Coldplay has been called many things in their career. They've been named the next Radiohead. They've been praised as the next-big-thing. They've even been reduced to being stated simply as Brit Pop, but X&Y is a departure from these labels. It has more of a U2 influence than Radiohead, they ARE the big thing and it's far from boring and doesn't sound like a typical Brit Pop band.
When I heard X&Y's first single, "Speed of Sound," I had thought it was a remixed version of "Clocks." Thankfully, X&Y does not sound like a re-mixed version of A Rush of Blood to the Head. "Speed..." is one of the standout songs on the album, but is surpassed by others like "Talk" with its great guitar riff and the ballad "What If."
X&Y mostly consists of songs with a similar format: a softer and almost ballad-like verse melodically driven by Chris Martin's vocals followed by a sonically expressive and louder chorus with a soaring guitar line and a steady drumbeat and bass line. Most of the album is in a mid-tempo pace with some ballads thrown in. Perhaps the weakest part of the album is X&Y's almost religious following to this formula. By using a formula for greatness too much the album blends together and leads to redundancy, much like many bands today. Although this only happens towards the end of the album during X&Y's weaker tracks, but it regains momentum in "Swallowed In The Sea," and closes well with "Twisted Logic" and the bonus track "Til Kingdom Come," that has a similar tone of that of Paul Simon or Bob Dylan (though with Chris Martin's signature vocals).
X&Y is simply enjoyable and has a nice mellow feel. It may not appear on too many best of 2005 lists, but one could certainly pick worse albums for such a list. X&Y is by no means a poor album, but stands out as one of the better releases of this summer.
3/4
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Steve StockmanThere has been a lot of talk about this Coldplay album; probably too much talk. "They need to prove themselves." "They need to make their Joshua Tree." Third albums by bands who have done something interesting with their first two and gained popularity alongside it are put under too much pressure; way too much pressure. It has to be said that Coldplay haven't helped themselves with their chat…The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Brian A. SmithAfter songs like "Yellow" and "Clocks" became ubiquitous, I kept waiting for the inevitable backlash that would result from the instant celebrity status that surrounded the band. It came quickly -- "Radiohead ripoffs," "pop pandering," "U2 wannabes", etc. Yet there was something that compelled music fans about Coldplay, whether earnestness, or the return of the piano to rock music, or the…The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Nick MattiskeExpectations for Coldplay's third album were high after the now classic masterpiece A Rush of Blood to the Head. But their "everyday guy" status (despite Chris Martin's Hollywood connections) has helped them remain confident in the musical space they mapped out on A Rush of Blood.... Unlike, say, Radiohead, whose mega-success saw them retreating into their art-school roots. Coldplay's confidence…Similar sounding releases
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