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Viva La Vida | 
 enlarge | Artist: Coldplay
Label: Capitol
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
Buy New: $7.18
You Save: $11.80 (62%)
New (41) Used (11) Collectible (3) from $7.18
Avg. Customer Rating:  343 reviews
Sales Rank: 2
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 5.1 x 0.5
EAN: 5099921688607
ASIN: B000RPTQ1C
Release Date: June 17, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: IMPORT CD. Brand new and factory sealed! Free upgrade to First Class for US orders and to Air Mail for international orders!
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| Tracks:
| • | Life In Technicolor | | • | Cemeteries Of London | | • | Lost! | | • | 42 | | • | Lovers In Japan/Reign Of Love | | • | Yes | | • | Viva La Vida | | • | Violet Hill | | • | Strawberry Swing | | • | Death And All His Friends |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk
To say there has been a lot of anticipation for Coldplay's fourth album, Viva La Vida, is an understatement. Having enlisted legendary leftfield producer Brian Eno, borrowed their album title from a painting by renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and made tantalising remarks about sonic reinvention, the world has been curious (to say the least) to hear what the `new' Coldplay might sound like. Viva La Vida definitely makes some departures from the band's usual formula, which happens to be one of the most commercially successful rock-pop blueprints of recent years. The plangent chords, emotive melodies, stadium-rock rhythms and universal lyrical concerns remain, but Martin and co. have gone out on several limbs here, incorporating instrumental tracks ("Life In Technicolour"), using subtle North African and Latin elements ("Yes", "Strawberry Swing"), and overhauling previously strict verse-chorus-verse structures in favour of slightly more avant arrangements. The old Coldplay still shine through (see tracks like "Violet Hill" and the title song) but even their classic sound feels more muscular and confident. The band's new flourishes, cosmetic and self-conscious as they may be, are enough to make Viva La Vida a welcome break from the old routine--Danny McKenna
Amazon.com
Coldplay Photos
Album Description
Coldplay release their fourth album "Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends" on Parlophone. The album comprises 10 brand new tracks, recorded in London, Barcelona and New York with producers Brian Eno and Markus Dravs. "Viva La Vida" follows the hugely successful album "X&Y", which has sold 10 million copies since its release in 2005.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 338 more reviews...
 runner up to X & Y August 20, 2008
X&Y was what hooked me to coldplay's music, Their first two albums have slowly grown on me but none the less have grown on me. Just when I thought they couldn't sound any better they ring out the wild bells of "Viva la Vida" like they are in this for the long run. What other band can rock out on the cathedral organ and the string quartet like these? Then throw in some distorted guitar, fine tune it with some acoustic guitars, and put you in a trance with Martin's voice? Yes, Chris Martin is no vocal performance master. He has flaws in his voice. But he can take those flaws turn them around and use them make the song actualy sound better. That is what you call a songwriter in case you didn't know. If I want a perfect voice I'd listen to Josh Groban if I want a perfect song I'll listen to Coldplay (or Jack Johnson).
 "A Rush of Blood to The Head" & "X&Y" much better than this. August 19, 2008
I keep on listening it and still I don't like. I rated 3 stars because I only found 3 good songs: track 1, 4, and 6 and maybe the last track; but no matter what I just said. In the deep of my heart I know that Coldplay is a great band.
Some good tracks, not terribly impressed... August 19, 2008
I was hoping to see some better tracks on this CD and was only fairly impressed with the songs I haven't heard before.
My rating *** out of *****.
OK Coldplay August 18, 2008
Love Coldplay but this cd is just ok in my opinion. Sounds like they are trying to be Radiohead. Just not my favorite Coldplay CD.
The Evolution of Coldplay... for the better! August 17, 2008
First to start off this review with a positive note. Coldplay is an awesome band; they have a cool sound and they make alternative rock even cooler than it is. However, particularly with their last album, X&Y, I've felt that a majority of the media was a bit too kind to Coldplay. Sure, they are one of my favorite bands, but I haven't always felt they were "as good" as the media has made them out to be. With X&Y, aside from standouts like "What If" and the hauntingly, exceptional "Fix You", it was very similar to A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD. The chord progression for lead single "Speed of Sound" was a bit too close to their Grammy-winning turn on "Clocks". Sure, "if it ain't broke don't fix it", but if Coldplay had made another album that cloned the preceding album, then I would've had to complain. Thankfully, Coldplay enlisted U2 producer Brian Eno to tweak their sound. And that, Mr. Eno does, making VIVA LA VIDA refreshing as opposed to more of the same.
VIVA LA VIDA isn't quite a masterpiece, but it is consistent by Coldplay's standards, and certainly more interesting than X&Y (which was good, but a bit too similar to Coldplay's previous work). Here, Eno gets the band out of their "box" and tightens up their sound. Alongside that, Chris Martin/Coldplay's songwriting appears to be tighter and generally more pleasurable to the ears. While Coldplay has always had a knack for sound, peaking with 2005's excellent "Fix You", tracks like "Lost!" and even the sick guitar riff of "Violet Hill" show you that Coldplay's three year hiatus wasn't in vain - they were truly "tightening up" their sound.
"Life in Technicolor" serves as an introduction to VIVA LA VIDA and indicates that the album is going to showcase more "colors" than the band has before. "Cemeteries of London", the first true selection starts the album off with a bang with haunting sound effects, and an addictive, eery sounding piano riff. To call it 100% removed from previous Coldplay openers such as "Square One" or "Politik" would be an overstatement, but the sound is definitely different. There is a sense of "integration" that to me personally wasn't in Coldplay's earlier work prior to this album. "Lost!" is definitely in my top three of tracks from VIVA. The organ-synth is one of the most ingenious things I've heard Martin play on keyboards. Furthermore, the drum groove here could be at home on any R&B, Pop, or Hip-Hop album. Who does that? !?!?! Even more impressive is the catchiness of "Lost!" - there is a more inherent pop quality to this track than some of Coldplay's other work. Maybe it's because of Martin's numerous collaborations with hip-hop artists that a certain heightened tunefulness has evaded his songs. I know one thing though, I like it!
"42" continues the string of hits (it makes my top five), while "Lover in Japan/Reign of Love" is also good, though not one of my favorites. "Yes" restores any faith I had lost in the band (which was none), while killer singles "Viva La Vida" and my personal favorite "Violet Hill" are just exceptional. "Viva La Vida" has some killer strings, not to mention Martin's soaring, expressive vocals, or the top-notch songwriting. As great as the #1 Pop single is, the more underrated, bluesy "Violet Hill" takes the cake in my eyes. Never to me has Martin sounded so political, nor so good. He has always been a strong vocalist, but here on VIVA LA VIDA, he sounds better than he ever has. His falsetto is immaculate! "Strawberry Swing" and "Death To All His Friends" end this overall excellent album on a strong note, leaving me no doubts that Coldplay could one day be the greatest band to ever live. They aren't there yet, despite what the media says, but U2 better watch out as the boys from Britain are out to get them!!! 4 big stars!!!
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