Why not an acoustic and "stripped down" album?

[Seppel]

Hi everybody,my name is Seppel and i'm new here and it's my first thread so i beg your pardon if i make any mistakes while creating this thread.;)Album five didn't start "in earnest", says Champion, until last March only to be scrapped and started afresh three months later. Early pledges by Martin that this record would be "acoustic" and 'subdued" fell by the wayside. "We're prone to saying things before we write an album that prove to be totally wrong," the drummer explains. "There came a point last summer when we realised we had different types of songs in various styles, so rather than make an album that's all stripped down we decided to throw everything into the one basket. It's true we scrapped stuff, but a lot of those songs became antecedents of what you'll hear on the finished album. It's all part of our musical evolutionary process." (Q Magazine - September 2011)
I was just wondering if anyone of you can tell my why they didn't produce an acoustic and more quiet album like "Parachutes" (like planned before)? When i first read news about LP5 a year ago, i read an interview of Chris talking about a stripped down record like their first album what made me really happy because this is my favourite album. But when ETIAW was published it turned out that it's totally different (not that i don't like their new songs, they're great!)...
Do you have any idea why?


Greetings from Germany! :)
(sorry for language mistakes)

[ColdplayingfromKansas]

I think it's just as Chris said: the album evolved beyond what they expected it to be, and instead of trying to force the album into a certain shape, they just let it go.

We'll probably see a few acoustic-y tracks on LP5, though ;)

[Chloe_Martin]

I gotta say I love Coldplay acoustics


and hello Seppel welcome to Coldplaying :D

[the_escapist]

I think that the most official answer is the one you're quoting from Q Magazine.

It is normal for bands to have an initial idea and then change it during the recording sessions.

At last, they decided to make an album with different kind of songs, and maybe Us Against The World was part of that initial acoustic and stripped down album.

[The Doctor]

I know your feeling Seppel
I was also hoping for a more acoustic album and that's why I'm do happy with Us Against The World

[Major_Love]

They said that the album will be different. Loud and quite songs. So you will definitely hear some acoustic stuff.

[Seppel]

^I like their idea to include quiet songs and also songs of their new style,looking forward to their new record!

And right editor42, i personally felt very happy too when i heard "Us against the World" and also "Moving to Mars". It made me feel like they haven't forgotten their "quiet style"...

[Mrk]

Welcome to Coldplaying! :) I'm glad that they changed their mind about the stripped down album because I was afraid that they were going to repeat themselves by making a Parachutes 2 or an unplugged album (which I really dislike because usually a musician does an unplugged album when he runs out of ideas)

[Chloe_Martin]

^ so true

[The Doctor]

^I like their idea to include quiet songs and also songs of their new style,looking forward to their new record!

And right editor42, i personally felt very happy too when i heard "Us against the World" and also "Moving to Mars". It made me feel like they haven't forgotten their "quiet style"...

yeah
it's like their signature that quiet music with good lyrics (compared to ETTIAW it's not that hard:p)

[Chloe_Martin]

The do acoustics and stripped down versions of different songs sometimes


We have to be patient for that day though :(

[The Doctor]

The do acoustics and stripped down versions of different songs sometimes


We have to be patient for that day though :(

they should make a CD of all those songs they play live

[Mrk]

they should make a CD of all those songs they play live

As a compilation/side project yes but as an album...nooo!!

[ColdplayingfromKansas]

As a compilation/side project yes but as an album...nooo!!

Maybe another LeftRightLeftRightLeft?


We need another tour DVD :nod: . . .

[The Doctor]

We need another tour DVD :nod: . . .

:nod:

[TimeIsOnYourSide]

yeah. here's a few reasons.

1. as you've said, EP evolution
2. EMI pressure...its just there and they have to deal with it.
3. producers...

i wouldn't be surprised if they did something like a 2nd release as they did before...

I'm all for an acoustic album. I'd even love to see some acoustic versions of songs that are already on the EP (or will be...)

[Cheese Nip 2]

There is that thing the Peirces said too, that they had an album done and started over. I guess they started over on the acoustic, maybe keeping a few tracks (Us Against The World?), but maybe the songs will show up on an EP, a future anthology type thing, or at least the internet.

[InATelescopeLens]

If they did another Parachutes, my life would be complete.

[rafaelchampion]

I like the songs the way they are going. Hurts Like Heaven, Charlie Brown and Major Minus rulez. I guess a full acoustic-y album would be very forced and unnatural.
I don't expect they ever to make an album like another. It would ruin their career.

[periahdark]

Welcome to the forum!

I'm sure we'll here some acoustic stuff on the album. Just look at Us Against The World. Beautiful song. I'm sure there has to be at least one more song like it on the album.

[Seppel]

yeah. here's a few reasons.

1. as you've said, EP evolution
2. EMI pressure...its just there and they have to deal with it.
3. producers...

i wouldn't be surprised if they did something like a 2nd release as they did before...

I'm all for an acoustic album. I'd even love to see some acoustic versions of songs that are already on the EP (or will be...)
I think the 2. and 3. point are the main reasons...

[Samuel_94]

I think Us Against The World is a good indicator of what they were trying to achieve initially!:smug:

[Brent]

TO stay marketable (and to sell out arenas) they can't put out another "Parachutes." And I really doubt that the pressure from EMI dictates the creative process. EMI screws over everybody by doing things like making us by ETIAW 3+ times for no damn reason.

[Brent]

TO stay marketable (and to sell out arenas) they can't put out another "Parachutes." And I really doubt that the pressure from EMI dictates the creative process. EMI screws over everybody by doing things like making us by ETIAW 3+ times for no damn reason.

[Samuel_94]

^ dp

[Samuel_94]

^ dp :)

[Samuel_94]

Oooooops
Pot kettle black!! haha

[Samuel_94]

Oooooops
Pot kettle black!! haha

[MosesTheMarshmallow]

TO stay marketable (and to sell out arenas) they can't put out another "Parachutes." And I really doubt that the pressure from EMI dictates the creative process. EMI screws over everybody by doing things like making us by ETIAW 3+ times for no damn reason.

You're screwing us over by making us read your post twice for no damn reason! :veryangry2:

[Samuel_94]

You're screwing us over by making us read your post twice for no damn reason! :veryangry2:

I whole-heartedly apologise for the part I played in this debacle :cry:

[Cyan Kat]

I want the acoustic songs :mean:
if I hear them mention this as 'evolution' one more time i'm gonna scream because to me it's like they're going downhill musically.

[Samuel_94]

I want the acoustic songs :mean:
if I hear them mention this as 'evolution' one more time i'm gonna scream because to me it's like they're going downhill musically.

haha i'm glad the new songs aren't acoustic because we probably we wouldnt have got stuff like Charlie Brown, Hurts Like Heaven and Major Minus as we know it now

[Mrk]

I want the acoustic songs :mean:

Never!!!

[Samuel_94]

Never!!!

haha:laugh3: :laugh3: :laugh3: :laugh3: :laugh3: :laugh3: :laugh3:

[Cyan Kat]

Never!!!
:(

[Brent]

You're screwing us over by making us read your post twice for no damn reason! :veryangry2:

That was my goal. I did that on purpose to mess up everyone's day!


But seriously my crappy internet connection makes me DP all the friggen time :(

[Samuel_94]

i think this thread is dead...

[VivaGroaning]

b/c they are a stadium rock band that's why they can't a whole album of acoustic songs. pretty easy if you ask me.

[rafaelchampion]

I love the Major Minus-y style songs :dance:

[Samuel_94]

I love the Major Minus-y style songs :dance:

same!!!

[MosesTheMarshmallow]

That was my goal. I did that on purpose to mess up everyone's day!


But seriously my crappy internet connection makes me DP all the friggen time :(


You're making us spend TWICE AS MUCH TIME for the SAME BLOODY MATERIAL. :lol: Ah well....I'm too young/inexperienced to have seen the days of when double posting had any real consequence. :P I was there for dial-up internet though! :P:lol:

Anyhow....everyone else has said what I was thinking. They could release Us Against the World as a one-song album and I'd still blow 15 quid just for it.

And if you really get down to it, I'd argue all of the songs are comparatively more stripped down than any of their Viva counterparts, with the exception of ETIAW, and even then, I'd argue it's less "big" if only because the guitar line is so prominent compared to Jonny's inconsequential guitar parts in Viva la Vida.

[rafaelchampion]

I love some guitar effects on Viva La Vida after the first chorus but they never do that live :(

[Tryptophan]

b/c they are a stadium rock band that's why they can't a whole album of acoustic songs. pretty easy if you ask me.

You accidentally a verb there.

I don't think it's that easy. Coldplay are a prime example of a band that doesn't stick to their genre whatsoever. What is their genre anyway? Yes, they're moving towards stadium rock in some songs. But that doesn't mean they're a stadium rock band. Parachutes doesn't mean they're an acoustic band (I even doubt that one can call Parachutes an acoustic album :thinking:), White Shadows doesn't mean they're U2 and ETIAW doesn't mean they are a boys band.

So I guess they just want to make a varied album, try different things. It just happened during the creative process.

[Samuel_94]

You accidentally a verb there.

I don't think it's that easy. Coldplay are a prime example of a band that doesn't stick to their genre whatsoever. What is their genre anyway? Yes, they're moving towards stadium rock in some songs. But that doesn't mean they're a stadium rock band. Parachutes doesn't mean they're an acoustic band (I even doubt that one can call Parachutes an acoustic album :thinking:), White Shadows doesn't mean they're U2 and ETIAW doesn't mean they are a boys band.

So I guess they just want to make a varied album, try different things. It just happened during the creative process.

Thats right saying they sing 'Rock' music evokes images of mad, mental smashing guitars and screaming aha

[Tryptophan]

Thats right saying they sing 'Rock' music evokes images of mad, mental smashing guitars and screaming aha

Haha that's more like metal, isn't it?

[Samuel_94]

Haha that's more like metal, isn't it?

True but 'Rock' is just so loud and outlandish sounding

[Tryptophan]

True but 'Rock' is just so loud and outlandish sounding

Yeah, well Chris says Coldplay is limestone rock, as opposed to hard rock. Does anyone know when he said that? During which era?

Also, Coldplay say they're very heavy soft rock. :p

[MosesTheMarshmallow]

^I remember that...only thing I can think of (that I can dig out quickly) is Chris's claim at Liverpool Christmas gig that because of Will, they're "the hardest soft rock band in the world."

I love some guitar effects on Viva La Vida after the first chorus but they never do that live :(

THIS x1000. Actually, Jonny still does use some cool effects but it's never quite the same as the album version. :(

[Tryptophan]

^I remember that...only thing I can think of (that I can dig out quickly) is Chris's claim at Liverpool Christmas gig that because of Will, they're "the hardest soft rock band in the world."



THIS x1000. Actually, Jonny still does use some cool effects but it's never quite the same as the album version. :(

Hey, I actually think the guitar effects in recent live versions make it sound a lot cooler.

[Samuel_94]

Yeah, well Chris says Coldplay is limestone rock, as opposed to hard rock. Does anyone know when he said that? During which era?

Also, Coldplay say they're very heavy soft rock. :p

I cant be sure but i think it was a while back

[Samuel_94]

No I was wrong. Wikipedia says it was at the 2009 Grammys!