The Case Against Coldplay

In anticipation (dread?) of the upcoming release of Coldplay's third LP, X&Y, The NYT published a fairly thorough article summarizing the reasons why some feel that Coldplay is "the most insufferable band of the decade." In particular, the writer, Jon Pareles, cites the band's penchant for relentless self-pity as the foremost ingredient in its soufflet of suckitude. However, it's not really the songs he has a problem with -- it's the lyrics. To wit:

"The band proffers melodies as imposing as Romanesque architecture, solid and symmetrical. Their arrangements ascend and surge, measuring out the song's yearning and tension, cresting and easing back and then moving toward a chiming resolution. Coldplay is meticulously unified, and its songs have been rigorously cleared of anything that distracts from the musical drama.

"Unfortunately, all that sonic splendor orchestrates Mr. Martin's voice and lyrics."

From there, Pareles takes a few shots at the fact that Chris Martin sings almost exclusively in falsetto, and that his lyrics don't reach beyond simple, universal statements and romantic aphorisms -- and Pareles, let's be honest, is correct on both counts. It's a little bit of a stretch, but not too much of one, to say that the target audience for every Coldplay song is the sensitive, affected teenager who just can't seem to find his place in the world, nor anyone to share it with. I think it's unfair to begrudge Coldplay for this, however, considering just how many bands -- great bands, even -- have built careers on doing the same.

My take on this general situation has been to remind people that they're listening to music, not an album of poetry with musical accompaniment. I tend not to pay too much attention to lyrics; only if a particular phrase or rhyme enhances the rhythm or melody will I start to concentrate on the words coming out of the vocalist's mouth. Pareles, I think, might agree with me, but he would probably argue that Coldplay's vocals/lyrics are so cringe-worthy that they significantly detract from the listener's ability to appreciate the band's musical acumen. Unfortunately, this is where the argument ends, because, like with most other musical debates, it eventually comes to a question of taste.

At this point, I should say that I am a Coldplay fan. Sort of. I've purchased their first two albums, and I enjoy them quite a bit -- and I'm certainly not about to let a rock critic spoil them for me. However, as I've listened to a leak of X&Y, I've felt myself tiring of their act. It has even more moping than their last record, and it frustrates me that even though they've flushed out their sound as much as they possibly can, they still have no real edge to speak of. And edge, my friends, is what separates the adult-contempo perfectionism of X&Y from the true greatness of an album like, say, The Bends. Coldplay does what they do as well as it can be done, but here's to hoping that they use millions of dollars that X&Y will surely earn them to buy themselves a pair. Their songwriting is just too damned good for them not to.