MYLOXYLOTO

If you haven’t ever heard the name ‘Coldplay’, they’re a four-member alternative-rock band from Britain. Their fifth studio album, Mylo Xyloto is just round the corner. Whether you’ve heard it or not I do not know, but I do know that you’ve made it here, so I would like you to keep reading.

The album starts with an eponymous forty-three-second peppy instrumental number, setting the theme for its entirety. For me personally, this is a very Linkin-Park-esque style of opening, considering all their albums since Meteora’s time have had such a start. And just like the five-piece-band-from-California’s latest venture, Mylo Xyloto is a concept album, meant to be heard from start to finish. And I insist you do so.


Moving on, you’re thrown into an upbeat high-tempo world, something that is characteristic of this album. Accompanied by Chris Martin’s vivacious voice, Hurts Like Heaven is a song you’ll immediately fall in love with. And the lyrics just seem to be reading your mind.

It's true, when you use your heart as a weapon, it hurts like heaven

Next up is a song that came out last month, being the second single of the album. It’s a song you might have already heard. If you haven't, scroll down for the video. I personally, am highly-addicted to it. I actually listened to it fifteen times. At one go. No kidding. It combines the power of rock with the soulfulness of R&B, to which, add a dash of synth and you’ve possibly the best song of the album. Coldplay think this could be Paradise, I think they are right.

Charlie Brown is the third and final addition in this three-song-fourteen-minute-fast-paced marathon. Ranging from an unusual start to a quiet end, from loud cries to gentle murmurs and from heavy percussion usage to soft strums of the guitar, this song has it all. And it’s a not a spoilt broth, but a dish mastered.


Sitting just under four minutes, song number five Up Against The World brings an end to the explosive start of an enigmatic album. With beautifully-written lyrics and a soothing version of Martin’s voice, this track smooth-talks the listener into ‘slowing it down’. But anyone who was hoping that Coldplay would tread on the path of tranquility a little longer is in for a rude shock.


But before the arrival of the bombshell is another filler. The song’s title is as big a mystery as the album’s title itself but it does its job perfectly and that’s all that matters.


And then comes a song that is sure going to be categorised as extreme loud by some and be loved by others. Whatever be the case; in its original form or a manipulated one, it’ll definitely be played in all places that have an element of dance, along with a couple of thousand-facets-containing-all-reflecting-shining-spheres and a few different-coloured-shimmering lights. Out way back in June as the album’s première single, Every Teardrop is a Waterfall is a song that you might not like in your first listen. As was the case with me. To be frank, I wasn’t really excited about the album then. But now, I love it. It’s a song that grows on you. It’s like wine, it gets better with time. As Martin sings I turn the music up, I got my records on/I shut the world outside until the lights come on, it’s like he’s stealing words from my mouth.

Track number eight, labelled Major Minus is one of my favourites from this album. A powerful tune and emphasis-on-a-single-lyric are enough to get you hooked to this number. And two hundred ten seconds down, you feel like reaching for the rewind button.

The next addition, U.F.O. is two things - the shortest track on the album and nothing special. Frankly speaking, it looked like an extended filler to me. But after that, Princess of China is everything the previous one wasn’t. Laid on a electro beat and tending to drift towards trance, this is also the only song with female vocals. Wait, how?! For all the hype it generated, I’d be surprised if you didn’t know but immensely-popular Barbadian R&B singer Rihanna lends her voice to this song. And I’d be lying if I said I liked it, because I loved it. Lyrics might not be its USP, but who cares when all you wanna do is rock your head.

Next up is track number eleven. Heavy bass and soft vocals make it a song that not everyone will love, but it’s a definitely worth a listen to see which you see side you’re on. And Martin’s wail of ‘so it’s over’ for a second might make you think the album is coming to an end but we aren’t there just yet. I see this song like a phoenix, its cry resembling the strain in the voice and its death-and-rebirth giving us the title, Up in Flames.

Another half-minute-filler carries you to the song after that, which is a return to the liveliness that resounds throughout the album. And although the last two tracks of the album might seem like one, they are actually three. Don’t Let It Break Your Heart starts in a light-hearted catchy-manner, ends quietly to pass the baton to Up with the Birds, which is two songs in one. Beginning on a slow note, it picks up halfway through and then proceeds to close out in the same manner as before. And as Martin says good things are coming our way, you can almost hear yourself say oh yeah.

And that’s that. Just forty-four minutes of intense gripping music. If you felt that the album was short, I hear ya. And that is the reason all music players these days have an option that says "repeat”. :D

Officially, the album is out October 24th. But for all those who have already downloaded and listened to it, if you loved it, I suggest you buy it. They worked their asses off to make it, a couple hundred bucks (for all you Indian readers) won’t hurt you. Happiness is just a click away!