I’ve always been a semi fan of Coldplay. A lot of their material I like, a lot I hate. One of the funniest lines from Peep Show ever was “People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis, you can’t trust people!” However I couldn’t wait to hear Coldplay’s much anticipated and incredibly catchy titled new album “Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends“.

A copy arrived the other day, and on first listen I wasn’t that impressed. I’d already heard the title track and Violet Hill which on first listens I thought were both good songs, but as for the album, I felt it lacked something. I got to the last track and just thought “is that it?”

But I was aware that a lot of songs and albums take time to grow on me, so I put the album on my IPod and had it on rotation all weekend and I think it has finally clicked. Some observations… You need to listen to it from start to finish in the right order before it finally makes sense. For this reason I don’t think it’s very radio friendly, I can’t see how there can be many singles coming off of it. It’s very different to their previous work and I don’t think there are many anthemic tracks on it (no Scientists or Fix You’s).

The album is released on Thursday (randomly, most albums are released on Monday’s). But if you can’t wait till then, you can hear it all on their Myspace page. I would however warn, from past experience, it’s always nice to hear a brand new album in full proper CD quality and not being streamed off a Myspace page. So you may just want to wait till Thursday.

Best song on the album, Lost!

Conclusion. After the first listen I thought it was a bit of let down. After listen number 4 it is finally clicking into place. By listen number 8 it will probably be a stroke of genius.

David

royworld, taken by og2t on Flickr

I got myself a copy of Man In The Machine, the debut album from Royworld at the weekend and since then it’s been on heavy rotation on my IPod. It’s brilliant.

Emma and I were at their gig in Glasgow last month, going to see them on the strength of a couple of songs, and it was a really good (all be it quiet) gig.

I even got a little excited one day when I heard Radio 1 play them during the day. It’s quite unusual to hear Radio 1 play a song I like on daytimes these days. Original 106 have been playing them quite a bit recently too.

My main problem with Royworld isn’t their music or their act, but their name. It’s not the coolest of names out there is it? Think of someone you know called Roy and I reckon that person you think of isn’t very cool. I don’t know any Roy’s personally, so I immediately think of Roy Cropper from Coronation Street. Not exactly the image you want for your band.

That said it is a good album and well worth a listen, even if it sounds a little 80’s-ish. Sadly I don’t they will ever be huge. I think they will be one of those bands who in a few years time you’ll hear a song on the radio from them and say “Remember Royworld? They were great, what ever happened to them?” I’d like to be proved wrong.

Man In The Machine was out yesterday. Same Sun is my favourite track on the record:

David