Viva la Leak, or how EMI is in serious trouble

Oh please, Coldplay fans are Coldplay fans, and many who download it would go buy it when it comes out.

Would, if it were any good. Which it's not.

That's why EMI is in trouble.

Coldplay. More like Coldpack.

I agree...I plan on doing both =)

"Would, if it were any good. Which it's not.
That's why EMI is in trouble."

Well said. EMI is a microcosm of the industry as a whole. It's simple market rules: put out a shi_ty product and get shi_ty results. Do it many times and, guess what, you're f_cked.

it isn't a full leak...the first song, life in technicolor never managed to come through, the one included in most is a rip from an old youtube video.

amanda you're right, it's not good.
it's THE BEST album of these last years.
i've downloaded it, i'm gonna buy it, and amanda, go listen to some good music.

I think Amanda and Steve should try listening to the album instead of basing their opinion on nothing but thin air ;)

It's a silly argument that a leak is going to hurt more than the Japanese release date which is a full week before America. The moment it hits Japanese stores there will be high quality files being shared all over the world to the same effect.

And that's the real problem right there. The album was finished weeks ago, but because big labels like big campaigns, they talk about it for months instead of just getting it out there, increasing the chances of a leak.

And for the record in spite of the leak there's still plenty of people like me who want it on at least cd, and vinyl if I can find it.

Jey,

You think this is "the best album of these last years"? Either you are a 15 year old girl or someone who doesn't know a thing about "good music", or music in general.

i find it utterly bizarre that people automatically equate success with 'sh_te' product. bands are, at heart, no matter how much the press would have us disbelieve, just ordinary people making music - i personally find the likes of U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers and R.E.M. rather tired these days, but it doesn't mean their 'product' is sh_te just because it's well-promoted. music is incredibly subjective, as is any artform, and it's a shame that Viva la Vida is already getting bad press on the forum front with people ready to pounce on it at a moment's notice. It sounds to me like it could be one of the most diverse-sounding albums in recent memory, and i'm only going off the two tracks released to the public. i for one wish people would give bands a chance instead of tearing them apart for 'selling out' (a horrible term) - i think it could be termed the 'Death Cab For Cutie' syndrome.

Yeah, it's true that most people who download the album will still buy it with enthusiasm. I don't think they are overly screwed. People just want to hear it early. And for the record, most people will like the album anyway...

The album is average. Just so-so.

monsdale- Death Cab and popular bands such as Coldplay aren't in the same boat. Death Cab put out 5 albums(4 before anyone noticed them) before doing one for a major label. Death Cab was a full-fledged indie band playing in garage-size venues for most of their career. The fact that their worst album by far(because they dropped rock for pop) came after they signed with a major label gives people good reason to diss them. Having said that, Narrow Stairs is better and a little more like the old Death Cab.

But you're right, good music is good music. Some people just disagree and some are just pretentious.

john- that was harsh and ridiculous.

the album is genius
42 is one of the best pieces of music ive heard in a decade.
go back to your usher album.

i will be buying this album...like all the others i like.

Matt, seriously you really must get out more, or more likely not listen to bands like coldplay, Chris Martin sounds like an old record, A rush of blood to the head was the high point of their career because the sound was so original and a step up from Parachutes which only had a few good tracks. The same analysis could be seen from the likes of U2, who after surfing Punk for 5 years utilized a different producer (Eno) to churn out The Unforgettable fire, probably the turning point in U2's career before the 'masterpiece' of Joshua Tree. In my opinion the masterpiece album from U2 wouldn't be heard until 1991 with the release of Achtung Baby, possibly the definitive rock and roll album of the 90's which set a precedent over every other pop/rock release thereafter.

Coldplay have followed a rather wretched route in the style of U2, you have a rock album 'parachutes' followed by the otherworldly and dreamy 'a rush of blood to the head' with styles reminiscent to 'The Unforgettable fire' and 'Joshua Tree' followed by X&Y which should have been renamed 'Coldplay the chillout sessions' it was nothing we hadn't heard before and felt rushed, brutal, and completely and utterly overhyped (Part of EMI's downfall) now we have Viva....' which is more of the same.

When people say that Coldplay's songs are some of the best they've heard in over a decade, please tell me it's from their own back catalogue and they surely are NOT comparing Coldplay to any other band. Coldplay are old hat, boring and will be remembered best for their second album, for which I'm not even bored of listening to yet. If you are going to have such a biased opinion over British music, please have a valid and well researched conclusion first.

i will just re-download the offical album torrent when it comes out, cz i downloaded it 2day and the quality sucks so u cant really tell if its good or not!

Matt what makes you think that people who dislike Coldplay would like Usher? If I were to make a stupid assumption it would be that people who don't like Coldplay prefer underground experimental bands not incredibly over-hyped products like Usher (and Coldplay).

I used to like Coldplay but the albums have been getting more and more bland as my tastes have become more experimental. For that reason my expectations for the new album are very low and I'm not expecting any surprises.

worst album of the year

im afraid to say, ive downloaded it
HOWEVER
i am still going to buy it when it comes out
simply because from what i can hear on this album
its absolutely WONDERFUL.
Honestly and truthfully
its so so so so detailed, major different to their previous sound
and i can tell this with some of the songs not being in great quality
which is the main reason why im buying it.

iv downloaded it and its quality still going to buy it as i think its worth every penny

The new album IS fantastic and as a musician this album almost makes me wanna give up my music.

the great thing about opinions is that they don't have to be researched, confirmed by science, voted on by a board of trustees.... you get the idea. opinions are great because they are just that: an opinion.

and of course everyone believes their own opinion is more valid than everyone else's. how about we all chill-out about the coldplay album? some people love it, some hate, who cares? it's a coldplay album... not the fate of the world. get over it.

Yah, I downloaded it.

Hell no I won't be buying it when it comes out, have you seen gas prices recently?

Anyways, the album is good. Its NOT a classic. Its NOT the best album to come out this year. Its also NOT the worst album to come out this year...far from it. At best, this album will manage to sneak into critics top 50 lists for album of the year...it's HIGHLY doubtful that many critics will rush to this album and hail it as one of the best albums to come out this year.

Coldplay haven't done anything too different on viva la vida. Some interesting textures are managed with keyboards and strings and guitar, but melodies are WAY too pop-friendly, making coldplay still one of the most uncool bands in the business.

After my initial listen, I would admit this album is their second or third best album, with Rush of Blood being clearly the only essential Coldplay album to own.

Coldplay are like Madonna - loved and hated, overrated and underrated, and yet they will still have one of the best selling records this year.

Its amazing to me how many people will immediately love this album and how many will immediately hate it. The album is worth listening to, but let's leave biases out of it.

To sum it all up, Coldplay aren't much different on this release, the album isn't that bad, but it certainly isn't that good either.

i'll definately be buying the album because i have already pre-ordered and paid for it in full. coldplay is an awesome band and thats my opinion. if i was one of the band members i would be disappointed if people were downloading my album with no intention to buy it.

I just don't get comments like this:

"You think this is "the best album of these last years"? Either you are a 15 year old girl or someone who doesn't know a thing about "good music", or music in general."

Surely someone has explained to people like John that music is a subjective art, and just because you don't like an artist or song doesn't mean that your opinion is the only one that's valid, nor is it the final word. Let people enjoy what they like without succumbing to the urge to be a music snob and overall jerk.

Hate the album. Or decide it is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Write about it online. Whatever your opinion, it is valid, because we're talking about ART people. Not every piece of art is to be liked by everyone. But when you start condemning people and calling them

Well, it takes more time to like this one than the ones before !!! I think it's a bit too calm for me from times to times...
It's a bit less good than

good album. nowhere near "THE BEST album of these last years." hahahaha

i quite like the record and felt good about making it.

see you on the road!!

CM

go buy this album if u love cold play or better if u really like really good music, how ever much some idiots will argue over and over about whats good music and whats not is irrelevant and a waste of time. everyones entitled to their own opinions.
so this is my opinion cold play rocks just for the simple fact that their music is genuine and they simply don't put out albums just to pay their bills..cheers chill out

To be frank, coldplay fan or not, placing opinions to one side,if you don,t like this album or even any part of it, then you know absolutley nothing about music. This album is superb. It builds the listener up to a high point, takes you on a steady journey, then lets you down steadily. Granted it may be slighlty Beatles esq, and certainly Marc Bolan and T-Rex, but that is the beauty of music. This album is stylish, innovative, original and packs a hard punch with an underlining message. In time it has the potential to be a modern classic. So stop being so typically critical, open you ears, and listen to the album for what it is. "Pure brilliant"

super wrong! number 1 album sales in the entire freaking world! this is a great example of how downloading advance copies doesn't hurt album sales of music that is actually good. if the music sucks, no one wants to buy it anyway, so who cares if you have an advance download?