Before: Well, I've probably listened to this album tens of times. Coldplay used to be all-time favorite band (now they're in the company of many others.) I saw them live and sobbed with joy. Especially in high school, their music spoke volumes to my exceedingly frustrated teenage mind. They consoled me with their multidimensional songs made of sad sounds, introspective lyrics, and hopeful messages. Just what I needed at a time where I was ready to jump out my math class window and sit under a tree because it obviously provided a richer learning library than pre-calculus (still believe that's true.)
Also let's take note of the fact that I gave blood today and almost fainted twice. I wish I'd gotten two rushes of blood to the head at those times!!
After: It's been a while since I've heard a ton of Coldplay at once, so my perspective is fresh.
I'm recognizing the appeal of "In My Place": an underdog feeling where Chris sings about being beaten down, scared, passive, frustrated. This music is sort of like a dark green/teal color. It's definitely got beauty but it's a heavy type that's very far from innocent. It's of someone who's been to low depths and has experienced very trying times. There's moments of recalling the bright moments in the past, such as being rescued, but that can't outshine the pressing sadness.
Enjoying "The Scientist" feels like masochism.
They sound somewhat masculine. A lot of bittersweetness.
These songs are all pulling at my heart through one way or another. Sometimes it's the tone of voice and the raw desperation I feel; sometimes it's the driving beats that seem to push the band through quagmires of pain. Sometimes it's all too tightly bound to extricate reasons why.
"Green Eyes" has been my least favorite song on the album for years. However, tonight I'm being pummeled by its beauty... the harmonies, the allusions to love (those are widespread throughout all their music though)... and there's this literary movement that I can't name but it has to do with producing something that, while not intrinsically meaningful, refers to an external concept that is, so it sort of adopts its beauty in itself. That's like this song. It sounds raspy and jangly and rough. But all that it's referring the listener to imagine or feel outside of itself is what's extraordinary. (The signifier and the signified?)
"Warning Sign" is so powerful that it imbues me with longing when Chris fervently asserts, "and the truth is, I miss you." Sidenote: While there are things I'm longing for in my life, they cannot compare to the depth of longing Chris instills in me. My chocolate craving just broke infinity (you get my gist.)
This album has solidified the belief that a listen from top to bottom of all songs, in order, has exponentially greater value than when you pluck songs out of order from one cd. One reason is that it inundates you with the band's sound long enough for you to settle in and adjust, thus noticing more details and a unique spectrum of emotions. While I can't say enough about my devotion for the band, I only have a few songs on my iPod because I wish to preserve this phenomenon and not diminish the songs' value.
Upon some researching, it's clear that this is the album that put Coldplay on the map and out of the dozens of similarly-themed bands of the time.
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