Coldplay - X & Y

 

Released in 2005, "X &Y" is the third album by UK rock outfit Coldplay.  At the time of release this was Coldplay's most successful release reaching number 1 in both the US and the UK along with other countries.  It saw the transition between playing arenas during the "Rush of blood to the head tour" to large parks and stadiums during the "X and Y" tour.

Despite the acclaim though it feels like this album has not stood the test of time though and is almost a forgotten about album in Coldplay's discography.  I think now if you asked a passive Coldplay fan to name a track from the album, they would say "Fix you". But after that they may struggle to name another song.  I think one of the reasons for this is because they had 2 successful albums prior to this and to date they keep making hit after hit which means the set lists get harder and harder to write.  When a band tour their first album, they have that luxury that they can play every song from that album as at that time that's the best material they have.  When you are a successful band and reach that third album, fans want to hear the songs that got you to that point as well as songs from the album you’re touring. So, there is going to be songs that don't make the cut.

I compare this album to "Be here now" by Oasis which like "X & Y" was Oasis's third album.  I look back on as underrated albums which at the time propelled the bands further into stardom.  As previously stated, "Fix you" is the track which has been the only mainstay in their sets. I remember listening to Edith Bowman on radio 1 on the morning she spined this for the first time. Right then she called that Coldplay have created something very special here.  And in 2021 all I can say is that she called it absolutely spot on.  On Spotify it's in Coldplay's 5 most popular tracks and has been streamed over 800 million times. And the track was released when streaming services were at such an infancy that it would be probably 4 times more than that if it was released in the last 5 years.

Funnily enough I was in a lecture when my lecturer started talking about how "Speed of Sound" by Coldplay was the first track to be released on mp3.  Which was the lead single from "X and Y" and what a track it is.  In fact, there are many, many great songs on this album.  Leading off with "Square One" which seamlessly goes into "What if".  Then White shadows is another stormer.  "Talk" has this relaxed riff which sees Martin on fine form both lyrically and vocally.  "X and Y" the title track. A track which is totally underrated. Then track 7, 8 "A message" then "Low" are like the one two punches of "Green eyes" and "Warning sign" from their second album "Rush of blood to the head".

There is a moment in "Low" when the track climaxes and then you have the come down for the rest of the track.  But I also feel this is a turning point in the album. There is such great momentum and songs up until this point. But I feel after that point in "Low" there is a come down and it’s almost like the put it in cruise control for a while through "Hardest part", "Swallowed in the sea".  Don't get me wrong "Twisted Logic" is a great closer which a bit frustratingly is followed by "Till kingdom come" as a bonus track. I say a bit frustratingly as it is such a frenzied finish to "Twisted logic" that you feel it should just finish there. But at the same time, I don't think "Till Kingdom come" could fit in anywhere else.

Overall, this would probably fit in my top 5 Coldplay albums.  I do feel that although it was appreciated at the time that it is looked at unfairly now as one of Coldplay's weaker albums. Yes, it's not perfect, but there are so many great songs on here that deserve more attention and more live appearances outside of "Fix You".