Artist: Coldplay
Album Title: X&Y
Label: Capitol/EMI
Bones:
Summary: Game Over for 2005?
Reviewed By: 'Disco' Stu McPhee

So this is EMI's great big hope? The so called chosen one that was supposed to bring financial balance to the force. So what's with the furrowed brow EMI? Full price Beatles albums not cutting the mustard? Is that multi-zillion dollar contract with Robbie Williams beginning to look a tad shaky? Still reeling from the great Mariah Carey disaster of 2001? Look on the brightside though, for a few months there you not only had her but also The Gorillaz on the books, thereby monopolising the cartoon pop market.

The amount of pressure placed on Coldplay of late to deliver the goods far outweighs the Australian media's persuasive tactics over the Indonesian justice system. But what do they have to prove to anyone? They're coming off one of the greatest second albums of all time (believe me it is a short list) and are solely responsible for the sound now emanating from every third new British act on the scene. By rights the boys should've crawled up their collective arses and released something approximating 'Kid A'.

'X&Y' thankfully has gone the other way. It is 12 tracks (actually 13 but more on that later) of grandiose anthemic quality that seems to ask: "Biggest Band In The World try outs? Where do I sign up?" Though for all the self assuredness expressed by the band on 'X&Y' (book the stadiums guys and they will come), lyrically they are still finding their way. Chris Martin's lyrics are of a man settling into a different stage of his life (since the last album he has a new wife and baby to give him inspiration). He has puzzles that are still puzzling him so to speak, to paraphrase from 'Speed Of Sound'. This is to be expected, after all Bono was still asking the big questions five albums in.

The often cryptic lyrics go hand in hand with the sound the band have produced. Not as immediate as 2002s 'A Rush of Blood...', 'X&Y' is an album full of multi layers that may take you a few listens before you feel the knockout punch, but believe me you'll know it when it happens. But as stated earlier, 'Kid A' this is not. A handful of tracks are as direct as you can get. 'The Hardest Part' is primed for radio without being overtly simplistic while the arena sized ballad of 'Fix You' will keep the Zippo company afloat for awhile yet. Obvious first single 'Speed Of Sound' has had its critics for being a carbon copy of 'Clocks'. Between you and me though, I think it's just that bit better.

Ultimately the album falls short of greatness by a whisker due in part to two particular songs. The title track (like 'Green Eyes' from the last album) has the least going for it and I am adamant that it's inclusion on the record is to prove that Coldplay are in fact human after all. Secondly the 'hidden' track 'Til Kingdon Come' (a one take song that was written for Johnny Cash) spoils what should have been a great ending with 'Twisted Logic'.

Three albums down and Coldplay have firmly cemented themselves in the top 5 acts in the business. Besides, no one has ever been branded a '3 trick pony' have they? So I say to the investors and top brass at EMI: Worry not about these lads, your future (and the future of decent music) is in good hands. Though if Mr Williams floats the idea of another swing album then it may be time to hit the panic button.