Unless you’ve been successfully relocating yourself under a stone you might have noticed that British superstar rockers COLDPLAY are about to release a new album soon. Ghost Stories is already the band’s sixth longplayer and it arrives on May 19. And things are looking good that this will be an album which might embrace the fans of the band’s more reduced work from their earlier days with their most recent mainstream-focussed material. Parachutes meets Paradise. Well, we’ll have to see how these two worlds will work together in the year 2014.
But one thing is fore sure – although being the globally most successful band of the past decade COLDPLAY have always been a quite discussable band. It’s really a bit of ‘either you love them or you hate them.’ Some of the band’s output might be discussable but you can’t deny the high level of diversification despite the use of returning elements. There’s something for everyone in the music of Chris Martin and his boys. And there’s an undeniable songwriting quality overall. And not just on the albums. Over the past fifteen years COLDPLAY released plenty of remarkable material in the form of b-sides and bonus tracks. Some it obviously better than many of their singles.
NOTHING BUT HOPE AND PASSION takes a look back on the group’s most remarkable tracks besides the albums and hits. These eleven extra songs might even convince you to give COLDPLAY a second or even third chance.
01. ‘Crests Of Waves’ (2002)
What a fluffy-puffy pop song. Perfect material for a sunny day at the beach. Not just because of the whole ‘wave’-theme. This really is a hidden gem that could have also fitted on the legendary A Rush Of Blood To The Head record during which period it was recorded.
02. A Spell A Rebel Yell (2008)
For 2008’s Viva La Vida album the band teamed up with Brian Eno. And if you not already knew that fact this tune should be proof enough. It was released as a special b-side for the free Violet Hill single that came with the NME back then. An atmospheric little piece, drowning in synthesizers and far away from the band’s usual output.
03. Easy To Please (1999)
This track from the band’s second EP Brothers And Sisters marks one of their most melancholic moments so far. Martin plays a reduced and intimate song while atmospheric noises surround him. These effects were created by setting up a few microphones on a wet road outside the group’s studio. And it really helped shaping this song.
04. Princess Of China (Acoustic Version) (2011)
Of all the discussable musical moments in COLDPLAY‘s recent past this duet with RIHANNA from 2011’s Mylo Xyloto marks one of the most famous ones. But the funny thing is – when you take away all the overproduced pop electronics there’s actually a decent song under all this ballast. Still, the duet partner choice remains questionable.
05. ‘Ladder To The Sun’ (2002/2003)
In the early days COLDPLAY always played new songs during their live shows. Some of them managed to actually get a spot on one of the albums, other eventually made proper b-side material. And a few of them fell behind and were actually never recorded. Ladder To The Sun is probably one of these lost tracks with the most potential. We must wonder why Chris Martin never realized this little hit. Would have definitely improved 2005’s X&Y.
06. ‘How You See The World’ (2005)
Another improvement to X&Y would have been this melancholy beauty. At least in Japan it was since it’s the country’s mandatory bonus track. This might be as typical as COLDPLAY can get – but in this case that’s not the worst appraisal.
07. ‘1.36’ (2002)
To be fair, there aren’t many rough lo-fi rockers in the discography of COLDPLAY. This two-minute-long tune is one of these rare moments where the band breaks lose – at least in their microcosm. After all it’s a track against animal cruelty which works as a good explanation for its sound.
08. ‘Things I Don’t Understand’ (2005)
X&Y might be one of the band’s most discussable albums. It always felt a bit like the group was forced into their freshly earned position as an arena-filling group. Things I Don’t Understand is one of the better tracks from that era.
09. ‘Lost?’ (2008)
Punctuation sometimes can also be important in music, especially in the case of Lost. The version with the ‘!’ is the one from 2008’s Viva La Vida album, the one with the ‘+’ adds JAY Z as featured guest to this tune. Well, and there’s one with a ‘-‘ which is an instrumental and one with ‘@’ which is a live version. But through it all the one with the question mark remains the best version. Just Martin and his piano. No need for more.
10. ‘Gravity’ (2005)
From one friend to another. When 90s Britpop band EMBRACE was desperately in search for a comeback single, long-time fan Chris Martin jumped in with Gravity. And it really became a Top ten song for the band in 2004 and marked a return to the spotlight. One year later, COLDPLAY released their own version as a b-side for Talk. Still a solid tune.
11. ‘See You Soon’ (1999)
What a gentle and wonderful little acoustic number. We can almost imagine sitting next to the fireplace in a warm summer night while Chris Martin and his guitar are placed next to us. This little beauty is taken from the band’s Blue Room EP. There’s actually no need to add any more word to it. Just enjoy it.
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