My first reaction to Ghost Stories wasn't favorable. When +Coldplay tweeted out the audio version of Midnight on my birthday back in February, I thought "What the hell is this?" Let's just say, the track has grown on me. It did not deserve to be the band's first single, but it works well in the middle of the album because...
This is concept album. Ghost Stories is the telling of a tale within the head of Chris Martin. Following the end of his tumultuous relationship with Gwyneth Paltrow, Martin felt the need to put his feelings into song ... vis-à-vis Taylor Swift ... but on a much more intellectual level.
"The idea of Ghost Stories, for me, was "how do you let the things that happen to you in the past – your ghosts – how do you let them affect your present and your future?" Because there was a time when I was feeling like they were going to drag me down and ruin my life, and the lives of those around me. I was very lucky to meet a very good sufi teacher who started to introduce the idea of "if you sit with your experiences and the things you've been through, they alchemize." At the time he said that, I didn't really know what that meant, but I trusted that it would work, and the more that I was learning about that, the more music just started flowing through." - Chris MartinGhost Stories is slow. It's painfully slow at times. But after hours of listening, I get it. It starts with Always In My Head. Gwyneth is always in his head, get it? From perusing the internet, it's apparently about Martin's sleepless nights thinking about her. For me, it's just a song. It's not a song that should start a concert, however. I'll miss the days of Politik blasting through arena walls, but this song signifies the transition away from 2011's Mylo Xyloto.
Magic is Nick's favorite song. Track two reminds me of trudging through the city of Greensboro, North Carolina in a storm of slush. I must have listened to Magic more than fifty times during the ACC women's basketball tournament. It works for me like Cemeteries of London in Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends. It's a track with a pounding drum line that begs to build up to something.
And it does. Ink has claimed the title of Ben Fontana's second favorite song from Ghost Stories. "Just want a way of keeping you inside..." cuts deep for me. I never liked the idea of having a tattoo, but the idea of what a tattoo means is special. Even to me. A tattoo hater. It's a constant reminder. And the woo-ing in the midst of the verses make this track haunting. Much like the title of the album suggests. This, perhaps, a harbinger of things to come.
True Love starts out promising. The musical diversity of this album is astounding. Love is the story of every relationship. "If you don't, then lie to me..." The song is sad, but the beat is promising. It makes me want to snap my fingers, but cry for Chris Martin. It also makes me feel bad for Apple and Moses. Music is successful if it can bring out emotions.
At first, I told you I didn't get Midnight. But it's what Ink was building up to. And honestly, what's scarier than 12:00 a.m.? You can barely understand what Martin is saying. Hell, I don't even know what he's saying, but it sounds like a ghost story, and that's the point.
Within the first ten seconds of hearing Another's Arms, I immediately thought of Princess of China. I heard a woman's voice, and I gotta think Rihanna. But the swooning adds to the sadness. "Is there someone there to reach me? Is there someone there to find me?" Someone's there Chris. You deserve her.
Coldplay's most successful album might just be its first. Parachutes was filled with strumming acoustic beats that, at the time, were unmatched. Oceans reminds me of that. Though meant to be more like M.M.I.X. or U.F.O. (as a prelude track), the song works beautifully alone. It's offers hope, like the ocean. Endless possibilities.
A Sky Full of Stars obviously takes the cake. In my opinion, this has to be the song of the summer on top-40 radio. An Avicii produced stadium anthem, I have never heard a Coldplay song like this. Think EDM, but better. It's not a computer. It's a piano, it's drums, it's Jonny's guitar, it's Guy's bass. It stands out from the rest of the album, in a good way.
The 9-track album ends with O. A short song name with a grandiose message. Like Everything's Not Lost, Up With The Birds, and 'Til Kingdom Come, I continue to fall in love with the final track of Coldplay albums. Past the six minute mark, Apple Martin provides backing vocals. Powerful stuff, based on what the album is about ... the break-up of her parents.
When it's all said and done, Ghost Stories will be remembered as another brilliant Coldplay album, but not the best. It's powerful enough to top the charts for weeks. But not powerful enough to endure the lasting legacy of one of the world's most popular bands.
The truth is ... I can't choose a favorite Coldplay album. I love this one just as much as Parachutes, AROBTTH, X&Y, VLVODAAHF, and Mylo Xyloto.
I'm giving Ghost Stories a 10/10*.
*Biased review
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