Things have gone ridiculously well for Coldplay since 2002's A Rush of Blood to the Head. The group's global album sales have soared past the 10-million mark, putting it in the same stratosphere as megabands U2 and the Dave Matthews Band. People have offered up their bank accounts, cars, and even bodies for tickets to its shows. And, in a interesting twist, frontman Chris Martin married Gwyneth Paltrow and set the tabloid world aflame. Funny thing, then, that the British quartet's much-anticipated third album, X&Y, is all about staying grounded. In the powerful opener, "Square One," the singer insists people are fundamentally the same no matter what their stature: "You just want... Somebody listening to what you say," he sings. On "Fix You," Martin grapples with imperfection and missed opportunity: "When you love someone but it goes to waste... Could it be worse?" Meanwhile, the vibrant single, "Speed of Sound," is all about reconnecting with the spirit and soul in the face of the paparazzi's flashbulbs. Musically, the band has never sounded more adventurous, referencing everyone from Kraftwerk ("Talk") to the Pogues ("Swallowed in the Sea"), all the while sweeping aside those Radiohead-lite comparisons to embrace a massive, moving sound that makes simplicity seem sublime. --Aidin Vaziri

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More from Coldplay

A Rush of Blood to the Head

Parachutes

Live 2003

2006 CD/DVD (NTSC/Region 2) Japanese pressing of their third album released to commemorate their 2006 tour of the Far East. The audio disc includes the Japan only track, 'How You See the World' (Version 1) while the bonus DVD features all of their B-sides (DVD-Audio) lifted from the album thus far, 'Things I Don't Understand', 'Proof', 'Poor Me' (Live at the Hollywood Bowl), 'The World Turned', 'Sleeping Sun' and 'Gravity' along with all of their music videos to all the singles, 'Speed of Sound', 'Fix You', 'Talk' and the final single flifted from the album, 'The Hardest Part'. Packaged in an exclusive slipcase. EMI. 2006.

Very Limited Edition. Includes a Bonus Six Track Disc and Different Artwork.

This CD is my first exposure to Coldplay and I am at a loss as to why all the fuss over this band. Then again if you enjoy mainstream, commercial music this is for you.

Soon after inserting the disc into my player I removed it to thinking I had selected a U2 disc in error. No error had been made on my part.

The same vocals, the same maddening I feel like marching drum beat, the same simpleton bass lines, the same lack of substance on the guitar. Plain and simple, a ripoff of a commercially successful band from the past.

My favorite Coldplay album yet, with lots to love: Talk (great), Fix You (excellent), Speed of Sound (super!), Square One, Low, and Swallowed in the Sea! Great stuff, no klunkers; we listen to this one a lot.

Lost my 1st...Not sure how! They just keep getting better and better in my opinion. If you like this one you HAVE to get Viva La Vida!

6/21/08 Before you read this review check out Coldplay's latest CD "Viva la Vida". It is light years ahead of this CD "X&Y".

I guess I am so addicted to Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and other great bands of the 70s-80s that Coldplay falls flat on it's face for me. Or, my expectations of "almost uniformly" stellar British rock bands is unrealistic.

As most people do when listening to music, one finds that you do compare the new with the old. And so, in fairness to the change in technology and my own personal taste, I compared this band to my current favorite in world rock music, the astonishing rock-your-rear-off Afro Celt Sound System Band whose singer Iarla O'Liondird's vocal range is so utterly astounding. (Even Josh Groban plays AFCSS at his live concerts).

After listening four times to this CD "X&Y", I still found Chris Martin's nasal, and at times, irritatingly whiney voice boring and monotonously repetitive. He is up and down his vocal range over and over on nearly every song. About midway through the CD it felt like I was listening to the same song over and over with musical variations. For me the song lyrics were mostly juvenile and often trite. Especially on the song "X&Y". HOWEVER, Their band members' musicality and instrument talent is undeniable. For this reason I can say I somewhat enjoyed the CD. Overall, if I have to pick a listen to again, maybe, these songs merit a redux: "White Shadows"; "A Message"; "Low".

I first heard this On Holiday and ever since then It has never gotten too boring or too tired to listen to..excellent ++++++