Coldplay sure does talk a big game. Chris Martin, the frontman and singer of Coldplay, claimed earlier this year that their latest album, "Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends," would be the best album ever made. To be honest, Chris, it was good, but it was not THAT good. In fact, it wasn't even the best of Coldplay. None of the songs recaptured the magic of "Clocks," "Yellow" or even "In My Place," and, frankly, it was a little disappointing. This is not to say that the album was bad, but it certainly did not meet or exceed expectations. Indeed, "Viva la Vida" always felt a little incomplete. In response to such allegations, Coldplay has recently released an eight-song EP titled "Prospekt's March" that quells any doubts about the band's prowess or virtuosic ability.
The EP has some notable additions, including a remix of "Lost!" entitled "Lost+" with some fresh rhymes from Jay-Z himself. Although it doesn't really add anything to the song, it certainly does not hurt it. Indeed, the addition of rap on top of the music of Coldplay is an interesting musical experiment, and it may even find an audience somewhere. Other notables include the tracks "Glass of Water" and "Rainy Day," which are both reminiscent of the glory days of Coldplay (think of the lyrics of "Parachutes" mixed with the musicality of "A Rush Of Blood To The Head"). However, the EP opens with "Life in Technicolor II," which you could think is just an expanded version of "Viva la Vida's" opening track. Fortunately, the band also decided to add some lyrics to the track that really make it shine. It's exactly the kind of thing that "Viva la Vida" was missing. If you buy this EP for no other reason, get it for this track. It's one of Coldplay's finest.
If you have any affection for the work of Coldplay, make sure to pick up their latest EP, "Prospekt's March." It's the missing piece to "Viva la Vida" and contains some of the band's finest work in a long time. The EP will remind you why Coldplay is often called one of the best bands around. Trust me, it's worth the money.
