Ghost Stories

"Ghost Stories" was released in 2014 and is the sixth album by UK rock outfit Coldplay. After releasing "Mylo Xylto" you would forgive them for using the same sort of formula of hit singles which transfer effortlessly to the stadiums and festivals which they have conquered multiple times at this stage. But this album took a very different direction for the large part which was reportedly inspired by lead singer Chris Martin's break up with Gwyneth Paltrow. The front cover of the album is the biggest clue behind this as it's a picture of a broken heart. Coldplay have had a habit of creating albums which sound tracked various stages and times in my life. "A rush blood to the head", their second album came out in 2002 when I was at university. It was basically the music I washed dishes too for a very long time. Fourth album "Viva la Vida or death and all his friends" came out in 2008 sound tracked an extremely difficult part of my life as I battled mental health problems. "Ghost Stories" was one of three albums to soundtrack my time in Leeds where I worked for 6 months, and I will always associate this album with my time there. As I say "Ghost Stories" took a different direction for Coldplay. It was bold and ambitious, and it did risk losing Coldplay fans. To me it's Coldplay's chill out album for the most part and I really think the core of it is fantastic. The album kicks off with "Always in my head", before winding its way into "Magic" which was song of the year for Radio 1 in 2014. "True Love" and "Ink" follow that same vibe. "Midnight" is probably my favourite on the album, Martin great vocally and the synth loop is mind blowing. I say these tracks have such a chilled-out vibe to them and is such a contrast to their previous 5 albums. There is one track off the album though that goes against the grain and that is "Sky full of stars". This is probably still one of their biggest hits to date. It is a huge sounding song with a singalong chorus. Really in stark contrast to the rest of the album. Don't get me wrong I do like the song a lot. But for me it does not fit onto this album at all. Maybe they put it on it because they needed a hit to make people buy the album. But for me it just doesn’t fit in with the flow of the album. "Another's arms" and Oceans" which come before it, are very good tracks again. But the last track which does go back to a more chill out vibe, it is called "O". This track is a nice piano ballad to round off the album. Overall, this was still a very brave album for Coldplay to release. They could have gone for the tried and trusted formulas they have mastered by now. But for the most part they delivered a wonderful album which is such a nice album to relax too. Besides "Sky full of stars" these songs were born for concert halls rather than stadiums. Which is maybe why they only did 5 dates worldwide to support the album. But there is no getting away from it, this is a real gem for Coldplay fans that is well worth your time.

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.

10/10

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。

Parfait, conforme à mes attentes