Mega rock stars Coldplay are back after a three-year hiatus, this time with Mylo Xyloto, their fifth studio album and fifth collaboration with legendary producer Brian Eno. Eno, who has achieved monumental success with the likes of U2 and David Bowie, has once again cast his musical magic.
With acoustic guitars strumming, church organs swelling and electric guitars shimmering, Mylo Xyloto is a fantastic listen.
It’s everything one would expect from a Coldplay album—and then some. Much like the album’s predecessor Viva La Vida, the songs are big—like stadium anthem big.
Syth-pounding choruses flourish throughout and the driving beats cause an uncontrollable urge to tap your foot in unison to the music.
What really propels Xyloto into greatness, though, is its unmistakable optimism. It’s surging, chiming, unfalteringly upbeat and almost thunderously enthusiastic.
This is an album meant to make you smile, and believe me, it does. Another thing Mylo Xyloto has going for it, is its overall sense of playfulness.
Just look at the title. Any band that chooses as unpronounceable and peculiar of a title as Mylo Xyloto is certainly having a laugh.
This is what Viva La Vida what lacking. Yes, it was musically innovative and yes it was flawlessly executed but where was the fun? Where was the pizzazz?
On Viva La Vida, you sensed the band’s eagerness to please, their adamant desire to be critically accepted as well as musically innovative. This is not a bad thing. In fact, it should be encouraged as a worthy goal for any recording artist.
But when you set your mind on musical innovation and positive critical reception, you lose sight of the most important aspect of making music: to have fun. You’re supposed to enjoy yourselves!
Music is a form of self-expression. It should be freeing, not bogged down by self-consciousness. For Coldplay, Mylo Xyloto marks the end of self-consciousness and the start of not giving a crap.
They have vanquished the pestering inner-voice that harbors worry and doubt, the voice that says, “What will the critics think? or “Will the fans like it?”
Don’t get me wrong, they strove to deliver great music and have certainly done so but, more importantly, they made sure they were having fun in the process, and that’s what it’s all about.
With each new listen, a little bit of that infectious and careless enjoyment is made that much clearer. It all feels so alive and genuine. Who knows, maybe this is what the world needs right now: great pop music with its heart in the right place.
Eric Duffert can be reached at eduffert@aol.com.