X&Y

As others have hinted, on first hearing perhaps only 2 or 3 songs will catch your ear - For me it was "Square One" and "Fix you". At first I grew concerned that this might be an album just to cherry-pick tracks off - but then the thought that a Coldplay album wouldn't have any longevity began to plague me and I went back and did what the Chris and the lads wanted us to do - Listen to the WHOLE album. So I did.... and did again.....and again. What started out as a labour of love on my part soon blossomed into a love affair and then an infatuation that is not likely to dissolve easily.

So, don't pay too much attention to the serial knockers who have plainly been saving up their unwarranted bile for the last 2 or 3 years to serve up cold and not very convincingly. This is an easy album to turn ones nose up at if you've got a very dull or rusty axe to grind. But you don't have to buy into that "Fair Trade" thing or start sponsoring animal welfare charities, or whatever to enjoy this music. My ears don't tell me lies - they convince me time and time again that Coldplay are one of the few current active song-writing groups who make music that I could live with 24/7. It may be glib to say so but their music is truly becoming the soundtrack to many of our lives....

So go on, take that step of faith and invest in what was thought to be their "difficult 3rd album". You may have tired of "Yellow" by now - I have a feeling that you won't be tiring of this slow burning beauty for many years to come.


Probably... the best Coldplay album yet   September 8, 2006
gingerguru (Billericay, Essex)
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

I have now owned this album for some time, hence the delayed review. That's probably a good thing for prospective purchasers as this is certainly a steady grower. Whilst I immediately loved Speed of Sound and Fix You as singles, the album didn't impress terribly on the first few listens. Whatever you do, though, do not be put off by some of the negative reviews on this site as the writers concerned are clearly fans of other musical genres which Coldplay obviously don't fit into. If you appreciate the song-writing craft then you will certainly find plenty to enjoy on this. That said, there are 1 or 2 tracks which I can't help skipping - they're just a little on the bland side. Fear not, however, there are some truly great songs here - Fix You, What If, Speed of Sound, Swallowed In The Sea and the title track spring to mind. The album is on the whole very well produced and not overdone in my opinion as others have suggested. The guitar playing is as tasteful as ever and the vocals are delivered with passion and sincerity. Coldplay are one of the very few bands around these days that write quality music for the masses. I find their material surprisingly uplifting and a welcome change from all the current retro bands who are writing material we've all heard before. This is an essential purchase.


X & Y   June 5, 2005
Stephen Freed
13 out of 15 found this review helpful

When I first got a chance to listen to this album, I thought that maybe coldplay would run out of ideas for some of the tunes of their songs. Clocks and Yellow were miracles and I wondered whether he could create another one. 20 seconds in and I found that Coldplay had done it again. From Square One to the hidden track Til' Kingdom Come this album never ceases to amaze. The first single Speed of Sound uses well placed lyrics and a memorable tune. Fix you, a probable Second single, uses a great church organ sound which is very melodic at times. Coldplay all know what they are doing and I never will doubt their albums again.