Ghost Stories

I have every Coldplay album and have watched them develop throughout the years. I eagerly awaited the release of "Ghost Stories" and it is again, yet another example of how they can take a topic, whether sad or happy, pensive or fleeting and make you feel the energy, depth and beauty of it. Yes this is a "break up" album but it is one of the most upbeat, respectful and positive ones I've ever heard. No "tearing the eye sockets out, bitter, I'm going to die stuff" here. It is journey of different emotions through the different stages. I must remind folks that Coldplay members ALL contribute to the song writing. They have always been adamant to point this out and the album says as such. It may be Martin's break up but the whole band is right there on the journey and contributing to each and every song. I actually sing "Magic" to my partner as a love song. Yes....there are the lyrics about being "broken, broken into two but I call it magic, when I'm with you". Well, love does that doesn't it? To be with another you have to be two, give up some of yourself...and it does feel like your broken into two at times. Martin states that "The idea of Ghost Stories, for me, was how do you let the things that happen to you in the past - your ghosts - how do you let them affect your present and your future?" Good question for us all and food for thought. It is a recurring theme throughout the album. Coldplay's lyrics have always been sparse but the music, the melodies and presentation always hits the mark....takes you exactly where they want you to go. There is nothing boring about this album and there is still a joy and an honoring behind the loss. That takes some doing. I recommend people listen to it a few times before passing judgment. I for one think the album will grow on you and you'll be taken to that place Coldplay always creates with its music whether it's "Yellow", "Paradise", "Clocks" or the haunting "Another's Arms" off of "Ghost Stories". I recommend people buy the "Delux" album with "All Your Friends" and the lovely "Ghost Story" tracks. I also must add in closing, while I love Bon Iver, for folks to say Coldplay is ripping off BI's sound is as ridiculous as saying BI is ripping off Coldplay's "sound". This is a great album and it is all their own unique energy, their synchronous way they write and perform together as a band and the great songs which make it so.

My actual rating for this album is 4.5 stars (when is Amazon going to finally make half stars an option?). Ghost Stories is a much more cohesive work than its predecessor. It also returns Coldplay to a more mellow sound, albeit not exactly like Parachutes. There's still more synth this time around than on the band's debut album, but it isn't overused the way it was on Mylo Xyloto. It's also more consistently strong than Mylo Xyloto, which I feel had an excellent first half before blowing up into a lot of poppy noise (some of it including Rhianna) on most of the second half. Lyrically, this is a major departure for Chris Martin as this is the first time a Coldplay album has focused entirely on love and heartbreak. You would think that given the recent end of his marriage, the well of emotion would be a bit deeper and he could pen a chorus or two that's longer than "Tell me you love me/If you don't, then lie (repeat)" (from the song "True Love"), yet the simplicity of the lyrics fits well with much of the album's minimalism. The albums greatest flaw is probably the hit single of "A Sky Full of Stars", which is an enjoyable track on it's own but sounds out of place and a little too EDM for this album.UPDATE 5/22: I just received the vinyl copy I ordered from Amazon and it sounds great. The only minor complaint I have is that there is a much longer gap on the vinyl between "O" and the hidden track than there is on the CD release. Not a major issue but at first I though my stylus was stuck.Also, I bought the Target exclusive CD with three extra tracks, and I have to disagree with other reviewers who say it is the best version to get. "Ghost Story", one of the Target exclusive tracks, is pretty good, but "All Your Friends" is bland and really does sound like elevator music. The third bonus is just a minute long reprise of "O". Unless you are the kind of person that has to have every single demo, extended cut and B-side a band releases, stick with the 9 song digital album, CD or Vinyl and you won't be missing anything.

Este album habla sobre una relación que inicia y lentamente se desmorona, y que uno debe aceptar que no hay nada mas que hacer, y no seguir perdido en ese oceano, para finalmente volver a contar consigo mismo. Muy lindas canciones la verdad.