The casual Coldplay listener might confuse this new album, their sixth, for a ābest ofā compilation. āFly Onā and āOceansā are more acoustic, reminiscent of their debut Parachutes. āAlways in My Headā and āTrue Loveā remind the listener of their bigger rock sound on A Rush of Blood to the Head. āMagicā and āInkā turn on the arena-sized ballads found on X & Y. Echoes of Viva la Vida live on in the tribal beats and choral vocals of āAnotherās Armsā and the experimental sound of āMidnight.ā āA Sky Full of Starsā is a danceable pop hit, in the vein of Mylo Xyloto.
These new songs continue in the theme of romance and relationship. But here the language is from the voice of someone more seasoned, experienced, and a little jaded. āTrue Loveā is pure desperation: āI had it once, I lost it though/And all along the fire below would rise/And I wish you could have let me know/What's really going on below/Iāve lost you now, you let me go/But one last time/Tell me you love me/If you donāt then lie/Lie to me.ā
Overall, is a goodbye, a lament for something precious that is gone. In this case, the celebrity gossip news gives away the ending: lyricist Chris Martin and his wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, announced their split mere months before this albumās release. Like many artists, his real-life sorrow has produced some excellent music. (Atlantic)
