Dar tot nu pot s-o ascult. Asa.

• Massive attack – Teardrop

Da, recunosc, ma uit la House M. D.. Nici pe aproape atat de obsesiv ca toata lumea ce-l urmareste faaaascinata de fenomen, dar ma uit. NU de acolo stiu melodia. O ascultam dinainte, imi placea dinainte, o puneam pe lista oricum. Serios. Una din putinele (imi vin in cap doar doua, asta si cu urmatoarea) melodii electronice care ma ating cu adevarat (stiu ca asta e mai mult Bristol decat electronic pur, nu sariti.).  Usoara ca un fulg pe respiratie.

• Orbital – Halcyon (and on and on)

Cealalta melodie electro care imi merge la inima. Si din cauza filmului aluia, si din cauza celuilalt film carora le-a fost in coloana sonora oficiala, dar si pentru ca e infinit linistitoare si totusi revigoranta. Parca ti-ar rebuta creierul. Inchizi ochii, o asculti, te absoarbe cu totul, te detoxifica, si cand s-a terminat deschizi ochii si te simti in stare de orice. Psihedelic. Opioid chiar.

• Florin Chilian – Zece

Mii de voci au numit-o cea mai frumoasa declaratie de dragoste. Eu o vad mai degraba ca pe o oda catre Femeie.

• Valeriu Sterian – Cantec de leagan*

Pacatul originar. Care poate ca e o poveste frumoasa sau o fila de istorie sau o legenda sau o aiureala mistica sau un adevar, dar e o explicatie riguroasa pentru ce am ajuns, ca rasa, fata de ce suntem cu adevarat.

• Pasarea Colibri – Invocatie in zori*

Curata si blanda ca o ploaie de vara, zambet deschis la culoare, vecin cu rasul sanatos si usor la suflet. Muzica lor. Muzica lui. Prieten.

• Skillet – The last night*

Manifest pentru credinta sau pentru pamanteana interumana iubire, e suta-n suta manifest anti-singuratate. De ce e atat de rea, poate voi intelege vreodata. Eu sunt confortabila singura, atata timp cat stiu ca-s singura. Pe motiv ca am o problema cu a fi mintita, cum ziceam intr-o anterioara postare. Si de ce mai e melodia pe aici? Pentru ca ma face sa simt prezenta cuiva, cuiva anume, dar altcuiva. Si pentru ca si in ce nu cred e parte din mine.

• Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Road trippin’*

Visul. Ce as fi vrut sa fac cu viata mea daca as fi fost putin mai altfel decat sunt. Si ce inca vreau sa fac daca am cu ce (gaina cu oua de aur?) si cu cine(da, am.).

• Nirvana – The man who sold the world

Nirvana, nu David Bowie, nu doar pentru ca asa am facut cunostinta cu ea, ca orice om care se respecta avand perioada sa de rebeliune adolescentina (asta de acum e rebeliune pura, macar se stie ca nu-i de la varsta), ci si pentru ca imi place mai mult varianta asta, muzical vorbind. Imi pare ca ideea se preteaza cu vocea delicat sugrumata de o-lume-intreaga-stie-ce-anume-da’-nu-i-frumos-a-spune. What would you say when you’re face to face with … ?

• Therion – Rise of Sodom and Gomorrah*

Nu am ales melodia din acelasi deja utilizat motiv cum ca exprima pacatul omenesc, nici din uzatul motiv al vocii feminine vibrante, care mie imi merge la suflet foarte. Ci pentru ca sunt ei, si imi place muzica lor puternica, semiorchestrala si cu influente de mitologic. Foarte scandinav din partea lor, da.

*selectie fortata de o melodie dintr-o multime placute interpretate/compuse de acelasi artist; melodia mentionata este, totusi, undeva mai sus in top intre celelalte surate ale sale; la RHCP nu inseamna ca nu m-am putut decide – sunt prea stari diferite cele doua melodii.

Na, sa vad acum cine are rabdare sa citeasca tot.
As vrea sa vad cine isi bate capul si sa inteleaga, heh.

Leapsa de aici merge aici, desi probabil ea nu ma citeste si nu verifica legaturile externe, si mai e si intr-o temporara semipauza.

Sau e “o aplauza”?

The streets you’re walking on
A thousand houses long
Well, that’s where I belong
And you belong with me

Oh what good is it to live
With nothing left to give
Forget but not forgive
Not loving all you see

Soundtrack: Coldplay > The Scientist

Questo blog e la sua autrice sono attualmente sotto shock.
Più la sua autrice, ovviamente, che ieri sera ha infine compreso il senso dei termini ‘esperienza mistica’ presenziando al concerto dei Coldplay a Casalecchio di Reno.

‘E che sarà mai!’, penserà qualcuno.
Sicuramente questo ‘qualcuno’ non è mai stato al concerto del suo gruppo preferito, non ha uno stretto rapporto con la musica e non ha mai fatto pazzie e diventato isterico per assistere a un live (Nightwish a Milano, per esempio) o per comprare un cd di metal sinfonico scandinavo introvabile rischiando di rimanere chiuso in un negozio di Città del Messico.

I Coldplay sono Londra, con la sua vacanza studio e il cd di Parachutes ormai consumato, quando ancora nessuno li conosceva. Scoperti con Trouble e il suo video. E Yellow? E Don’t panic?
Sono la Provenza, il galoppo in Camargue e Spark in un hotel sperduto tra i campi di lavanda.
Sono il sollievo durante lo stage a Windsor e la colonna sonora dei treni da pendolare nella desolata campagna inglese. Sono i tramonti malinconici a tarda sera, sono Clock a tutto volume come ottima consolazione.
Sono un’estate passata tra Francia, Olanda, Belgio e Svizzera, con tante ore di viaggio e A Rush of Blood to the head. Il video di In my place era stata una delusione. God put a smile, invece, una fonte di entusiasmo.
I Coldplay sono stati dentro all’iPod in Grecia, che se un mp3 potesse rovinarsi per il troppo ascolto X&Y non si dovrebbe più sentire. Swallowed in the sea sarà passata centocinquanta volte.

Si inizia a pensare che quei musicisti non esistano davvero.
E che nel scrivere le loro canzoni ti spiino in grande segreto, altrimenti non si spiegherebbe come possano riguardarti e toccarti così personalmente.

Poi li trovi davanti a te.
Tra migliaia di farfalle colorate che cadono dall’alto illuminate dalle luci al neon.
Scherzano col pubblico, ridono, giocano, saltano, e improvvisamente spuntano sulle gradinate del palazzetto, in fondo, tra la folla in delirio.
E non ci puoi proprio credere.
Sono in carne e ossa davvero?
Perdi la voce per cantare ogni singola parola, e a metà sei già tanto stremata che la tua preziosa testina abitata deve sorreggerti.
E un po’ ti spiace che ci sia così tanta, tanta gente, per te che li hai apprezzati all’istante, prima dei grandi successi. Ne sei gelosa.

Quindi l’autrice di questo blog è sotto shock.
Non ci può mica credere.
Però si riprenderà.
Presto.

Proprio domani prenderà un grande spavento che la riporterà sulla terra: il suo compleanno.
Per ora rimarrà nel suo stupore.

A song not to anyone in particular but rather life, my life… perhaps yours…

Swallowed In The Sea

You cut me down a tree
And brought it back to me
And that’s what made me see
Where I was going wrong

You put me on a shelf
And kept me for yourself
I can only blame myself
You can only blame me

And I could write a song
A hundred miles long
Well, that’s where I belong
And you belong with me

And I could write it down
or spread it all around
Get lost and then get found
Or swallowed in the sea

You put me on a line
And hung me out to dry
And darling that’s when I
Decided to go to sea

You cut me down to size
And opened up my eyes
Made me realize
What I could not see

And I could write a book
The one they’ll say that shook
The world, and then it took
It took it back from me

And I could write it down
Or spread it all around
Get lost and then get found
And you’ll come back to me
Not swallowed in the sea

Ooh…

And I could write a song
A hundred miles long
Well, that’s where I belong
And you belong with me

The streets you’re walking on
A thousand houses long
Well, that’s where I belong
And you belong with me

Oh what good is it to live
With nothing left to give
Forget but not forgive
Not loving all you see

Are the streets you’re walking on
A thousand houses long
Well that’s where I belong
And you belong with me
Not swallowed in the sea

You belong with me
Not swallowed in the sea
Yeah, you belong with me
Not swallowed in the sea

Estamos ante el último trabajo de estudio hasta la fecha de Coldplay, y el tercero de la carrera de la banda británica liderada por Chris Martin. Publicado en junio de 2005, X&Y se convirtió en el álbum más vendido del año gracias a los 8,3 millones de copias vendidas en todo el mundo, copando las principales listas de éxitos a nivel internacional. En 2006 recibió el premio a Mejor álbum británico y el Juno a Mejor álbum internacional.

La característica fundamental de este disco respecto a sus antecesores radica en la influencia de la música electrónica, sobre todo de los alemanes Kraftwerk, así como de David Bowie o Brian Eno. De este modo, los teclados y los sintetizadores se fusionan con las guitarras eléctricas y la batería; su brit pop sombrío característico sufre una vuelta de tuerca hacia el rock alternativo.

Audio & Track List →

La mezcla no podía ser mejor: X & Y es uno de esos discos de los que nunca te cansas de escuchar, y del que no te puedes quedar tan sólo con un par de canciones. Aún así, te  recomiendo  el primer single, Speed of Sound. Después disfruta con la energía de Talk,  Low y White Shadows, así como de la pausa de What If y Swallowed in the Sea, pero sobe todo presta atención a The Hardest Part, un auténtico temazo en forma de balada. En definitiva, un indispensable en las estanterías de los amantes de la buena música.

1. Square One – 4:47
2. What If – 4:57

3. White Shadows – 5:28

4. Fix You – 4:55
5. Talk – 5:11 

6. X&Y – 4:34
7. Speed of Sound – 4:48

8. A Message – 4:45
9. Low – 5:32

10. The Hardest Part – 4:25

11. Swallowed in the Sea – 3:59

12. Twisted Logic – 5:01
13. Til Kingdom Come – 4:10