Cool or not, Coldplay is A-OK

Above: "Yellow" isn't "Fake Plastic Trees" and Coldplay isn't Radiohead, but we'll be at Sprint Center tonight anyway.

I recently asked an acquaintance whether he was going to tonight’s Coldplay show. He gave me an over-my-dead-body look, as if I’d asked him whether he watches “Full House” reruns. I suppose Chris Martin is correct: His band isn’t cool, whatever that means anymore.

It may not be cool, but in my book Coldplay doesn’t really qualify as a guilty pleasure, either. Its music has enough merits to justify — instead of excuse or rationalize — my interest, which is somewhere closer to casual than devout.

I became a fan almost accidentally. I liked a song or two on the “Parachutes” album but hadn’t yet warmed up to “A Rush of Blood To The Head” when I caught its show at Memorial Hall in January 2003. That concert was a confluence of circumstances that left me ripe for persuasion: I was grieving over something, and Coldplay was at the point where it had outgrown venues as small as Memorial Hall.

That night the place was packed; the band rocked; the crowd (3,500) was euphoric; and several of the songs got under my skin and inside me, especially the deep-blue ballads like “The Scientist” and “Clocks.”

I’ve got a soft spot for Brit rock anyway, so after that evening, I climbed aboard the Coldplay train, fully aware that this band wasn’t as adventurous as the groups it can vaguely resemble, in a homogenized way: mainly Radiohead and U2 (although the distance between Coldplay and U2 has narrowed recently).

Since then, a backlash has ensued. Here’s what the Chicago Tribune said about Martin: “(his) falsetto fragility and good-guy mannerisms make him the rock equivalent of a warm glass of milk and bedtime cookies.”

And here’s how Pitchfork described Coldplay in its review of its latest album, “Viva La Vida”: “a grandma-friendly, Radiohead-normalizing, disarmingly polite rock band led by a man who sounds like he’s still yearning for puberty perhaps.”

True, I suppose. Chris Martin’s lyrics could use some help. He seems smarter than: “Tears stream down your face/When you lose something you cannot replace.” It might help if Martin could conjure more abstractions and artsy-fartsy-ness or more soul, but I’m not sure he has it in him. A writer for the Village Voice wrote: “Martin’s too sweet, too soothing. … He tries hard to imagine how it feels to feel like you’re dying, but he can’t evoke it.”

I’m guessing that’s where the deepest objections to his band start: with the words, which fail him more than occasionally. The Radiohead-lite thing doesn’t help either; nor, I’m sure, does his marriage to a Hollywood starlet who used to date Brad Pitt.

He has taken some strides to break out in a few directions: collaborating with Kanye West and Jay-Z; hiring Brian Eno to produce “La Vida,” which is a step up from “X&Y” and includes several tracks made for the arenas.

I’m not sure any of that will remedy what seems to ail Coldplay’s stock in the hipster markets. And it doesn’t matter. I’ve stopped keeping track of what I’m supposed to like, stopped trying to force myself to like what’s been ordained as fashionable, hip or “art.”

Obviously, some bands (Radiohead, Tool) are in this game for bigger and deeper and more substantive reasons than others. To them go the spoils: a vaunted, long-lasting reputation.

But I’m happy to admit I like songs or performers who don’t get respect from the underground, whether it’s the Killers, Pink or Coldplay. Sometimes it’s enough for a song or a band to be merely entertaining.

Comments

[Geordan]

My problem is that Chris Martin just seems so &%#%ing smug on stage and thinks his band is way better than they are in reality. I don't think Coldplay is a bad band, but they are not a particularly good one either. If anything they are grating and annoying for the most part and I have always thought that "Yellow" is one of the worst songs ever to grace an Alternative-Rock radio playlist. $79.50 to see this bunch?? Go see THE CULT at the Ameristar this Saturday Night for HALF that price and I'll bet you'll have a much better time.

[Joe]

Chris Martin has a knack for writing solid pop-rock songs. While they are nowhere near my favorite band, I do enjoy some of their songs. I also was at that Memorial Hall show back in 2003, and it was a lot better than I was expecting (my girlfriend was the one who wanted to go).

They aren't the reincarnation of the Beatles, or even Radiohead, but not every band has to be groundbreaking and experimental. Sometimes just writing a catchy tune is ok.

They are the music business version of a summer blockbuster movie. It isn't going to change your life or have some deep meaning, but its pretty entertaining regardless.

[Mico]

Joe says of Coldplay:

"but its pretty entertaining regardless."

Now, come on....Really??

[robert]

Any idea what time they've been going on stage at their recent shows? 7:30 seems awfully early.

[Tim Finn]

Two openers: Jon Hopkins (who is on the new Coldplay album) and Sleepercar, an El Paso, Texas, band featuring Jim Ward (At The Drive-In and Sparta). They're kind of indie/Americana.

Those two will probably be done before 9. Coldplay will do about (only) 90 minutes.

[mankvill]

Coldplay is good. They make good music. Most of my friends hate them because of that stupid "Grandma's Boy" movie: "You know how I know you're gay? You like Coldplay."

I have A Rush Of Blood To The Head, X&Y and their live album, and they are all solid. I wish I could go see them tonight.

[sleepy]

do you know if there are any ticket holds that will be released fo rthis show? I'm planning on going and wasn't sure if I should hold out for a release of tix at about 5:00 or just go the scalper route.

[KC Keef]

"Coldplay is good. They make good music."

....Hmmmm, as dishonest as THAT statement is, remind me to never buy a used car from you.

[Tim Finn]

I bought a floor seat at 6 p.m. last night.

[roberts]

Thanks for the info, Tim. Love your blog.

By the way, the Coldplay quote is from "The 40 Year Old Virgin" and not "Grandma's Boy."

[mankvill]

KC, stop reading Pitchfork reviews or graduate High School, whichever comes first. :P

[KC Keef]

Hee, hee.......poor mankvill has to go on the defensive to justify his love of a wispy, lite-Rock band that so badly wants to be as iconic as U2 once was, but just doesn't have the talent, material, presence, intelligence, creativity, etc., to bring it to fruition (I learned that word in College, by the way). Well, whatever gets you through the night........

[Bubba]

One thing I have to say is: THANK GOODNESS for You Tube. You can access that site and view MANY, many fan videos of most artists on their current tour. Example: I know a guy who was telling me he didn't have the ca$h to see the recent AC/DC concert in Boston (Nov.10) and within 36 hours of that show's 'Miller time', I saw decent fan videos of that VERY show. Sound was VERY good, I thought. If they get removed, they usually get re-posted JUST as quickly. Saw some good COLDPLAY footage posted.