So, Coldplay are well on their way to completing their fourth album. They’ve got a lot riding on this one, considering how their world-beating success started to curdle into an only partially-deserved backlash on their last effort. And now that Radiohead themselves have already released by far the most awesome early-Radiohead throwback ever, the competition’s looking pretty stiff for Chris Martin and his merry crew of dudes who really, really like The Bends. Despite all that, I’m definitely looking forward to hearing what Coldplay’s got in store for LP4 — especially since the band has indicated that they’re interested in switching up their familiar sound this time around. So what can we glean from their recent announcement? It’s light on details, but two points worth noting:
• Sounds like the possible Timbaland collaboration that EW.com reported in February hasn’t materialized. I guess Chris Martin’s taste for hip-hop only runs so far. Still, it’s hard to be disappointed when the band’s been working instead with a producer as legendary as Brian Eno (Roxy Music, U2) — no slouch in the experimental-genius department.
• The band’s note promises that "the music still has integrity. It’s real and honest. There’s no posturing or bombast." Wait, no posturing or bombast? On a Coldplay record?! Talk about a way more radical departure than anything Timbaland could’ve cooked up…
That’s about all we get for now, aside from some references to "dense" sound and "so many melodies and colours packed into a relatively short space (42 mins)". Color me cautiously intrigued. And you?
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Wow, I can’t believe you had to parenthetically say who Brian Eno is. I feel old now.
I had alwaysbeen a Coldplay basher who considered A RUSH OF BLOOD… highly overrated. And then I heard “speed of sound”. I was really surprised. By the time I finished listening to X&Y, I had become a fan. What can I say? The guys are good. No, they’re not particularly groundbreaking, but there’s nothing wrong with being simply “good”. I for one, am looking forward to this.
I have liked Coldplay progressively less and less since their first album, but if Brian Eno’s involved, this latest effort might be good. If there’s absolutely no posturing or bombast, though, I might keel over from the shock.
That Times article may be the most significant piece of music criticism in modern history. It literally changed everyone’s mind about the group that everyone expected to be the next U2. Kind of like Pauline Kael’s article about Bonnie and Clyde, only the complete opposite.
Yay Coldplay!
I’m really looking forward to this album. Given, X&Y was a little bloated, but it was still a good album overall. A rush of blood to the head will always be my favorite, but the next album sounds like it’s going to be a lot different. I’m looking forward to that. They are all very talented.
Sigh. That Times article is so tiresome. Was there anything more trendy in 2005 than hating Coldplay?
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Hey Coldplay!!! I love you guys!! Ya’ll rock!
And so does ya’ll music. I love every song that you guys did. I just wish I had ya’ll other 3 albums. Ya know what I mean. And boy do I love ya’ll new song named “Violet Hill” It’s awesome. Especially Clocks, Speed of Sound, and, Fix You. And another thing; I luuuuv Chris. He is sooo hott. 
Mwah! He plays a mean piano. Golly. You guys are dynamite. Luv ya!!