My iPod #295: Coldplay - Don't Panic

It's always odd to listen to old Coldplay material, but there's also something very warming about it too. I've seen how now the band are going to hide lyrics from their forthcoming album in library books all over the world or something. Sounds a bit pretentious to me. I think fans would be more likely to hear the songs and then type them up. Even then, some might not want to do that. But "Parachutes", their debut album released in the first summer of the 21st century, reminds us all of the time when Coldplay wouldn't even think of such an idea. It reminds us of a time when they didn't try so hard to be this 'biggest band in the world' type thing. That was a good time.

"Don't Panic" is the opening track on "Parachutes". It takes a few seconds to get itself together, beginning with a few strums of a lone electric guitar followed by an acoustic. Then suddenly Chris Martin starts softly singing, telling us that we live in a beautiful world. Yeah, we do, yeah we do.

The track is one about hope and reassurance, but its short length and quick pace also make it seem like one about urgency. Almost like time is running out. It's a strange one to make out sometimes. Honestly though, it's probably my favourite Coldplay song. Martin's light falsetto in the chorus, the gurgly, swirling lead guitar present throughout and the solo near the end... the song's poignant last line before ending and fading out into silence. Everything about it sounds close and personal. Not something I can say about any recent Coldplay stuff.


Eventually released as the album's last single almost a year its release, "Don't Panic" didn't even make it into the top 100. But it marked the start of a small group from London who would become the greatest band to ever exist. Or whatever.

My iPod #257: Coldplay - Death and All His Friends

Ah, Coldplay. Not my favourite group. But nevertheless they are back with a new album, their sixth to be exact, in May entitled "Ghost Stories". They've put out two songs already: "Midnight", which got some polarizing feedback due to its minimalism  - and the first official single "Magic" which is quite similar to "Midnight in the way that there are barely any instruments in it, but actually has a beat and a good melody. It is the one which I like a bit myself and it is better than the former song. But that's just my opinion.

Today's song is the other title track from Coldplay's fourth album "Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends", commonly known as "Viva la Vida". Most people know it for the album where Coldplay changed. They went around wearing suits a la The Beatles during the Sgt. Pepper phase and generally went for a new approach in making their music. Some may have found it pretentious. I think it's their best album. I have "Parachutes", "A Rush" & "X&Y"; they have their moments, but "Viva" along with "Prospekt's March" - that is good listening. No to "Mylo Xyloto" though.

The beginning of "Death and All His Friends" is actually a song that was meant to be separate altogether. This was its original incarnation. It's very calm and soothing for the first half before bursting into life when the rest of the band join in and abruptly changing into the soaring and climactic ending (in 7/4 time signature) which will catch any first listener by surprise. The song is a triumphant ending to a wonderful album. There is a full version of the instrumental that you hear at the beginning of the very first track of the album, but I cut that out before putting it on my iPod. You can't beat that ending.

My iPod #194: Coldplay - Clocks

What a day it has been. Two words. Anchorman 2. A must-watch. See it as soon as you can. One of the best movies out this year. Seriously, you guys. No more can be said on fantastically funny and bizarre this film is.

Today's song is "Clocks" by Coldplay, the third single from the group's second album "A Rush of Blood to the Head". It almost didn't make it onto the album due to time restraints and could have been released on "X&Y", but they managed to record it very quickly and it now stands the test of time as track number five on their 2002 release.

This contains a notable piano melody which repeats throughout most of the song. You have heard it before. I must have heard it in an advertisement before I knew what the song was called or who performed it. If you didn't know where it came from, you know now.