Mylo Xyloto - Coldplay
BY BURAK ŞAHİN (IR/IV)
burak_s@ug.bilkent.edu.tr
Coldplay has come up with a different concept and album name. The album is called "Mylo Xyloto," and according to band's lead singer, Chris Martin, the name doesn't mean anything yet, but will be meaningful someday.
The band loves creating different concepts and words for their songs and albums. Even Coldplay itself didn't have any meaning when they started to make music, but now it means a lot for people all over the world. "Mylo Xyloto," which is Coldplay's fifth studio album, was released on October 24, but we had already started to listen to some tracks from the album during the summer. "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" was released in early summer, and after that I witnessed their live performance in July, and we listened to "Hurts Like Heaven," "Major Minus," "Us Against the World" and "Charlie Brown." The first time listening to those tracks was pretty exciting, and we thought that Coldplay was changing direction again. We were right.
Chris Martin said that the album is based on a love story with a happy ending -- but this love story is a little bit new wave. The band worked with Brian Eno on the album, and after Eno had listened to the demo of the songs, he said, "Let's make it fast." Although it's Coldplay's slow hits that we're used to, "Mylo Xyloto" doesn't include any songs like "Fix You," "The Scientist" or "Violet Hill." There are tracks called "Up in Flames" and "Up with the Birds," but they're not as effective as the older ones. On the other hand, Coldplay had a surprise on the album: a duet with Rihanna. "Princess of China" was one of the most anticipated songs on "Mylo Xyloto," but unfortunately it didn't make a real impact on the charts.
Despite all these drawbacks, the album does include brilliant songs like "Paradise," "Major Minus" and "Hurts Like Heaven." Coldplay fans have shown their loyalty to the band, and "Mylo Xyloto" has hit Number 1 in most countries' charts and had the highest worldwide first week iTunes sales ever. I wouldn't say that this is their best album, but it has some glorious hits with different songs as a transition to their new sound.
Here is part of their mini-interview in Q Magazine:
Does a great song ever make you jealous?
Chris Martin: When I hear Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody" or Adele's "Someone Like You" or Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" it's like "F**k, that's good, I've got to try and do something better than that.”
What music makes you cry?
Chris Martin: Well, the last one would be Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black" because she died, but that record moves me anyway.
Will Champion: Christy Moore was my mum's favorite artist. There's an album called "Live At The Point" and he sings an old folk song called "The Cliffs of Dooneen" and that reminds me of my mum.
What's the best album of the last 25 years?
Chris Martin: Nirvana's "Nevermind."
Will Champion: "The Queen Is Dead" by The Smiths.
Jonny Buckland: "Loveless" by My Bloody Valentine.
Guy Berryman: "A Northern School" by The Verve.
What song would you like at your funeral?
Jonny Buckland: "The Littlest Hobo" theme.
Guy Berryman: The Dap-Kings' set.
Will Champion: "Death Is Not the End" by Nick Cave & The Band.
Chris Martin: The Flaming Lips' version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
