Here are my track ratings after a few listens, with the initial excitement now having worn off...
Mylo Xyloto - ----
Hurts Like Heaven - 8/10
Paradise - 8/10
Charlie Brown - 7/10
Us Against The World - 6/10
MMIX - ----
Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall - 8/10
Major Minus - 6/10
UFO -6/10
Princess of China - 7/10
Up In Flames – 6/10
A Hopeful Transmission - ----
Don't Let It Break Your Heart – 6/10
Up With The Birds – 5/10
Overall, it sounds like their weakest album to date, by quite a distance. I have no issue with the supposed "poppiness" of the songs, or the production, or even Rihanna...it's the melodies, or lack thereof. One thing Coldplay always did better than 99% of bands out there today was write gorgeous, effortless, soaring melodies. It's early days, but I just don't hear them here. I hear lots of big, epic-sounding songs, but without particularly memorable melodies. There's nothing awful, but I'm just not hearing the stunning melodies that used to set them apart from their contemporaries. It just sounds like a decent album, nothing more, nothing less. But for them, that's quite a comedown. I can scarcely believe that this is the same band who made such incredible songs in the past.
Im kind of disappointed
A lot of it just sounds... dull. The first few tracks had me worried because I didn't like them,
but after MMIX it seems to have gotten better. Overall its a 7/10.
Princess of China, Paradise, Up With The Birds & UFO are the standouts imo.
I just finished my first listen and I'm kinda disappointed... After Paradise I think I expected way too much. It's a good album, but I feel that they focused on the lyrics too much and kinda put less effort in the music. I gave POC, Paradise & Charlie Brown 5*. Most of the other tracks have 4, but I'm quite sure they'll grow on me fast.