Coldplay - X&Y - A Review...

This is one of those records that I'm having a hard time getting a handle on. I've heard it up to here about how this is the supposed record that's going to save the record industry from it's current slide, it will make Coldplay the biggest band in the world, etc... If judging it from that point of view, it's probably a dismal failure. Now, don't get me wrong here, it's not exactly a bad record, but this is not the record that will catapult Coldplay past such bands as U2 and Radiohead, their obvious influences and peers. None of the songs are particularly great or fantastic, but after saying that, there's really not a lot of filler either. It's a bit like a few years ago when Soul Asylum released "Let Your Dim Light Shine". They were being counted on to really deliver "the record" that would hurl them into the stratosphere after "Grave Dancers Union". While being an alright album, it couldn't live up to the hype placed on it. This is the same situation. Rolling Stone magazine gave the album three stars. Upon reading the review initially, I thought maybe they were being a little unfair and judging the record against inflated expectations. After hearing the album a few times for myself, I completely agree with their assesment that this is "the sound of a band trying not to deflate". I remember a couple years ago while listening to their last release "A Rush of Blood to the Head", there was a point about half way through a listen where I said to myself, "God this is a gorgeous album". No such feeling on X&Y. The whole thing seems to just float on by and at the end you're saying "hmmm, well that was ok I guess". Nothing grabs you like on their last record such as "Clocks" for example. The current single "Speed of Sound" was a safe choice that already seems likes it's passed. The standout tracks are "Square One" which starts the album off nicely, and "X&Y". While the record is not a bad album by any means, it's also nothing that anyone needs to add to their collection as essential. 3

1 = Don't purchase in the $1.00 bin at your used record store. Avoid like a plague.
2 = Only if you're desperate for new music. You need it like a hole in the head.
3 = An okay buy, probably just download the tracks you want from I-Tunes.
4 = Buy new the next time you're out and about. A fully satisfying record.
5 = Masterpiece, run and buy today!