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December 5, 2011, 9:48 am

Thoughts on the new Coldplay from The KINK Community

Coldplay's fifth release "Mylo Xyloto" has been out since the end of October. It debuted in the number one spot on Billboard, and currently sits in fourth place.

Will it enjoy the same staying power as some of Coldplay's previous works? Most likely, yes. The new release opens with the expansive, promising notes of its 40-second intro title track; right then and there we know we're in for something good.

Listen for the invigorating and polished "Hurts Like Heaven." A blustery arrangement, it deftly balances Chris Martin's lead vocals, a booming chorus, and some dazzling keyboards and synthesizer. Things get finer with their current hit single "Paradise"... but if you're a KINK listener you already know an outstanding rock anthem when you hear one. With "Paradise," Martin and band mates really nail it, and then some.

"Up in Flames" covers no new ground and is a bit lackluster. Also, it's not always exactly clear what some of the songs on Mylo Xyloto are about - "Charlie Brown" being a good example of that. Usually, if you can't wrap your mind around a song, it's hard to wrap your arms around it.

But let's not quibble because there's much to appreciate here. Often times Coldplay's simplest tracks ("What if," "Fix You") are their strongest. "Us Against the World" opens simply enough with Chris Martin's quiet, plaintive vocals. The band adds keyboards and acoustic guitar, dispenses some great vocal harmonies, and builds the song into a nice crescendo highlighted by Jonny Buckland's tasteful guitar passages. Along with "Paradise," it's sure to be a crowd-pleaser in concert.

It also segue-ways nicely into the CD's first hit single "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall." True, "Every Teardrop" may not draw us in as quickly - or as deeply - as "Talk," "Lovers in Japan" or "Speed of Sound" from earlier releases, but the song's upbeat aura and wild guitar riff lifts us up and grows on us.

"Major Minus," one of the albums finest tracks, follows. It's a haunting, somewhat gripping work that alternates between acoustic guitar and a hard rock chorus reminiscent of "Low" from "X & Y." In an interview with UK's Q Magazine last year, Martin stated he was inspired by students of the White Rose Movement - a non-violent resistance group in Nazi Germany - when he wrote it. "They got one eye watching you / one eye on what you do / so be careful who it is you're talking to," sings the band, but they could just as easily be singing about the Occupy Movement. Fingers crossed we'll be hearing this one on the radio soon.

"Princess of China" features lead vocals by R&B diva Rihanna. By far the most pop-oriented track, it's also another standout deserving of accolades. Great choice, guys.

Amidst all the flurry, don't miss "Up with the Birds." This softer, more subdued cut is classic Coldplay, showcasing Martin's introspective and reflective musings against the backdrop of a melody that sweeps us up for the ride before we know it.

There are small things that show careful attention to detail as well. In addition to the tasteful short title track opener is the ultra-brief "Hopeful Transmission," gently echoing the opening bars to Mylo Xyloto, and prefacing "Don't Let it Break Your Heart." The album artwork is great, too, nicely complimenting the music in much the same way the cover of "Viva La Vida" worked for it.

In short, Mylo itself is a "hopeful transmission" in a crazy world...a solid addition to a great body of work.

2012 tour dates, anyone?

Thanks to Cynthia Orlando~ Dave Scott