Bonus Feature: CD

Months later and I'm still enamored of the Coldplay's latest Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends.

With Viva la Vida, Chris Martin stretches beyond the piano and simple lyrics to create an expansive sound complete with orchestral arrangements. V la V is a focused effort that plays like a book, each chapter building on the next.

The instrumental opening track Life in Technicolor sets the pace with an ethereal, nouveau quality. At first listen, V la V doesn't sound like Coldplay at all, but continued exposure leads you to believe this album was the obvious next step for a band that dissects the normal to exposure the abnormal that makes it up. {Did I just blow your mind or what?}

Much has been said on the symbolism and Martin's fascination with painter and Frenchman Delacroix {?}. Regardless, people, just listen. Your ears haven't heard beauty like this.

Martin's vocals are perfect and fit well with the album's lusty approach to sound. Every note is treated as an element to blend in creating this new picture. Lovers In Japan/Reign of Love has a comforting feel that fans will appreciate. Yes allows Martin to expand his range solidly.

Viva La Vida is the first single from the album and how wonderful it is. Exploring the lyrics brings to light Martin's fascinations with symbolism. Across the Internet, fans are projecting all types of imagery. If you get a change, check out the original video for it--not the one that the suits wanted released--the other one--found only on http://www.coldplay.com/. That solves it for me. Viva La Vida is deserves its praise. Champion gets to shine here, too.

My personal favorite {and new theme song} is the decidedly darkest track. It was a long and dark December... The band rocks out on this song of heartbreak and hope. Violet Hill is both sad and hopeful. Champion, Berryman and Buckland all provide supporting vocals. Breathtaking. As the song breaks into the bridge... WOW!! The sheer simplicity is amazing.

I like to think that Strawberry Swing is a direct result of the kick-ass concert Coldplay had here in Tennessee. Perhaps the group had an epiphany amongst the ghost of Music City. The country-tinged track is strangely not out of place.

Ending where it began is Death And All His Friends.

Viva La Vida is everything I wanted it to be. You just wouldn't understand.