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Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
Rock · 2008 · 10 tracks

Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends

Coldplay

A maximalist art-rock pivot trading stadium anthems for church bells, shoegaze textures, and revolutionary themes. Dense, historical, and sonically adventurous.

May 26, 2008 · Parlophone

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A gritty, revolutionary dust settles over these ten tracks, as the band intentionally shatters their own polished piano-pop mold under the guidance of producer Brian Eno. The music trades clean, soaring anthems for a dense, historical tapestry of tribal percussion, distorted drones, and orchestral grandeur. Recorded in Spanish churches and old bakeries, the atmosphere feels thick, humid, and deeply physical, constantly balancing a defiant celebration of survival against the heavy reality of mortality.

Tracklist · 10 Tracks
01
Life in Technicolor
2:29
02
Cemeteries of London
3:21
03
Lost!
3:56
04
42
3:57
05
Lovers in Japan / Reign of Love
6:51
06
Yes / Chinese Sleep Chant
7:07
07
Viva la vida
4:02
08
Violet Hill
3:43
09
Strawberry Swing
4:10
10
Death and All His Friends / The Escapist
6:19
Moments Worth Listening For
06Yes / Chinese Sleep ChantThe sudden transition on 'Yes / Chinese Sleep Chant' splits the track in half, plunging the listener into a hidden, shoegaze-infused wall of sound.
07Viva la vidaThe driving, loop-based string motif on 'Viva la vida' replaces traditional guitars with a sweeping, percussive orchestral arrangement that carries the entire melody.
08Violet HillA distorted, fuzzy guitar riff on 'Violet Hill' introduces an uncharacteristic grit and weight, signaling a sharp break from their past clean tones.
01Life in TechnicolorThe album opens with 'Life in Technicolor', an instrumental track featuring ambient textures co-produced by electronic musician Jon Hopkins.
Reviews
BBC Music
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AllMusic
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Where This Album DepartsEach spoke is a trait. The orange shape shows where this album pulls away from — or holds to — the rest of the artist’s catalogue. Tap for more.

How does Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends sound next to the rest of Coldplay's catalogue?

Baritone+4.0σ

The vocals lean far further into baritone than the rest of the catalogue.

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