June 9, 2008

Chris Martin dreams of Bono (keep dreaming....)


Here's what Chris Martin of Coldplay had to say about their latest record (out June 12 '08):

Martin compares Coldplay to U2

Monday, June 9 2008, 12:40 BST

By Simon Reynolds, Entertainment Reporter


Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has compared his group's new album to U2's The Unforgettable Fire.

Martin told The Telegraph that their album Viva La Vida, which is released this Thursday (June 12), is comparable to U2's fourth record.

"I always view our albums in terms of U2 albums," he said. Viva La Vida is our Unforgettable Fire in that it's less straightforward, more oblique. It's about sex and death and love and fear and travel and illness. There's light and there's dark."

Despite Coldplay's albums achieving huge sales, Martin admitted that he doesn't think his group is the best in the world.

"The best bands in the world today are probably Arcade Fire and Sigur Rós," he said. "I think Coldplay is only the seventh best in the world."

Earlier this week, Chris revealed he has been dreaming about U2 frontman Bono.

He said: "I always dream about other musicians. And with U2 or Radiohead it's always, 'Hey, how are you doing?' And they are never interested in hanging out with us. It's a permanent feeling of being at school and the bigger boys don't want to play with you."

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Perhaps if these blokes stopped trying to be U2 or Radiohead, they'd be taken more seriously. I really really enjoyed Parachutes and Rush Of Blood To The Head. X&Y left a horribly noxious taste in my mouth; it's when they sold out, pure and simple -- where they stopped sounding like themselves and began shamelessly pandering to a generic ideal of pleasing everyone.

And I challenge anyone to prove that any one person or group is capable of pleasing everyone, musically, politically, spiritually, etc. If a band succeeds in doing so, they must be so revoltingly generic that who would want to listen to them? These guys, like any band, have influences -- and even in their first two good records you can hear that they obviously love Radiohead and U2. WHo cares? But now they're actively seeking to be them, to shamelessly imitate them. Viva La Vida, or, Worst Song Of The Year? Like everything evil MTV spawned, music isn't about music anymore -- it's about panache, lights, cool camera tricks and a slick beat you can bob to. No such thing as music anymore. No wonder Radiohead called Coldplay "lifestyle" music. Maybe they should call the new album, The Forgettable Flat Tire, because who keeps those anyway; it's catchy, too. I'm only going to listen to it to be able to keep what is great and awful in perspective.

Bar L. said...

WELL SAID HATTER!!! My hat is off to you :)

It really is sad how music has become some sort of commodity to make money and get famous off by making a name for yourself rather then letting the MUSIC speak.

I miss the good old days. I thought MTV was the coolest thing ever when it came out...little did we know what kind of monster it would produce.

I like Coldplay, I even like some songs of X & Y, but I agree with what you said....not a heck of a lot of originality there - look at the photo I posted of them, it kind of says "generic"

Paul Rhodes said...

the idea that coldplay think they are the 7th best band in the world is like beyonce saying she is only slightly worse than aretha franklin, give me strength;coldplay are decent at best, they will be forgotten along with thousands of other; sigur rs as the best around now ? well, post-rock does have potential but mogwai better, tortoise, god speed you black emporer; who will we remember in 20 years, not sure, any thoughts

Paul

rockrevivaltripleh.blogspot.com

Paul Rhodes said...

the idea that coldplay think they are the 7th best band in the world is like beyonce saying she is only slightly worse than aretha franklin, give me strength;coldplay are decent at best, they will be forgotten along with thousands of other; sigur rs as the best around now ? well, post-rock does have potential but mogwai better, tortoise, god speed you black emporer; who will we remember in 20 years, not sure, any thoughts

Paul

rockrevivaltripleh.blogspot.com

Jeff said...

The feeling I get when I listen to Coldplay is, eh. Sort of like everyone else has been saying, this band brings nothing new to the table. They might be good for a single here or there but I don't think I could sit through a whole album. I need some sort of originality.

JohnnyG said...

Now, I mostly agree with the comments here. Coldplay is good, Ok to listen to, but not much groundbreaking stuff. I actually think their name says it all.

There has always been a commercial, pablum-ish side to music. MTV is just one generation's incarnation of it. In those "good old days" we remember, we just didn't pay any attention to that crap on the radio and had to go looking for our music elsewhere.

The sorry state of commercial music continually pushes my search for quality in new directions, including the local scene, CD Baby, and other venues promoting real artists. I am continually delighted with new discoveries.

Malcolm said...

I think that Entertainment Weekly did a cover story a few years ago in which they touted Coldplay as "the next U2". Maybe that and other factors compelled Chris Martin to say what he said about Coldplay's new album.

At any rate, I always feel it's a mistake for an artist to compare their work to someone elses. If the media wants to do it, fine... the artist has no control over that. For an artist to do it themselves is inviting trouble and ridicule.

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

Funny Starrlight
also ripped Mr. Martin a new one today

Anonymous said...

Has anyone heard the new album? I'm going to refrain for now, but let's just say it's Grade A gobbidge. Only notable distinction is that Brian Eno produced it, which is like saying you got a barber to perm your hair.

Cinnamon Girl said...

Chris has always had a hard on for Bono and the articles touting them as the next U2 was probably bribery ala Martin.

It's interesting, Band of Horse and The Editors and heck even Mute Math sound more to me like the next U2 and they do it effortlessly.

Coldplay is U2 Borat style if you get my drift. All mimicry and no understanding.

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