May 16th, 2014 
Corey From 
Artist: Coldplay
Album: Ghost Stories
Genre: Alternative / Coldplay
Most ghost stories are set out to drive fear into the heart and mind of the captive audience that is receiving the message. Most ghost stories have a goal of inciting mind games and want to keep you looking around every corner, keeping your eyes glancing over your shoulder at all times to stay safe. Because ghosts are scary, right?
Instead, let’s try and take this figuratively. A ghost resembles the idea of loss; the past, or something that we once had and has been taken from us — like a relative or friend that has passed on. Suppose it’s an idea? Or feeling?
Surely everyone that relatively cares about Coldplay, or reads TMZ once in awhile has heard of Chris Martin’s drama, and his breakup with the lovely Gwyneth Paltrow. I don’t think it’s a far stretch of the imagination that what we have contextually in this album relates to the demise of that relationship. Oh, God, another breakup album? Skip.
The album completely abandons everything we know about Coldplay, but sometimes, and in this case, that’s okay. It’s a fantastic turn in the journey that they have taken us on thus far. Before you completely shut off this album, forget about how happy “Paradise” was, feel some raw emotion with Coldplay for a minute, and find out why this isn’t your Dad’s favorite band anymore.
Track 1: “Always In My Head”
This track will make you feel abandoned and vulnerable; as it should. There’s nothing more real than feeling exactly what the artist is representing in the track, via both lyrics and music. The vibe of the track takes a very 80s feel, almost as if Tears For Fears wrote it themselves.
Track 2: “Magic”
We’ve all surely heard this track by now. I believe this song, despite its radio friendly appeal, is essentially the ultimate “Ghost Story” of the album. We go all the way through the song, feeling that everything is perfect. Magic in a sense lacks explanation and overwhelming, so we throw our hands up in the air and just go with it. It’s a blissful feeling to forget about reality. But once the track ends, Martin sings, “And if you were to ask me / After all we’ve been through / Still believe in magic? / Yes I do / Of course I do.” Very self aware and reflective, also with a sense of sorrow, knowing what was lost, and knowing it was real.
Track 3: “Ink”
This song is an uptempo juxtaposition of physical pain to the idea of spiritual permanence. The pace of the song makes it almost feel good, versus the idea of a scar/tattoo never leaving.
Track 4: “True Love”
This song is the most reminiscent of older Coldplay, say A Rush of Blood to the Head or X&Y era. It’s weaker lyrically, but still flows with the idea of desperation and disbelief. He’s willing to believe whatever she says than the reality of demise; another very vulnerable track.
Track 5: “Midnight”
First, I will address the Bon Iver comparisons. Can this end? With the vocal effect, sure they sound alike. But I’m pretty sure Chris Martin was using the monotone falsetto even before Justin Vernon was out of diapers. This is easily the most abandoning track on the album. The feeling of lonesomeness is so haunting, it won’t leave you alone. The sound is atmospheric; it fills the room and desperately draws you in. It’s EDM made by a band. Is this the same Coldplay that wrote (insert whatever song here)? This song is near perfect.
Track 6: “Another’s Arms”
This is my very “meh” track. The track seems relatively forced although it fits with the album in the sense of the “Ghost Story” metaphor of what used to be. But it’s very carnal, and more just lyrically fitting. The interesting part of the track is the “background vocals” in the song. There is an additive that is supposed to be like a possible angel or specter, singing in the background.
Track 7: “Oceans”
Possibly the best song on the album. The repetitive beacon on the sonar in the background is perfect. It symbolizes the potential of survival. Despite being alone and drifting, he has made it, and will continue to push on with the inevitable swell of the ocean; whatever it brings he will take on. Very conquering regardless of its somber feel. “You’ve got to find yourself alone.”
Track 8: “A Sky Full of Stars”
This track is another weird juxtaposition. The feel of the song is almost victorious. But it seems to be almost a relapse lyrically, that maybe she can’t be replaced. “Cause in a sky full of stars, I think I saw you.” She stood out. There’s no replacing her, she was the brightest. But the song itself is a dance track. It has to be meant to be played loudly, with the windows down, or played live, outside, under the night sky, with lots of lasers. I literally just want to party and dance when this song plays. Eat your heart out, Skrillex.
Track 9: “O”
This song is like a flock of birds. It comes and goes so fast, leaves its mark, and before you know it it’s over. It’s very earthy, with majestic, reverberated keys that float in one ear and out the other. It’s very simple yet beautiful.
SCORE: 9/10
Review written by Corey From (follow him on Twitter)
The album, Ghost Stories, comes out May 19. You can pre-order digitally through iTunes or pick up a physical copy here.
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Such a sellout dance track with absolutely NO ORIGINAL ‘dance’ sound shit at least Skrillex invented some crazy sounds which became a staple of modern dub step. Can u suck coldplay’s dick a little more jesus.
I’d like to give a bit of clarification on A Sky Full of Stars. If you watch Chris’ interview with BBC1 Zane Lowe, he explains that he wanted to find “that 8th track”. He wanted it to be in large contrast to the rest of the album, a feeling of realization, a breakthrough of hope. He describes it as “I see that your amazing, your the best, and I need to change things, but I’m going to love life anyway, im not going to care anymore, like a burst of color through gray.” (paraphrasing).
And then it closes with O, which is basically saying, I miss you, I love you, but im going to “fly on”, and if good things happen again, great. “Maybe one day, I’ll fly next to you” “Maybe one day, I can fly with you”.
Can you use some basic punctuation so that your insults become as effective as you think they are? Jesus.
This is the internet I can type however the hell I want. It’s funny it took 8 ppl to produce such a boring dance song.
You do understand there are only 4 people in Coldplay. If you want to count Avicii the producer, and I guess if you wanted to count their manager Phil Harvey, that would only still leave you with 6.
You do understand that most people think all this pop music that is heavily advertised is rarely made by a single group of talented musicians but by a conglomerate of decision makers and corporate interests??? A simple Wikipedia search turns this up:
“The track, produced by the band along with Avicii, Paul Epworth, Daniel Green and Rik Simpson”
Clearly it took 8 ppl to write a piano line some dumb lyrics about stars and a the buildup and drop. LOL Why Avicii needs much help is beyond me he was producing way better stuff by himself before he sold his soul…
Avicii, Paul Epworth, Daniel Green, and Rik Simpson, were all producers of ONE song each throughout the album. I dont know why they are being credited all for A Sky Full of Stars, Each were only involved with one track. Coldplay themselves did some of the tracks entirely on their own as well.
What I dont get is, I respect the dance music fad, I understand why people enjoy it, but its the fact that you are trying to treat A Sky Full of Stars like a dance track. its not. Its supposed to be an upbeat and more hopeful continuation of the theatrical concept they are conveying through the album. Its just the finishing piece of the story right before the beautiful sendoff.
Chris described the track along with what I said above, all on the BBC1 interview, “its like a feeling of, I get it now, we had problems, I still love you, but im not going to go through life worrying about it, im going to be a happy person regardless”. Take that message and the one I explained above. Its not a dance track.
And whats with the corporate interests. I never thought of coldplay as a controlled by larger suits band at all. From what ive seen they have been given complete control over their music, if they hadnt, then they would have never produced Viva, which in turn made the so called “corporate interests” billions of dollars. They know that if they back off they will make more money. ‘Corporate Interests’ have no reason to be involved with the creative process.