Coldplay Is As Coldplay Does

British alt-rockers Coldplay- Chris Martin (vocals), Jonny Buckland (lead guitar), Guy Berryman (bass) and Will Champion (drums, vocals)- have compiled 14 tracks for their fifth studio album Mylo Xyloto. The album manages to stay afloat amongst the critics’ reviews and the album took the number one spot in over a dozen countries.

“Mylo Xyloto” is the first track; a 43-second instrumental that leads into “Hurts Like Heaven,” a fun-sounding pop song despite the title. “Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall” was the album’s first single, with a title that gives away much of the album’s theme: a love story with a happy ending. “Paradise,” the album’s third track and second radio single, has the same dance-pop sound to it as many of Coldplay’s hits do, but there are too many “ooooos” from Martin, and the chorus does not always resemble the rest of the ensemble.

The same thing happens in “Charlie Brown,” where the vocals are a bit overbearing and don’t match the rest of the song. Buckland manages to keep this song listenable, though, and the piano at the end of “Charlie Brown” is one of the nicest parts of the album. The ballad, “Princess Of China,” is about love lost featuring Rihanna and a dark, eerie electro-pop sound. The lyrics are mediocre and, again, you’ll get a lot of “ohhhhs” and “ooooos”, but it’s hard to go terribly wrong with Rihanna on a duet.

Otherwise, not much to say. There isn’t much to pick apart here. They sound like Coldplay. Another perfectly acceptable album to add to their collection.