Posted on November 29, 2008 - by Jon

Coldplay – Prospekts March EP Review

Coldplay - Prospekts March

It seems odd that one of the largest bands in the world like Coldplay decided to release an EP.  Not so much that they released an EP but that they choose to release one this late into their careers.  Most bands release a EP early in their careers to generate buzz or to garner some attention to fuel their full length album.  However, on Prospekts March Coldplay just wanted to show off a body of songs that wouldn’t have fit on Viva La Vida, it’s not that the songs weren’t good enough – they just didn’t fit the concept of Viva.

As it stands Prospekts March has quite a bit of value to it.  This album is more then just a B-sides or a disc of extra’s, Prospekts March stands as more of a companion to Viva La Vida then anything else.   Many of the songs on this album are departure in some sense or manner from the classic Coldplay that most know and love.  This isn’t a problem as Coldplay shows a different side to their musicality while never sounding awkward or forced.  “Rainy Day”  is a pop song with quirky undertones as Coldplay does some light experimenting with their sound, the song  bops along from bar to bar and it’s the most “fun” sounding song that Coldplay has released.  “Glass of Water” is a strong song that wasn’t placed on Viva as it sounds more upfront and immediate than any other song on Viva La Vida.  The opener “Life in Technicolor II” adds vocals and loses the lo-fi sound quality that had many confused when first listening to Viva La Vida. Elsewhere on the disc, “Lost+” is one of two remixes on the album (the other being Osaka’s Suns remix of Lovers in Japan) and has had the industry buzzing as it features an unlikely pairing with Jay-Z.  Jay-Z  however is a perfect complement on the song in which he provides a strong verse capped off with one of the best lines ever featured on a Coldplay Song “And the question is, is to have had and lost better than not having at all? / Because I’m…”.  It’s a great song that sounds like the collaboration was planned rather than just tacked on.

In total Prospekts March features 8 songs which include two remixes and six tracks that were the left overs from the Brian Eno produced “Viva La Vida Sessions”, this should fool most listeners as the EP sounds more like a main course then anything else.

Rating: 7.5/10

Notable Tracks:Glass of Water, Life in Technicolor ii, Lost+

For Fans of: I think everybody by now knows what Coldplay sounds like

Released on: November 25, 2008