I have been a die hard Coldplay fan since my freshman year. Although the walls of my bedroom aren’t covered in band posters, and I don’t religiously follow the media gossip, I can say with certainty that Coldplay is, and will always be, my favorite band. For me, there is nothing more perfect than driving down a windy road, with the windows rolled down and a Coldplay tune blaring from the radio.
Parachutes, Viva la Vida, and X and Y are nothing short of genius albums. They contain some of the greatest songs I’ve ever heard. The lyrics are truly profound, sharing the band’s insight on topics from love to spited romance, confusion to clarity, with the rest of the world.
However, as terrible as this makes me feel, I must report that Coldplay is losing its touch. Its 2011 album, Mylo Xyloto, is brilliant; however, it does not have the same special charm as that of earlier releases. In retrospect, this album seems to symbolize the beginning of Colplay’s descent into conformity.
Coldplay’s newest album, Ghost Stories, pounds the nails into its coffin. Relying upon electric beats and cliche lyrics, Ghost Stories, is a disappointment to true Coldplay fans. Songs such as “Midnight,” “A Sky Full of Stars,” and “Magic,” are bland, boring, and unoriginal. Although Chris Martin’s signature touch of crashing, dramatic piano chords are still prevalent within the songs on the album, they are ruined by the strident synthesized beat pounding through each track. Even Martin’s lovely British voice cannot make up for this lack of originality.
Furthermore, the music’s drowsy, gloomy mod is a bit of a put-off. The album is obviously influenced by Martin’s recent separation from his ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow.
Unlike Coldplay’s past albums that included songs about lost love or terrible breakups, Ghost Stories is not only a downer but also cliche. Coldplay’s other “break-up songs” have been backed up by imaginative, creative melodies, and ardent and esoteric lyrics. They go beyond the normal romantic split, drawing the listener into Martin’a pain, completely empathetic to his loss and struggle to get beyond it. This is not the case with Ghost Stories because so many of the tracks sound exactly the same. Martin’s depression completely drowns the listener.
With such an enigmatic title, one might think that the songs on the album are abstruse and transcendental. But, listeners, do not be fooled by Ghost Stories. It’s a disappointment.
