Coldplay’s tenth album, Moon Music, can feel predictable at times, but it shines in its exploration of themes of love, acceptance, and community.
Many were surprised when the band, which has been a strong presence in the music industry for over 20 years, announced in an Apple Music interview that “Moon Music” would be one of Coldplay’s final albums.
“We’re only going to make 12 proper albums, that’s the truth,” lead singer Chris Martin told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe.
Coldplay’s latest album, released on October 4th and the follow-up to their 2021 album Music of the Spheres, features some solid hits. “Feelslikeimfallinginlove” is a feel-good pop hit, but like the rest of the album, it can feel conventional both musically and lyrically.
Artists like HER and Jacob Collier, both great artists in their own right, sing background vocals together on tracks like “JUPiTER.” While these were good musical choices in theory, these two should have been featured more on the track so that the song could reach its full potential.
Martin sings lyrics like “You got all my love / Come rain or pour, I’m all yours” on “ALL MY LOVE,” which is one of Coldplay’s previous hits. It does not fully express the meaning and influence of love. “yellow” or “green eyes”.
However, “Moon Music” is not just made up of simple pop hits. “WE PRAY”, a collaboration with Little Simz, Burna Boy, Elianna and TINI, adds an experimental touch. A fusion of hip-hop, pop, and Afrobeats, this track brought something new to Coldplay’s discography. Still, this new sound feels rushed, trying to fit too much into just under four minutes.
The two-part song “ALiEN HiTS/ALiEN RADiO” stands out with a complex message that can be understood after a few listens. This song, which incorporates words from American poet Maya Angelou into its lyrics, is the most inventive and content on the album. Martin sings of feeling lost, “I couldn’t seem to find the light” in the musically complex first part.
As the song builds up through a heavy drumline and moves into the second part, drummer Will Champion repeats, “The storm passes, the love lasts, and everything goes by so fast.” The song ends with a dreamy instrumental and a message from Angelou. “When it looked like the sun / It wasn’t meant to shine anymore / God put a rainbow in the clouds.”
The lyrics take the listener into darkness and storm to find meaning and hope. The song is also musically distinct. The harmony of music and lyrics makes “ALiEN HiTS/ALiEN RADiO” the most complex track on the album. Although the song’s lyrics are limited, messages of love, hope, and perseverance shine through the clouds.
The deluxe version of the album, ‘Moon Music (Full Moon Edition)’ also includes the Music of the Spheres World Tour recordings ‘feelslikeimfallinginlive’ and ‘All My Love (Live in Dublin)’, a Coldplay record It highlights the break tour and their true connection. With viewers all over the world. Their world tour will run from the end of the month to mid-November in Australia and New Zealand. Next year, Coldplay will also be making stops in countries including the United States and Canada.
While the musicality and lyricism of each track can be debated, there is no denying that Coldplay accomplished an extraordinary feat of bringing people together through live music.
The deluxe edition ends with “A Wave,” which is also played at the end of each performance on the tour. Here, Coldplay promises listeners through the song, “We’ll meet again someday.”
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