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List Price: $12.98 | | Label: EMI Europe Generic
Salesrank: 99189
Released: June 7, 2005 |
| Our Price: $6.73 |
| Used Price: $2.77 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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X&Y Track Listing:
1. Square One
2. What If
3. White Shadows
4. Fix You
5. Talk
6. X&Y
7. Speed of Sound
8. A Message
9. Low
10. The Hardest Part
11. Swallowed in the Sea
12. Twisted Logic
13. Til Kingdom Come
Editorial Review:
Coldplay Photos
More from Coldplay
A Rush of Blood to the Head | 
Parachutes | 
Live 2003 |
Description of X&Y:
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
X&Y Reviews:
The first mild disapointment from coldplay 
2005-09-06 - If Coldplay is generation Y's U2, that would mean "Rush of Blood to the Head" is its Joshua Tree. In turn that would mean that the next list of albums will turn out to be minor disapointments. It may also mean that due to Gen Y's short attention span, Coldplay will not last nearly as long, and have fewer good albums. It really is too bad, as they have taken over the artsy british rock crown from Radiohead.
Now, there are two kinds of fans who will buy this album. Those who want to listen to Coldplay, and Chris Martin lovers. I myself am a coldplay lover. Don't get me wrong, Chris Martin is the perfect vocalist for this band and without his piano work Coldplay wouldn't be what it is today. But the problem with this album is the focus is drifting too much on Chris Martin and not the music. Sure, its good for business to have a sex symbol being the main focus of a band, but the art will struggle because of it. Before, in Parachutes and Rush of Blood to the Head, there was a perfect balance between Coldplay and Chris Martin, between the Music and the Man. Now that balance has completely gone askew. It shows in the slower songs that a certain pretentiousness is arising, and a naivity that is far more blatant than before. I guess the thing that really bothers me is Chris Martin singing without any music, which to me seems silly, and very self-important in contrast to a good supporting cast.
3 stars, however, is not enough. I wanted to give it 3 1/2, but 4 would have been pushing it. Some of the music has amazing flows. The drumming is solid, and the guitar distortions are exceptionally effective. The lyrics, are very hit and miss. Some of them, are simply stunning. Others are extremely naive, or even pompous. The best songs, the music flows pleasantly, and works surprisingly well. If every song followed a similar logic, this album would be stunning, but it would also be harder for singles to be released. Again, good for business, but bad for art.
1. Square One: 4/5 One of the better songs on this album, it starts off well, has some good parts, but the ending is almost spoiled by shoddy and naive lyrics.
2. What if: 3/5 Very inconsistent in terms of both instrumentals, and flow. A bad introduction, with occasional parts of brilliance. Unorganized, flawed, and naive, with promise however.
3. White Shadows: 5/5. The best song on this album, amazing use of distortions, back-up vocals, and overall instrumentation. This is another perfect balance between Coldplay and Chris. Lyrics are boarderline strong, and some of them are very well done.
4. Fix you: 2/5. Allright, i dont watch the OC. This is the worst song on the CD, and released as a single. The opening is simply cheesy, as are the lyrics. This is sadly the new direction of Coldplay, or should i say Chris Martin. Even the vocals at the beginning, the vocals are strangely poor. This song is almost completely done by chris, at least the 1st 1/2. It does finally pick up about 2 mins in, which is far too long. If you are a coldplay fan, fear this if it is the future(Think of the last several U2 albums). When the group sings together it is unnecessary and doesnt really add to this song, it just sounds cheesy.
5. Talk 3.5/5. A better song on this album, is very inconsistent. The lyrics aren't that great, and there are sections that are poorly done. But the chorus is somewhat well constructed and has instances of being enjoyable, even some of the lyrics are great, but overall mediocre.
6. X&Y 3.5/5 Another poor introduction, but this song does in fact get better. The rhythm is simple, but effective. Lyrics, again mediocre. Good guitar work, and drumming is flawless.
7. Speed of Sound: 4/5. This single released from the album is good, the only thing preventing itself from being amazing is the fact that at parts it is nearly identical to clocks. Amazing guitar distortions, and the bass gives a good heartbeat to the song. Above average lyrics, and a good balance between focus on the band and chris martin, at least relatively. I think maybe the piano, though good could have been toned down a bit.
8. A Message: 4/5. A newer version of sparks, but there is nothing wrong with that. At least the music doesnt suffer. As for chris martin this is a good use of his talents, and his band backing him up.
9. Low : 4.5/5. One of the far better songs on this CD. The lyrics are above average. The riffs are basic, but good nonetheless. Perhaps what is so good about Chris Martin is that the lines between his singing and talking are very blurred. He has a very good voice, he can raise an octave without any noticeable difference, seemingly completely calm, talk-singing, and then belt out a high pitched sound with great flow. It can also come down with equal fluidity. This song showcases it, but not at the expense of the band.
10. The Hardest Part: 3.5/5, I don't have any significant complaints, of things that havent allready been heard. It has good flow, and balance. I love the guitar about 1:20 into it. But at the same time, it is nothing special, and as far as coldplay goes, its not up with their other music.
11. Swallowed in the Sea: 4/5. Allthough it is guilty of the general complaint i had about this album, the lyrics are stunning. The sounds backing up chris' voice, create a mystical fairy tale feel to it. The band slowly comes back into it, first guitarist then bassist and drummer. The pace gets faster, which works.
12. Twisted Logic 3.5/5. Still guilty of the main complaint. But instrumentally becomes something much more. Perhaps you can see what i mean in my major complaint. With a strong instrumental, why do we need to hear Chris Martin sing by himself? Why should the spotlight solely be on him? It just seems silly. Now here him with his band, isnt it so much better?
13. Kingdom Come: 5/5. Another song i like. It is a very good ballad, lyrically it is very good, and musically very well written. Nothing spectacular, but very well put together instrumentally. It is simply effective, that is why it is so good. The album could not have closed on a better song, kind of unorthodox for coldplay but that does not matter.
I know, i may get a lot of responses, and that this will be a very controversial. If you are a coldplay lover, not a chris martin lover, then listen to my review after hearing the entire CD for a while. The overall flow of the CD is marred slightly by some of its poor songs, but a good effort, not just what i expected after Rush of Blood to the head.
Xcellent & Y 
2005-08-12 - This album is great. It's hard-hitting, lacks pretension when pretension could have been easily inserted, and has generally good songs. The only reason I am giving this album four stars is because Coldplay's sophomore studio album, "A Rush of Blood to the Head" is a classic album. It is a five-star effort, and X&Y, although good, falls short of greatness in comparison to "Rush of Blood". I wouldn't recommend this album to new Coldplay fans, but rather, to die-hards who know what to expect from the band. It's spacey, it's cool, it's another consistently good Coldplay album.
How could you like this stuff? 
2005-08-08 - I'm still confused as to why Cold Play is so popular. The lead singer has a TERRIBLE voice. He can't hit any notes and it sounds like he's just talking in a sing song like voice!
And what is with those lyrics?
All that noise, and all that sound,
All those places I got found.
And birds go flying at the speed of sound,
to show you how it all began.
Birds came flying from the underground,
if you could see it then you'd understand
Do those make sense to you? Didn't think so.
it's alright
2005-08-07 - this was the 1st coldplay cd i ever purchased, just bought their other 2 cds for amazing price (9.49) each at futureshop.!=] sadly, as much i hoped this cd to be outstanding, it was justtt OKAY. the 1st song i listened to obviously was fix you. i was already sick of speed of sound. and even that being the 1st release was just okay. nothing impressive, i still haven't managed to listen to the whole cd...
1) square one/ ehhh. it was good the first couple times
2) what if/ ECK only listened to whole song once
3) white shadows/ friend liked it but bleh for me
4/ fix you. typical coldplay song . loved it but it didn't stick
5/ talk/ BLEH!!!!
6) x&y/ didn't stick the first couple times but then still like it now
7) speed of sound/ ...
8) a message/ 1st couple times nehh. but really like it now although i skip it after halfway
9) low/ hmmm never finished it
10) the hardest part/ BLEH!!
11) swallowed in the sea/ good at first but now annoying
12) twisted logic/ same as 11
13) BEAUTIFUL BUT SINCE THEY DIDN'T REALLY WRITE IT CREDIT GOES ALL TO CASH. (written by johnny cash b4 he died) but chris does do a nice job singing.
hmmm that's quite a lot of blehs and ehhh. and has anyone else noticed how annoying it is that almost 70% of their songs on x&y either start with a slowwwwww intro that sucks orrrr solo guitar with sorta talking/singing over...=annoying
OVERALL it was almost 2.75/5 chris' voice is still nice, songs are nice ballads, overall again: nice =[ and hey i wanted it to be good. still their previous albums beat this one. nonetheless you should buy this to SUPPORT THEM. WHO KNOWS MB THEIR NEXT ONE WILL AWE US ALL . but SERIOUSLY. WHAT IS UP WITH THE WEIRD LOOKING STICKERS OR TATS ON CHRIS'HAND???
Amazing 
2005-08-05 - This cd is absolutely, 100 percent, completely and totally fabulous. Coldplay did a fanatstic job both with the lyrics and music. Standout tracks are "White Shadows", "Fix You", "Low", and "Swallowed In The Sea". I just saw them in concert in Toronto and they were positively amazing! An outstanding third effort. The whole copy guarded deal was a waste, though.
