"Viva" La Coldplay

There's nothing quite as exhilarating as when one of your favorite bands, after a ho-hum previous effort, not only returns to form, but bounces back with a vengeance, exceeding your expectations as well as changing everything you thought you knew the band was capable of.

This is exactly what Coldplay has done with their latest masterpiece, Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends.

Come on! Let's get it out! Go ahead and say it: You Know How I Know You're Gay? You Like Coldplay.

Yes, much to the chagrin of male fans of the aforementioned British alternative rock band, Judd Apatow's modern comic classic, "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," made it unsafe for once-secure heterosexual men everywhere to freely admit their undying love for Coldplay.

In fact, I was at IHOP (home of Mr. "I don't do stupid!"), a week or two back, when I asked Glen if he liked Coldplay. His response: "I don't admit it publicly, but I think they're alright."

What gives?! Why the backlash?!

When their debut album, "Parachutes"--their first masterpiece, in my opinion--crossed the pond over to the states in 2000, hit singles such as the soulful, rock ballad "Yellow" and the contemplative "Trouble" helped put their names on a list of Bands to Watch For. Still, some critics dubbed the band as a Radiohead wannabe.

Two years later, their second masterpiece, A Rush of Blood to the Head, was released. With songs such as the hard-charging "G-d Put a Smile Upon Your Face," the mournful love ballad, "The Scientist," the luscious piano crescendo of "Clocks," the overlooked favorite for many (well, you know who you are), "Green Eyes," and one of the most haunting love ballads of all time, "Warning Signs," the album was a recipe for success. And a success it was. It became a giant hit, making astronomical sales and garnering universal critical acclaim, making lead singer Chris Martin and company household names and catapulting the band to super stardom.

In 2005, the inevitable backlash began upon the release of their third studio album, X&Y. While I think critics were unreasonably hard on the band's newest effort, I do think the album is certainly their weakest. I think it's because the band was trying way too hard to make these U2-ish (The Greatest Band in the World) arena rock anthems The band has always fared better by keeping things intimate, with their hearts on their sleeves. Sure, there were some bright spots, such as the lovely, emotionally-stirring "Fix You," the powerful, persuasive "A Message," and "'Til Kingdom Come" (originally written by the band for Johnny Cash, who died before recording sessions occurred). Yet, the band seemed far more intent on trying to be all things to all people than it was on trying to make well-written, catchy songs. The album sold well, but received mixed reviews.

I'll admit that I was over Coldplay for a year or so following X&Y. I thought the band had gotten too big for it's britches. A band like U2 can get away with such arrogance and pompousness, because they've been around for over 32 years, releasing more than 11 albums. Coldplay, as a band, is still young. It's one thing to aspire to be like a band you admire, but to start to believe you are that band or that you can be that band is entirely another. Coldplay began its journey with intimate, quiet songs about love, loss, and redemption and the more popular they got, the more they seemed to abandon those roots. U2 made the same mistake during the latter part of the '90s with Pop (not the band's best, but it still has some great moments). It happens.

However, as a band, Coldplay needed to read the writing on the walls that people were beginning to dismiss them as a whiny, self-indulgent band, well on it's way to achieving self-parody.

It is with great joy that I can tell you for their latest album, they saw the warning signs. Viva La VIda may very well be one of the best CD's I've ever listened to. Period.

The disc begins with "Life In Technicolor," a track that will surprise most fans for its lack of lyrics. It opens up the album with a rush of energy that seems to sustain it for all its 10 tracks.

The albums third track, "Lost!" is an absolutely perfect inspirational pop rock ballad that just makes the soul soar with it's pipe organ and clapping, not to mention Chris Martin's seemingly newfound vocal confidence. The man's famous, much-chided falsetto appears only briefly on the disc. Is it better for it? I don't know. I never had a problem with his trademark vocal stylings, but I do think its nice to see an artist stretch a bit.

The absolutely rich and gorgeous "Lovers in Japan," with its building, fast-paced tempo, will strike some people as sounding a lot like U2's "Where The Streets Have No Name," and they wouldn't be incorrect in making such an assessment. The album was co-produced by longtime U2 collaborator, the brilliant Brian Eno. This track is a real treat. It has so much energy to it. I love driving to it. Don't ask why. Anything that helps me get to work on time, I guess, right?

"Yes!" is a track that just grabs you and never lets you go. It's a twisty one, too, as it starts as a melancholy break-up rock song about loneliness, occasionally incorporating Arabic music, until finally morphing it's way toward a trippy, high-speed finale.

The title track has gained quite a lot of popularity, as well as airtime on TV as it was used for iTunes latest advertising campaign. With its classical sound, it's a grand, sweeping track, very reminiscent of Annie Lennox's 1992 "Walking On Broken Glass." The song's energy is absolutely infectious!

The most lovely song on the album is its simplest one, "Strawberry Swing." It kind of begins with a twangy country/bluegrass arrangement but eventually makes great use of African drums. The song is about savoring and not wasting the precious moments with a lover, because they may not always be around. It's a philosophy I've always subscribed to: Every moment counts. It's truly one of the band's best songs ever; an instant Coldplay classic.

I have listened to "Vida" non-stop for the last two weeks and each time I listen to it, it only gets better. I can't tell you how happy I am to have the band that made me believe that it was okay to keep your heart firmly planted on your sleeve back in top form.

So, yeah, a hearty welcome back goes to my favorite boys from Manchester. Coldplay rocks!!

Yes, you heard me: I LOVE COLDPLAY!!!

If that makes me gay, well, then really...who wants to be straight anyway, right?