Blog.WBRU

Coldplay’s Chris Martin BBC today that the band’s single ‘Shiver’ was essentially a Jeff Buckley rip-off.

The exact quote was “It’s a blatant Jeff Buckley attempt, not quite as good, that’s what I think.” The frontman also revealed that he thinks the band’s recent London gigs should have been better.

Also in Coldplay news, Martin has told England’s “The Daily Mirror” that the group broke up “six or seven” times during the recording of “Viva La Vida Or Death and All His Friends” alone.” The vocalist went on to say each time they split, they get back together 20 minutes later. Martin says the last time they split, even their publicist didn’t know. Sounds like my parents’ marriage.

-Fat Scotty

The top story today is, of course, the nominees for the Grammys, which were announced last night. Coldplay’s up against M.I.A. for record of the year, and Coldplay is also nominated for pretty much everything else. Album of the year, Song of the Year—“Viva La Vida”—Best Rock Song, and, most surprisingly, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Apparently Chris Martin knows somebody who knows somebody. Full listing of who’s actually nominated after the jump. -EJ

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Last Monday was a pretty big day for music releases. Among others, The Killers, Kanye West, and Ludacris all came out with highly anticipated new albums. However, something managed to slip by my radar that I should have heard about before its existence took me by surprise Monday evening: Coldplay’s EP companion to Viva La Vida, also known as Prospekt’s March. Read the rest » »

Announcing the next installment of WBRU’s monthly playlist - because turkey and mashed potatoes go best with a side of brand-new alt rock.

Kings of Leon - Sex On Fire

• After over the month at the top of our playlist, apparently Caleb Followill’s sex is still on fire. No word yet on whether or not he’s getting that checked out.

Coldplay - Lost!

• One of the best tracks from Coldplay’s latest LP that is finally getting some attention. The awesome percussion throughout should be enough to help you find your way back to this song no matter what else you’re listening to. Read the rest » »

After a week of numerous new releases, and before Christmas shopping (OK maybe not yet, but still), here is WBRU’s playlist of the month, full of all our favorite songs, for your own enjoyment!

Kings of Leon- Sex on Fire

• Although the lyrics are slightly repetitive, this is some great passionate alt-rock. If the guitars don’t get you jumping, then Caleb Followill’s voice will entrance you.

The Offspring- You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid

• What a comeback! After “Hammerhead”, the band hit the airwaves hard once again with their unchanging, inimitable, unforgiving style.

Weezer- Troublemaker

• Lead singer Rivers Cuomo said this song was heavily influenced by Eminem, but rock fan out there, do not fret : “Troublemaker” is so powerful you will want to make some of your own.

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I will confess to being a Coldplay fan since I first heard “Yellow,” and their sold-out concert at the Garden in Boston did not disappoint. They played a 90-min set that included their newest hit “Viva La Vida” and favorites such as “Speed of Sound.”
There were two opening bands: the first was The Luxury, a local band who had been picked by Coldplay during a contest earlier this year, and they were followed by Santogold, who was entertaining – her backup dancers were straight out of a Devo video, but she didn’t seem to fit the audience.

I have to start with the fact that my seats were behind the VIP row which included Gwyneth Paltrow, who received a standing ovation, Kate Bosworth and Jerry Seinfeld. Despite being star struck, I made my way down to the floor to join the throng of photographers allowed stage side. When the band took to the stage behind a curtain to play “Life in Technicolor” the crowd was electric. I’ll give Chris Martin credit for continuously encouraging the crowd, who was already singing along, to “finish it for me” for such songs as “Fix You” and “Clocks” during which Martin played the piano.

Halfway through, the band did a two song set on a small lighted stage set down into the arena, that included “Chinese Sleep Chant” and “God Put A Smile Upon Your Face.” Although a little underwhelming, they made up for it later when they exited the stage to play half-way up the arena in the rear corner. Here they did an acoustic version of “The Scientist,” followed by one of my favorite moments of the night. Drummer, Will Champion, took over the vocals for “Death Will Never Conquer” while Chris Martin played the harmonica. This was all shown on large, spinning orbs, suspended from the ceiling, which were either surreal or annoying, depending on where you were sitting.

All in all, the band played both loud and bright and small and quiet, keeping the audience on their toes. They could have made even a non-Coldplay fan appreciative of their unique feel. From Chris Martin almost falling of the piano stool during “Clocks” to the shower of fluorescent butterflies during the encore performance of “Politik,” the experience was fantastic.

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I feel like this would be an inappropriate time to pretend like I’ve always been a Coldplay fan. It’d be really easy; I could claim I picked up Parachutes before anyone else heard it, or that I waited anxiously for years for X & Y to hit the shelves. (To be honest, I was more excited for the White Stripes release of Get Behind Me Satan that same week.) But Coldplay has always been on the fringes of my awareness as a band I knew I would like. So when Viva La Vida dropped earlier this week, I decided I should pick it up. After all, who wouldn’t, when an English band produces an album with a Spanish title and a painting of the French revolution on the cover.

Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends has really swayed me. It’s unbelievable that I’ve pretty much missed out on Coldplay this entire time after hearing the beauty of this album. I was surprised, too. The first single off of the album, “Violet Hill,” was not my favorite. I always mistook the title to be “‘Violent’ Hill,” which provoked images of horror video games (so it’s not quite “Silent Hill,” but “Violent Hill sounds like an appropriately evil sequel or something), and I found the song itself to be too rough and jagged for my liking. The marching beat, mixed with heavy bass lines, gloomy, echoing vocals and a minor key (C# minor - how inaccessible is that?) were too far off from everything I’d known and liked of Coldplay in the past. Read the rest » »

Two big acts have agreed to perform at the upcoming 17th annual MTV Movie Awards. The channel has announced that Coldplay and the Pussycat Dolls will take the stage.Coldplay is performing “Violet Hill” off their upcoming album “Viva La Vida,” while the Pussycat Dolls will sing their new song “When I Grow Up.”Leading this year’s batch of MTV Movie Award nominees is the comedy “Superbad,” followed by “Juno.”