General Chat / X&Y

The huge variation in reviews at that link just goes to show how subjective music is. To be honest I think any attempts to review any form of art are futile. Perhaps that's what's so great about it - I love this album to bits and there's fuck all anyone can do to change what it means to me.

To be honest I think any attempts to review any form of art are futile.

Reviews are opinions too! It's inherent in a critic's medium that whatever they write is their own thoughts on the matter. For them, what they write is right. For others, maybe not - that's the bloody point of it all.

My point is, that to me, other people's opinion on arts such as music is completely irrelevant to my interpretation of it. As you have just pointed out, reviews are a such an opinion. I don't care what this album means to you, NME, the Daily Telegraph, Dixon Steele or anyone else in the world.

nvm

deano the way you go on about having an opinion and shit like that then why jump on dixon steele for having an opinion of the album which i agree with it's boring, horrible lyrics and well overrated, X&Y is a huge dissapointment.

I never said his opinion was wrong, only that I disagree with it.

Let me give you an example of what I mean. The lyrics at the end of square one go like this:

"As if you've been run through
Some catapult that fired you
You wonder if your chance will ever come
Or if you're stuck in square one"

When I first heard this song, I thought the lyric was "some catapulted fire tube", and as far as I'm concerned, that's what I always hear. I know it's not what's intended, but it's what I hear and I just love the image of that lyric. There's plenty of other reasons why I like the record, that's just a good example of showing how art can be interpreted in different ways.

I remember once in an English lecture I asked the lecturer if Shakespeare actually intended us to analyse his work to such a profound level. He replied by saying he couldn't care less - art has no intention, only interpretation.

I remember once in an English lecture I asked the lecturer if Shakespeare actually intended us to analyse his work to such a profound level. He replied by saying he couldn't care less - art has no intention, only interpretation.

I disagree. Have you read Brave New World, or anything by Johnathan Swift? What about Joe Strummer or any of those stupid hippie bands that preached against the Vietnam war or whatever? I'm pretty sure they wrote for a purpose.

No, you misread what I said. The author may have intention, but the art itself has none.

My point is, that to me, other people's opinion on arts such as music is completely irrelevant to my interpretation of it. As you have just pointed out, reviews are a such an opinion. I don't care what this album means to you, NME, the Daily Telegraph, Dixon Steele or anyone else in the world.

So why are we discussing it.

I find this thread amusing, because you can pick out the 'music snobs'. I used to be one so I know what they are. As I get older, I realize that I like what I like and don't need a critical reason to do so. If others don't like it so what. Whether it has a good sound, or meaningful lyrics, a good beat, classic hook, or just makes me feel nostalgic, the reason it appeals to me is personal and no one can convince me otherwise. On the flip, just cause I don't connect with something doesn't make it crap. My only major gripe is that I feel a lot of people don't listen to what they like, but what the media tells them they should listen to. Arguing about whether music is good or not is really a pointless excercise.

So why are we discussing it.

I'm not, anymore, since I realized this. I'm discussing why we shouldn't discuss it.

I know what you mean, Toon, I used to listen to alot of music and refused to listen to others because of morals etc. You may mean me as one of these people but I don't think that's true. I mean, let's put it this way, I'm listening to Ace of Base right now and loving it.

Arguing about whether music is good or not is really a pointless excercise.

If you consider what someone looks for in music, then you can definitely suggest certain things as better than others. For example, if you look for background music with a tune but not much to challenge then Zero 7 would be a hell of a lot better than Dizzee Rascal...

As I get older, I realize that I like what I like and don't need a critical reason to do so.  If others don't like it so what.  Whether it has a good sound, or meaningful lyrics, a good beat, classic hook, or just makes me feel nostalgic, the reason it appeals to me is personal and no one can convince me otherwise.  On the flip, just cause I don't connect with something doesn't make it crap.  My only major gripe is that I feel a lot of people don't listen to what they like, but what the media tells them they should listen to.

thanks

and this goes for rct aswell.

For example, if you look for background music with a tune but not much to challenge...

Say hello to Coldplay!

Well i'd say Parachutes has its moments (Shiver and Spies).

And damn if the video for The Scientist isn't one of the best ever...I want that on DVD.

Don't Panic is the best first song of a career ever.
It was all downhill from there, though.

Well i'd say Parachutes has its moments (Shiver and Spies).

And damn if the video for The Scientist isn't one of the best ever...I want that on DVD.

Have you seen it in reverse? The song sounds awesome too, believe it or not.

I just watched a solid 40 minutes of Coldplay live (in an intimate concert in which they discuss the songs) on VH2 in a last ditch attempt to see what the fuss is about. Except for dear beardy Christopher, the band seemed very bored and when speaking probably could of lulled even the most vain-popping of caffeine addicts to sleep.

I think Mantis has hit the nail on the head, its thoroughly inoffensive yet never exciting or complex enough to warrent any sustained interest. Its just pleasant, nothing more, nothing less and thats not what I look for in music. I'm very picky about lyrics and thats the main area in which Coldplay don't really cut it.

Anywho, thats my $2.

I really do like The Scientist. I still think Parachutes is the better album though. And perhaps that's slightly hyperbolic, Jelly, but I agree it's a damn good song.