Coldplay,

[holden]

Mopey mood music, a little bland in spots, but i still find myself enjoying them more than not.

Parachutes and their early EPs were nice, because other than "yellow", they were still fairly unknown and the songs more guitar-reliant.
A Rush of Blood to the Head is actually fairly broad in style, songs like "Daylight", the title cut and "Amsterdam" are very well produced. But the big hits and Martin's piano overusage probably turned the tide.
With "X & Y" and this new one "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends", expectation/hype most certainly exceed the output.

[mmm skyscraper]

I can handle the music, it's just Chris Martin I can't stand. Also every xylophone player seems to know 'Clocks', but why can't they learn 'Clear' by Cybotron?

[holden]

Okay, you haters. At the risk of verbal slap-downs, i bought this album yesterday, and on first listen, it reaffirmed my love for Coldplay. It's been on repeat all morning.

It really is an enjoyable, short and to the point record. Eno's influence is felt with the odd time signatures and instrumental choices, plus several songs are more like passages; themes repeat, songs change significantly in mood and melody. But the guitars are big and the choruses beautiful, especially the closer (Death and All His Friends).

Seems i'm not alone:
http://www.metacritic.com/music/arti...lay/vivalavida

Of course, a few tracks are likely to make folks cringe, whether by lyrics or just Chris Martin's voice. But it's probably the most immediately catchy record they've made, and one of the best pruchases i've made this year.
Don't care if you disagree...we all have our guilty pleasures