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| Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends | 
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| Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/EMI
Category: Music
List Price: £16.99
Buy New: £4.83
You Save: £12.16 (72%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from £3.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  (167 reviews)
Sales Rank: 2
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
EAN: 5099921211409
ASIN: B0017NCVWY
Release Date: June 12, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Life In Technicolor | | • | Cemeteries Of London | | • | Lost | | • | 42 | | • | Lovers In Japan/Reign Of Love | | • | Yes | | • | Viva La Vida | | • | Violet Hill | | • | Strawberry Swing | | • | Death And All His Friends |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk review
To say there has been a lot of anticipation for Coldplay's fourth album, Viva La Vida, is an understatement. Having enlisted legendary leftfield producer Brian Eno, borrowed their album title from a painting by renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and made tantalising remarks about sonic reinvention, the world has been curious (to say the least) to hear what the `new' Coldplay might sound like. Viva La Vida definitely makes some departures from the band's usual formula, which happens to be one of the most commercially successful rock-pop blueprints of recent years. The plangent chords, emotive melodies, stadium-rock rhythms and universal lyrical concerns remain, but Martin and co. have gone out on several limbs here, incorporating instrumental tracks ("Life In Technicolour"), using subtle North African and Latin elements ("Yes", "Strawberry Swing"), and overhauling previously strict verse-chorus-verse structures in favour of slightly more avant arrangements. The old Coldplay still shine through (see tracks like "Violet Hill" and the title song) but even their classic sound feels more muscular and confident. The band's new flourishes, cosmetic and self-conscious as they may be, are enough to make Viva La Vida a welcome break from the old routine--Danny McKenna
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| Customer Reviews: Read 162 more reviews...
 Coldplay deliver once again - the best British band of the Noughties August 19, 2008
How can you argue with this band and their success so far? And before people think I just happen to be a sheep, I found Coldplay's Trouble and Yellow abhorrent. I was not convinced at all. However, I just love Coldplay's work from Parachutes (the two singles excepted) through to this latest installment. This is not an X&Y and is different thanks to the very positive influence of Brian Eno, a magician in his own right. The first 3 tracks just glide you through the listening experience but I struggle with 'Yes'. It is quite different from a typical Coldplay melody and reminds me of the French ambient/rock band, M83. Maybe that's a good thing. Not for me though. However, the two chart hits are just fantastic and uplifting. Not convinced by Strawberry Swing either but I like the way the album finishes. So what have we got then? Just another Coldplay album or have they tried something a little different? Indeed they have and for that they should be applauded as they attempt to evolve. As an album it works very well and it holds CD 4 in my car and will do so for a while. I can't give it 5 stars, it's just not as good as Parachutes for me but it's still a very good album. Don't denigrate, just appreciate.
Best Coldplay Album By Far August 11, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have taken time to listen to the new Coldplay album several times since its release. There is no denying that this album is far more experimental than the first three albums and moves away from the bands pop/rock songs based around basic chords. The meat of the album is vedged between a very catchy intro and outro which compliment the new style very well.
Initially i found the lyrics on the album a little simple in places but as i listened more, i realised that it may be a small price the band has paid for pushing the content of the songs into new subject areas. A good example of this is the title track 'Viva La Vida' which encapsulates the front cover and speaks of revolution and the trials and tribulations of being a king.
Standout tracks for me are 'Yes', 'Lost' and the very radiohead-esque '42' but to be honest there isn't a bad track on the album.
Overall, the album solidifies Coldplays status as one of the driving cogs in British music at the moment. While many bands continue to stumble along and produce continuous streams of 'safe' music, Coldplay have turned their music in a new direction and made a brilliant go of it.
 Waste of instruments. August 11, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Coldplay are going the same way Mike Yarwood did. He forgot who he was and had to impersonate himself which lead to all manner of problems. Coldplay have gone the same way after their catchy, like Ebola catchy, first hit Yellow. They cannot recapture that audio fluke and have been pursuing it relentlessly even into the very bowels of Chris Martins back passage. Maybe if they spent some time out of that passage they could start making music again instead of dreary soundalike pap. Get over yourself and do some proper tunes, and cheer up, how can they still be that miserable when duping so many people with a promise of a good album but never delivering for so long. I don't think it's unfair to compare them too U2, they are are annoying dreary guitar twangling regurgitators of the same formula dliuted over the years to a distinct sound but no content too.
Most diverse album to date... but is that a good thing?, August 8, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Has it all gone `pete tong' for Coldplay ? There are instrumental tracks, long 7 mins tracks, tracks that change tempo and tone half way through. This is certainly their most experimental album.
It's as though they raided their own album collection and referenced different styles that they liked i.e. 42 has piano riffs like john lennon's - imagine, lovers in japan is like 80's pop, yes - take's off nico's venus in furs.
It's an album that's not as easy to get into as their previous ones, but good never the less.
 it will grow and grow August 7, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I bought this and put it in the car before a driving holiday so listened to it many times through over a couple of weeks. My first reaction was disappointment except for the two singles and then as time passed, I found myself loving the whole album more and more. It needs to be played loud and it needs to be played several times to get the full appreciation.
I still stand by my view that Chris Martin isn't a brilliant singer but the skill is making the best of what you've got and he certainly milks every drop from the (limited) talent he has (and fair play to him for that!) Some parts of the album sound a little like things we have heard from others - some is really U2 but what shines through is the contribution at beginning and end from Jon Hopkins - stunning
All round, one to buy
One final thing - the packaging is pathetic - it'll be dog-eared and ruined in no time
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