Coldplay – Violet Hill – Single Review
Well, they promised us different, and I can confirm that Coldplay have delivered something different. But is it good? Hell yeah.
Even speaking as a determined Coldplay hater, Violet Hill sounds dark, foreboding, and heavy. Less of the piano-sturbation, and Chris Martin retires the falsetto in favour of a more earthy vocal tone.
Violet Hill is a song rich in texture: fuzzed-up power chords, wailing string bends in the background, and some very atmospheric drumming from Will Champion. This most definitely rocks.
If this is a sampler of Coldplay’s new direction, then it’s certainly enough to persuade me to listen to the album. Unlike other Coldplay songs I’ve heard, this has balls.
Gentlemen…well played. Thumbs up.
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A weak and boring song, uninspiring and unoriginal – I hope the album has some good ‘uns
weren t to sure to start with but like all coldplay songs its stuck in my head and now cant wait for the rest of the album quallity
Firstly why is the intro so long.. there is a long intro for ‘fix you’ but it fits seamlessly into the song.. this intro is pretty.. yet the actually song is not.
The beginning is good.. but the beat of the drum and those piano chords he’s banging out make it seem so slow.. like marching.. put’s me in mind of ‘take me on’ – Franz Ferdinand. Infact the drum part does nothing for this song. Then it goes into the most boring guitar solo ever made.. infact the guitar could be doing so much more in this song. It just doesn’t flow very well.. where’s the melody to go with the voice? Chris has a pretty voice and he can’t change that so why make such gritty sounding guitar and bass when it doesn’t sound good with his voice? Are they trying to be a rock band while then having the chorus of a church choir? I love the beautiful piano at the end though.. even though it doesn’t fit in with the rest of the song. It’s like Will, guy and Jonny decided to play a rock song.. and forgot Chris has the voice of a girl.
Quite good, nice, middling. The high point for me is the vocal hook, the low point is the long, confusing silence at the start.
Terrible! This review is far too generous.
Whether U like it or not, this song is disposable and will be long forgotten about in a few months time.
It’s boring, unadventurous and flat. It sounds like something you’d play in a Church.
4/10 at best.
I must say this is one of their new songs to be played from now on, does who don’t like it too bad for you, the song has a bit of everything, I first it must have been bad but its great
This track is yet another blinder that has me hotly anticipating their upcoming album. It is a track with a great new rock sound. Coldplay are like Marmite you either love them or hate them!
I really like the intro, sets the right mood for the rest of the song. I also like the dark atmosphere and the way the guitars drive the song. The solo doesn’t work for me, I think that experiment turned out bad for them. Nice drums again, en great piano/voc ending
This song is very intensive and turbulent….it´s like…you know…you are walking down the street , you feel the wind in your hair and you don´t care about anybody and anythink around you…and all of a sudden you´ll scream: If u love me, why´d you let me go!
this song is quite good. i dont understand why “What?” can give a review and poo poo something he clearly knows nothing about. There is no “Take me on” by franz ferdinand. its TAKE ME OUT. so yea, in conclusion, this song is of great musical value and “what?” knows nothing.
The song is average,and I believe they are trying a new direction.To me ultimatley nothing beats “a rush of blood to the head” style.X&Y was a flop and this looks like it oculd head the same way.But who knows maybe the rest of the album is really good ;)
This song is amazing I really dont get why people dont like it and its so not coldplay and good stop complaining.
This is their Genesis rip-off. Listen to “That’s All” if you want to hear where they got a lot of their ideas. Still a good song and a great turn in direction. At least the lyrics are obscure and not pillow talk crap like on X&Y.
I think this is an incredible song. I reckon the reason people dislike it is due to the huge change in Coldplay’s sound, which is much darker and richer. The chorus still has hints of the old Coldplay, with falsetto, but the song overall is a huge change, with a lot of distorted guitar etc. Overall I think a change for the better.
GREAT REVIEW!!! COULDNT SAY IT ANY BETTER MYSELF : )
A BEAUTIFUL song! I am completely in love with it. The intro is great; it eases you into the song, builds up the momentum, creeps up on you like a shadow ready to pounce at any second. Love the guitar riffs and the solo, the lyrics are excellent, and the ending is pure classic Coldplay. Just beautiful.
Loved it. It’s wrong to compare but it’s kinda reminiscent of Pink Floyd. Well constructed, diverse, moody and full of flavour. But hey, what do I know, I’m an old fart who still plays Uriah Heep vinyls !
AWESOME song very dark but at the same time easy listening. A good new sound for coldplay , i think their work is excellent , keep it up guys … thumbs up
Yes, this song is different from what Coldplay has offered in the past and they did say that the next album would be off set. I like Violet Hill and look forward to the rest of the cd.
I have complete confidence in them, their track record speaks for themselves. Who cares if you don’t hear it on the radio!!!!!!!!!!! Common radio sucks anyway.
I read a comment on how the heavy, rock sound and chris’s soft voice conflicted with each other. i can see how you could say such a thing, and i will not take this time to bash your limited mind nor reveal to whom i am referring. a long time fan of coldplays music, i was apprehensive about the first listening to a track that was to be different from the standard coldplay i was used to hearing. needless to say i was weary, but have been completely satisfied and yet even more anxious about the rest of the album. coldplay has always taken a different approach on each album, growing, maturing or whatever you’d like to call it, they survive. now with the blending of heavy rock guitars and chris martins beautiful voice i amazed at how well the two sounds mesh. have you ever dipped your french fries in your milkshake from mcdonalds? the double layered tastes of salty fries, and sugary ice cream play a trick on your tongue making it feel to very different sensations at the same time. that is how this sound reminds me. i am given to flavours to deal with, and i enjoy the contrast. sure ill agree its not clocks, but the song is a very good song. i would have to rate it a 7/10.
Firstl I’m not much of a Coldplay fan but I do like some of their songs. This song took me a couple of listens to get used to and now I really like it. I can see why some of you out there like it a lot. It’s different and sometimes change can be a good thing even if it takes time to recognise the change.
it’s a song in search of an identity. the guitar power chord screams in out of nowhere and makes no sense. doesn’t fit the soft piano and lyrics (which are good) at that point in the song- and the guitar solo later on is lame… like old pop “genesis” from the 80’s. i can only hope that this is the weakest song from the upcoming album- and glad they offered it for free- cause i certainly wouldn’t have paid for it!
Coldplay seem to have settled on one of their regular formats in which they seem pretty comfortable: intro-verse-chorus-breakdown (Square One, White Shadows and (to an extent) A Message)
For oldtime fans- this is even harder listening than a few singles on X&Y; but again it is just as richly rewarded as ever. Of course, it’s not like AROBTTH songs- theyve gone a long way- but has some similarities with Twisted Logic with its darker feel.
Hope the reduced length of the album (only 10 singles confirmed!) means theyve favoured more quality for less content
I’ve just heard the new coldplay single and Oh My God it is great!!
I am liking this a lot more than their previous music and I’ve liked them for years, this has much more beat to it and better guitar riffs plus Chris’s voice is much more powerful!!
All I can say it that have DEFFINATLY changed ;D
Chris found his sound… IT’s a good one.. Hearing his voice fresh after all the brap I have been thru since x&Y, and to hear it with such a edge, of strength, just helps me understand his expression.. Been a long DARK few years Baby!!!
PEACE
does this song remind you of something else because my brother and i are reminded of a song everytime we heard it and cant figure out wat the other song is. ne one now???
possibly reminds you in parts of a song out of collateral with tom cruise. Theres parts of the song that do similar sounds to one of the songs in that film. Could be well off the mark tho. I think its a very good song and good on them for changing a bit. Look forward to the rest of the album now
Are you all tone deaf? This is a dreadful track, that simply smells of “we can record any old crap ha ha ha…and the gullible mugs will buy it”. It’s shi*.
Violet Hill from Coldplay is excellent. It is not a band I would have listened to before but this single is very rich musically and lyrically. It is so haunting. It does sound familiar though and I cannot recall what other song it reminds me of. When I first heard it I thought it was a cover version of an older song. Did anyone else think that?
It’s a Stereophonics rip off – part Maybe Tomorrow, part Mr Writer.
Violet Hill is not quite the coldplay sort , but I guess rest of the album should turn out good . Colplay has a clean track record of delivering original style quality rock music , I hope this album lives up to the expectation . Can’t wait to listen to the whole album .