Sunday, November 27, 2011

every teardrop is a waterfall

the new coldplay album came out about 3-4 weeks ago. i heard a few tracks here and there, on the radio, on the web. i watched them perform on the colbert report. i have bought every coldplay album. from the beginning with 'parachutes' to the most recent album, 'viva la vida'. i even thought a real argument could be made that viva la vida was their best album.

but when the new album came out, i felt nothing. i had no desire to buy it, burn it or acquire it in anyway. i was done with coldplay. it was not a conscious decision. it wasn't something i had thought about and considered and finally acted on. i was just done. i had divorced coldplay.

but why? why would i divorce a band who's last album i thought could have been their best one? so i started thinking about why a person divorces a band. it wasn't the first time i had done it. after supergrass's 'road to rouen', i stopped buying their albums. of course, they only had one more left, but that's beside the point. after the white stripes 'get behind me satan' i didn't buy another one of their albums. i think they only had one left too. after 'jacksonville city nights', i stopped buying ryan adam albums and i think we all know he's released a few since then.

i think you reach a saturation point with a band. either a point where you think they're done or a point where you just don't ache for that sound anymore or a point where they don't feel like your band anymore. the relationship between a fan and a band is complicated and often times, ridiculous, but it is real. you do feel affection and love towards this group of people you've never met, but who's music has contributed to your life immensely. and just like a friendship or love has run its course, sometimes being a fan can run its course too.

coldplay, i will cherish what we had. i will cherish listening to 'yellow' and all the songs on 'a rush of blood to the head'. a girl once used one your songs to win my heart. you've achieved great success and adoration all over the world. but i have to move on. i can't be with you and 'mylo xyloto'. it's over, coldplay. goodbye.

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