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.

10/10

It has been almost 3 years since Coldplay released their acclaimed album Mylo Xyloto. So I waited with excitement as to when they released Ghost Stories. While it isn't Parachutes or X&Y which both albums were truly epic in status. What I like is Coldplay's ability to change their music around and not just stick to one particular sound. I think had they of done that then they might of becoming boring and we perhaps wouldn't be sitting here writing reviews 14 years later and their 6th studio album. So on to the album.... 1. "Always in my Head" - This is obviously about Chris / Gwen's 'Conscious Uncoupling' (Divorce to you and me) "I think of you I haven't slept I think I do But I don't forget..." It is obviously still very raw and emotional to him. Not the best opener to an album but still an okay song 5/10. 2. "Magic" - I believe this is all about his feelings when they were still together and how he now feels and can't get over the split "Call it magic, call it true I call it magic when I'm with you And I just got broken, broken into two. This was their first single of the album and there is still raw emotion in the song. A great track and a really good video as well 7/10 3. "Ink" - Got a tattoo that says "2gether thru life" Carved in your name with my pocket knife and you wonder when you wake up, will it be alright. I'm not a fan of this one and it's probably the worst track on the album in my opinion. 3 tracks in and I was hoping for something a little bit more upbeat. However, still laments that his relationship is over but he still loves her. 4/10 4. "True Love" - Just tell me you love me if you don't then lie to me if you don't then lie to me. You can almost imagine the arguments at the end of the relationship with words like that. Why did you tell me earlier we could have worked at it etc...? It an angst ridden song and you almost feel like saying "Chris move on son move on"... It's a good tune mind, 6/10 5. "Midnight" - Running round and with apologies and hope is gone Leave a light, a light on. Yep he is hoping that there is still hope and asking leave a light on just in case. I love this song and its one of those that you could find on a chill out album and become lost in your own emotions as well. 7/10 6. "Another's Arms" - Late night watching TV Used to be you here beside me Used to be your arms around me your body on my body. A haunting opening to this song and it's really obvious the pain that is felt and the realisation that's it it's over and sitting on the sofa thinking hmmm I’m all alone now. Sends shivers down the spine this one and again a favourite of mine as well. 7.5/10 7. "Oceans" - Wait for your call, love the call never came Ready to fall, love Ready to claim. Okay I’m waiting for that call please! Just phone. But it's not going to happen and the realisation has now set in. If by chance you do I will change.... I love this song as well 7/10 8. "A Sky Full of Stars" - I don't care Go on and tear me apart I don't care if you do Cause in a sky, a sky full of stars I think I saw you. This is easily the stand out track of the whole album for me and will be a crowd favourite when they tour I’m sure. It’s more upbeat that the previous 7 songs. 9/10 9. "O" A flock of birds hovering above Just a flock of birds that’s how you think of love. A really nice way to end the album and quite an upbeat number 7/10. With Ghost Stories this really is a personal album from Chris Martin. In most of the songs you can almost feel the pain and angst that he is currently going through at the moment. I've heard this album several more times now since I started writing this review (Yes it has taken me almost a week to write) At first I was concerned that musically this was going to be the equivalent of opening a tin of Quality Street and finding only the toffee ones left. However, the more and more I have listened to it the more and more I have come to love it. Not my favourite that's for sure. I don't think anything will top A Rush of Blood to the Head. However, I have not been let down by them either. If you've bought this album and thought WTF! This isn't the Coldplay I know a love and chucked the album to the back of the CD draw. Then please pick it up again listen to it again and again if necessary because I believe eventually you'll come to enjoy it.

Tenia comentarios de que era flojo. A mi, por el contrario, me parece un gran disco. Recomendable.

Di nuovo un gran bell'album, piuttosto diverso dal precedente Mylo Xiloto, ma davvero un ottimo lavoro. Sonoritá, movimenti e atmosfere molto piú sobrie, morbide, intime... Brani meno enfatico e "trainanti" ma sempre molto ben fatti ed "eleganti". Qualità del suono (come sempre) straordinaria: suono caldo, avvolgente, nitido, definito, ricco di dettagli, mai troppo aspro o "affaticante" all'ascolto. Sicuramente consigliato se, ovviamente, "mediamente" apprezzate i Coldplay.

少なくとも私にとっては傑作です。 静かな作品です。前作が好みな方にはもしかしたら合わないかもしれませんが、初期の静かで神聖な感じが好みの方にはどストライクなのではないかと。 個人的に好きな曲は always in my head と true love と midnight ですが、1曲1曲の力としては過去のアルバムには負けるかも。 2ndの rush of~ はそれぞれの曲の出来が凄まじかったですし、5thの mylo xyloto もポップでいかにも売れるシングル的な曲が多かったですし。（5thに関してはあまりに作品性が違い過ぎて比べることすら不可能？かも） しかしこのアルバムは全曲通して聴いたときにこそ輝きを放つ作品です。全体を通してひしひしと伝わってくる悲哀感、でも甘く、透き通っていて、やはりドラマチックです。やはりこのバンドは誰よりもドラマチックなんです！！！ 聴いているとまるで小説を読んでいるかのような、または映画を見ているかのような、、そんな気分になるのは私だけでしょうか。。。。。 前作のポップさを忘れてしまったかのような抑揚が少なく淡々と進んでいく本作ですがブチ上げ所はちゃんとあります。 まず5曲目の midnight 。オープニングから true love までの綺麗な流れからハードに力強くテンションをあげます。 そして最大の盛り上がりは9曲目に収録されたa sky of~ でしょう。このアルバムの中では唯一ポップにシングル用な仕上がり方をしたアップテンポの曲です。前曲 oceans で焦らされてからの爆発的な盛り上がりはまさに流星群のごとく、このアルバムのハイライトでしょう。 a sky of~ は賛否の別れる曲だと思います。実際ネット内でも軽薄だという批判の声は少なくなかったかと。 私的にはこの曲を単体で聴いてもそこまで良いとは思いませんが、このアルバムには欠かせない曲だったと思います。静かなアルバムながらも、こういった感情の爆発のような曲が後半にないと失恋ソングばかりで沈みっぱなしだし少し辛いのかなとも思ったので。 coldplayの音楽は耳に響くのではなく、体内に響きます。体の芯から響くというか、感情に直接触れてくるような、まさに体感型の音です。近頃は毎晩真っ暗な部屋の中ヘッドホンをつけ、ベッドに潜り込み gost stories を聴きながら眠りにつきます。 真っ暗闇の中でこのアルバムにだけ触覚を伸ばすとアルバムジャケットの青暗い世界が脳内に広がり無数の星と月明かりだけを頼りに小舟で水平線を目指しているような、そんな感覚に陥ります。大切なアルバムが一つ増えました。 次作にも大いに期待したいです。 長々と個人的な意見をすみませんでした。