Audio Blog: Mylo Xyloto by Coldplay
thetawave2
Posts: 268
Here are some thoughts about a couple tracks off Coldplay's latest album. For more, including observations about Incubus' 2001 release, Morning View, check out my blog!
http://paugustinos.blogspot.com/2012/02/xiv-old-and-new.html
After saying goodbye again to an old favorite, I pulled out one of my newest albums. Mylo Xyloto by Coldplay had come out in October 2011, and I received it as a Christmas present. I was excited to hear how one of my favorite bands had evolved since their prior release, Viva la Vida. I?ve been enjoying this CD during my casual listening, but this time two tracks were particularly inspiring to me. ?Paradise,? while remaining true to Coldplay?s style, has a markedly new flavor to it. In the intro, there is a great contrast established between two string lines. One seems to be officially cut off, for an abrupt decay, while the other flows much more gently. My system handled both quite well, the former with nimble control and the latter with sweet purity. The synth that comes in soon after gives an unmistakably modern, electronic feel, and yet seems to fit well with the more organic flow of the strings. Throughout the song, there is a great mix of various voices that work together to create a surprisingly coherent sound.
?Us Against the World? featured full, warm vocals, effected with a subtle reverb. Chris Martin?s singing really took the spotlight on this track, supported by the gentle strum of guitar and an understated, somewhat distant vocal harmony. As electric guitar and piano joined the mix, there was a very involving swell in dynamics that soon fell back to a gentle, quiet conclusion. All in all, the song had a relaxed, gentle, yet consistent flow that kept me engaged.
As I finished up my listening notes, I smiled to think of how far I?ve come in a relatively short time. Music has always been an interest of mine, but only recently has it become a fairly serious hobby. As I become more and more engaged with my equipment as well as with critical listening, I only appreciate music more and more. Even in this short session, I felt I had become much more closely acquainted with the music, some familiar and some brand new.
http://paugustinos.blogspot.com/2012/02/xiv-old-and-new.html
After saying goodbye again to an old favorite, I pulled out one of my newest albums. Mylo Xyloto by Coldplay had come out in October 2011, and I received it as a Christmas present. I was excited to hear how one of my favorite bands had evolved since their prior release, Viva la Vida. I?ve been enjoying this CD during my casual listening, but this time two tracks were particularly inspiring to me. ?Paradise,? while remaining true to Coldplay?s style, has a markedly new flavor to it. In the intro, there is a great contrast established between two string lines. One seems to be officially cut off, for an abrupt decay, while the other flows much more gently. My system handled both quite well, the former with nimble control and the latter with sweet purity. The synth that comes in soon after gives an unmistakably modern, electronic feel, and yet seems to fit well with the more organic flow of the strings. Throughout the song, there is a great mix of various voices that work together to create a surprisingly coherent sound.
?Us Against the World? featured full, warm vocals, effected with a subtle reverb. Chris Martin?s singing really took the spotlight on this track, supported by the gentle strum of guitar and an understated, somewhat distant vocal harmony. As electric guitar and piano joined the mix, there was a very involving swell in dynamics that soon fell back to a gentle, quiet conclusion. All in all, the song had a relaxed, gentle, yet consistent flow that kept me engaged.
As I finished up my listening notes, I smiled to think of how far I?ve come in a relatively short time. Music has always been an interest of mine, but only recently has it become a fairly serious hobby. As I become more and more engaged with my equipment as well as with critical listening, I only appreciate music more and more. Even in this short session, I felt I had become much more closely acquainted with the music, some familiar and some brand new.
My Stereo: Tannoy D100s, Yaqin MC-100B, VPI Traveler, Dynavector 10x5 MC Phono Cartridge, heavily modified Yaqin MS-22B phono preamp, TEAC EQA-20 equalizer, Belkin PureAV PF30 Power Conditioner, Canare 4s11 speaker cables, Custom dust cover from DigitalDeckCovers
Post edited by thetawave2 on
Comments
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thetawave2 wrote: »Here are some thoughts about a couple tracks off Coldplay's latest album. For more, including observations about Incubus' 2001 release, Morning View, check out my blog!
http://paugustinos.blogspot.com/2012/02/xiv-old-and-new.html
After saying goodbye again to an old favorite, I pulled out one of my newest albums. Mylo Xyloto by Coldplay had come out in October 2011, and I received it as a Christmas present. I was excited to hear how one of my favorite bands had evolved since their prior release, Viva la Vida. I?ve been enjoying this CD during my casual listening, but this time two tracks were particularly inspiring to me. ?Paradise,? while remaining true to Coldplay?s style, has a markedly new flavor to it. In the intro, there is a great contrast established between two string lines. One seems to be officially cut off, for an abrupt decay, while the other flows much more gently. My system handled both quite well, the former with nimble control and the latter with sweet purity. The synth that comes in soon after gives an unmistakably modern, electronic feel, and yet seems to fit well with the more organic flow of the strings. Throughout the song, there is a great mix of various voices that work together to create a surprisingly coherent sound.
?Us Against the World? featured full, warm vocals, effected with a subtle reverb. Chris Martin?s singing really took the spotlight on this track, supported by the gentle strum of guitar and an understated, somewhat distant vocal harmony. As electric guitar and piano joined the mix, there was a very involving swell in dynamics that soon fell back to a gentle, quiet conclusion. All in all, the song had a relaxed, gentle, yet consistent flow that kept me engaged.
As I finished up my listening notes, I smiled to think of how far I?ve come in a relatively short time. Music has always been an interest of mine, but only recently has it become a fairly serious hobby. As I become more and more engaged with my equipment as well as with critical listening, I only appreciate music more and more. Even in this short session, I felt I had become much more closely acquainted with the music, some familiar and some brand new.
Love this album. My wife and I really like the track with Rheanna too. -
audiocr381ve wrote: »Love this album. My wife and I really like the track with Rheanna too.
I'm enjoying it a lot! I'm not a big fan of Rihanna, but I thought she did a nice job on "Princess of China."
Thanks very much for checking out my review
My Stereo: Tannoy D100s, Yaqin MC-100B, VPI Traveler, Dynavector 10x5 MC Phono Cartridge, heavily modified Yaqin MS-22B phono preamp, TEAC EQA-20 equalizer, Belkin PureAV PF30 Power Conditioner, Canare 4s11 speaker cables, Custom dust cover from DigitalDeckCovers -
Caught a typo! "Officially" midway through the first paragraph should be "artificially." Sorry about that!My Stereo: Tannoy D100s, Yaqin MC-100B, VPI Traveler, Dynavector 10x5 MC Phono Cartridge, heavily modified Yaqin MS-22B phono preamp, TEAC EQA-20 equalizer, Belkin PureAV PF30 Power Conditioner, Canare 4s11 speaker cables, Custom dust cover from DigitalDeckCovers
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I really tried to like this album but it didnt do it for me. It was like they took the the one song on each of their previous albums that everyone skipped and made an album out of those. I really like coldplay and have since their very first album, I have even seen them in concert, but this album just doesn't have that "wow" factor for meHT Rig Samsung 64F8500 |Pioneer Elite BDP-52FD|Pioneer Elite VSX-32| Two Carver TFM-15cb Bridged for mains|Polk Audio RTiA5 Cherry|Polk Audio CsiA6 Cherry|Polk Audio T-15 Heights|Polk Audio FXia6 Surround|DIY 8cuft Dayton Ultimax 15" powered with a Crown XLS1000
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I really tried to like this album but it didnt do it for me. It was like they took the the one song on each of their previous albums that everyone skipped and made an album out of those. I really like coldplay and have since their very first album, I have even seen them in concert, but this album just doesn't have that "wow" factor for me
On first listen, I thought the same. It's one of those albums that you have to give time. Let it burn in a little
