“I use to rule the world, Seas would rise when I gave the word”, the first line in “Viva La Vida” the latest single on the Billboard 200 topping and one of the most epic albums of 2008, it is entitled “Viva la Vida or Death and All his Friends”, the long awaited return of Coldplay.

Ordinary Joe, one of my favorite bands has finally come back! Check it out…

Coldplay has reinvented their sound, while keeping the quintessential ‘flava’ of their music that’s makes them so special. We truly see a new side of the band through this album. It is definitely one of the best if not THE best albums Coldplay has dropped to date.

“Yes”, one of the more peculiar songs on the album exemplifies the fact that Chris Martin was going for a new sound with this album. Less of the falsetto we’re used to, from other albums like “X&Y”, and a nearly full usage of his lower register. He sang using the lower register quite specifically in this song, and it really coincided with the lyrics, the common story of a man in love who becomes restless with the thoughts of a woman whom he wants to just say “Yes!” and put an end to his loneliness.

“Those who are dead, are not dead they’re just living in my head” from the song “42”, reveals the eerie sense the songs on this album sometimes evokes in the mind and soul of the listener.
A song I found particularly soothing was “Reign of Love” the second part of “Lovers in Japan/ Reign of Love”, like a serenade you would hear echoing through the liquid streets of Venice…the only difference being it’s in English.

Well Ordinary Joe, this isn’t really the type of music I listen to; however, I did check out a few songs. I’m a fan of poetry so I can relate to Coldplay’s lyrics with ease. The songs on “Viva La Vida or Death and All his Friends” have a lot of symbolism and other Literary Techniques that will amaze anyone with a level of intelligence. First time listening to them, and I really love their style.

“I took my love down to Violet Hill, there we sat in snow”, from the album’s first single “Violet Hill”. Yes, the imagery and imagination of Coldplay is back and here to stay! We the Ordinary Joes give “Viva La Vida or Death and All his Friends” an “A”, for artistry and musicianship at its best, and for searching the corners of their mind to find this sound to inspire others to invoke their imagination and compose creative works that will impact generations to come for the better.