First, they were dubbed Radiohead Lite. Then there was a Travis/Coldplay turf war, similar to the ones that erupted between Blur and Oasis and, to a much lesser extent, Howard Jones and Nik Kershaw. Travis may have used Radiohead's producer, but their songs were direct like Oasis. Coldplay deserved their UK press moniker; their songs were darker, odder and slightly more challenging. With the exception, of course, of "Yellow," quite possibly the most vanilla song out of the UK since the Spice Girls. "I wrote a song for you/And all the things you do/And it was called 'Yellow.'" Are you kidding me?
More Coldplay |
David takes a closer look at
Coldplay's career, and don't miss his review of
X&Y,
the band's latest release. |
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If the only song you ever heard from Coldplay was "Yellow," then A Rush of Blood to the
Head, their new album, would come as a tremendous shock. This album is adventurous in ways that
Parachutes, Coldplay's debut, only dared to dream. To compare them to Travis is now utterly pointless. They are going their own way, and will not likely cross paths with either Travis or Radiohead anytime soon.
"Politik" sets the tone from the very beginning, with its driving, minor key chorus drifting into a hauntingly beautiful bridge that evokes "Karma Police." "God Put a Smile Upon My Face" is another winner, despite its uncanny resemblance to Roxy Music's "Out Of The Blue." "Daylight" is sure to delight fans of classic alternative, with an Eastern-tinged string riff accompanying a vocal that's straight from the book of Love and Rockets.
"In My Place" has permeated playlists thanks to its inclusion on the Spider-Man soundtrack. It's a perfectly digestible slice of melancholy pop with what sounds like a guest vocal from Dave Matthews. But the song that's going to pop up on breakup mix CDs for the next two years is "Warning Sign," which is this album's "Trouble." "You came back to haunt me and I realized/That you were an island and I passed you by…. The truth is, I miss you." Simple, but its delivery is devastating.
There's nothing that gives me more joy than when I predict doom for a band and they prove me wrong. I tolled the death knell for Beck in early 1994. Ditto my beloved Radiohead. When it came to Coldplay, I liked them, but didn't think they would ever make anything I liked as much as Travis'
The Man Who. Boy, did they show me. Put Coldplay, the Doves, Badly Drawn Boy and Travis together with stalwarts Radiohead and Blur, and you just might have another British invasion. Thank goodness. Not a moment too soon.
~David Medsker
dmedsker@bullz-eye.com
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