My Coldplay single theory

Finally, Coldplay's new single is out. I was able to take advantage of the free download on their site that lasted for a week. I personally think the new song "Violet Hill" is brilliant and I am super-pumped for the rest of the album. It's always exciting to see how a band reinvents themselves on a new album and how they have evolved in the songwriting and production process.

Which brings me to my "Coldplay single theory". I have noticed that everytime Coldplay has released a new album, the first single from that album always sounds the most like a song(s) from the previous record and then the rest of the album is more unique. I think they do this purposefully as a means of connecting the dots for people if you will, especially those casual fans who maybe only listen to the radio or download the occasional song. Here's the evidence to support my hypothesis. Coldplay put out "Parachutes" and "Yellow" was the big hit off that album. The first single from their next album "Rush of Blood to the Head" was "In My Place" which is a great song but it is similar in style, feel and format to "Yellow". When the rest of the album came out, it was much more unique and different as evidenced by "Politik" and "Clocks". (Incidentally, I had the privilege of seeing Coldplay at First Ave right before "Rush of Blood" came out and they opened with "Politik". It blew my mind.) Let's move on to "X&Y". The first single was "Speed of Sound" which could have easily been a track on "Rush of Blood". Then they went on to "Square One" and "Fix You" which my be one of my favorite songs of all time. Now we have "Violet Hill", which is fantastic but yet reminds me in some ways of "Square One" (the way it comes down to just piano and vocals at the end) and of the song "X&Y".

So, if my theory holds true, "Viva la Vida" is going to be ridiculously good and the most eclectic and diverse offering of anything we have heard from Coldplay thus far. Not bad for a band who the critics said was going to be a one hit wonder.