Those of you who know me are very well aware that Coldplay has been one of my favourite bands for years.  My first ever musical experimentation in a studio was a cover of “the scientist”.   So obviously, I can not give an unbiased opinion of their new free single “Violet Hill”.  

The track has some highs and lows.  The main highs being the driving, extremely well engineered kick and the verse vocal.  The main lows, to me, being the unnecessary ambient beginnings (which takes up nearly 40 seconds of the track), and the piano/vocal outtro.  I don’t hate either of these things, but for being the biggest band in the world, and so obviously progressing out of your past stylistic choices throughout the meat of the song, why start with an ambient effect that is less effective than your opening track on your prior album x&y (Square One).  Also, chris… please… everyone knows that you can do a great piano solo outtro… try something else for a change.   

Overall, i do enjoy this track daily, but hope for some more intense songs from the formal release of the record.  Which I will be buying the SECOND it becomes available.

j