Coldplay is one of the top selling bands of the decade, selling over 50 million records worldwide.  They are currently putting the finishing touches on their fifth studio album, tentatively titled LP5. So with our new site it is only appropriate that we touch bases with a band looking for a new sound in this new decade.
How did this little known band from overseas become such a big hit here in the states? Well, it all started in 1999 with a little known song called “Yellow.” This track was the surprise hit of the summer. The song combined great lyrics with a pop-rock edge sound, making it appealing to teens and Alternative Rockers. In 1999, the band showcased their sound with their first full length release, Parachutes. The album set the tone for the rest of the band’s albums, combining strong lyrical content with an edgy rock sound. Parachutes sold over three million records and was voted the 33rd Best British Album released by NME Magazine. The album is also the 12th bestselling album in the UK, not bad for an opening act.
Then, in August of 2002, they hit the “Motherload!”  The band released their ground breaking album, A Rush of Blood to the Head. Up to this point, Coldplay was considered a good band, but this album shot them into super stardom almost overnight. The album has sold more than 14 million worldwide and produced such hits like: “Clocks,” “The Scientist,” “In My Place,” “Green Eyes” and “Warning Sign.” The band toured for almost two years to support their album. In those two years you could not avoid Coldplay; they were everywhere. In that time, they were by far the best band in the world and they had the album sales to prove it. They won Best Album from the BRIT and Q Awards, as well as two Grammys.
During this time, lead singer Chris Martin fell in love with Hollywood Diva Gwyneth Paltrow. The two would eventually marry and have several children. The band decided to take a breather and dropped out of the spotlight for about 18 months. During this time, the band took their time writing for the next album. They wrote the album and decided to drop it and re-record more material. Then in 2005, they released X&Y. When a band has as much success as they had, it was pretty much impossible to release another great album, but that is what the public and critics expected. X&Y was considered a failure, although it sold about eight million records. Coldplay was a victim of their own success. The album was OK; nothing fancy, just OK. The band looked to shed their Rock roots and go for more of an Electronic sound, a risk that failed.
In 2008, the band released Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends. Although the album has done well, Coldplay hasn’t been able to re-capture their success of their first two albums. This album is a far cry from X&Y because the band went back to the basics and delivered another great album. Songs like: “Lost,” “Lover’s in Japan,” “Viva La Vida” and “Violent Hill” recaptured the sound that they had struggled to find in X&Y.
As the band is putting the finishing touches on their fifth record, it’ll be interesting to see how the fans and critics receive it. Chris Martin and the gang often write a ton of tracks for an album then shrink it down to only a hand full. It was said that the band had written more than 45 songs for A Rush of Blood to the Head so who knows what lies ahead for Coldplay? One thing is for sure: they’ll make it interesting!
Top 5 Songs
1. Warning Sign
3. Life in Technicolor ii (Excellent Video)
5. A Message
Useful Links
KCRW (Performing Yellow on piano & Non-Lp track “Ghost”)