Like any other Coldplay fan, I was eagerly awaiting their new album Viva La Vida and bought it in the first week. I have to say though that I’m a bit disappointed, after X&Y which I thought was brilliant. Parachutes and Rush of Blood…are of course masterpieces too, but Viva La Vida does not compare IMHO. I’m a bit surprised at some of the media reviews in fact, which seem to suggest its as good as their previous effort.

And yet, there is one track, Lost! which is just mindblowing. Have to listen to it at least 2-3 times everyday. Some of the other good tracks are Strawberry Swing, Viva La Vida and Violet Hill, but they’re not in the same league their other hits or even Lost!

Coldplay is one of the last of the Big Bands apart from U2 and I hope this doesn’t mark their downward spiral. All the other greats, whose albums we used to look forward to, hardly have any releases – Sting, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Jethro Tull, Mark Knopfler. Some of them still have the odd release but again these are not a patch on their older work. Stings last two outings for instance have been disappointing.

Bottom-line, should you buy this album? Yes, but don’t expect too much. Or maybe this post is premature and the album will grow on me like Rush of Blood…I sure hope so!