Coldplay- X & Y

The long-awaited third release from Coldplay, X & Y, opens much like the end credit sequence of the film "Garden State." The pervasive Frou Frou song "Let Go" coupled neo-folky vocals with the kind of ambience that Coldplay pioneered with "Clocks." She was a copy cat. And after the tremendous range of "A Rush of Blood to the Head", we should ask for some more innovation from the lads.

After numerous listens, X & Y isn't a bad album. Coldplay sticks to a common theme of soaring, atmospheric anthems and credos that make the soul feel pretty good. But under the pretty, deceiving organs and falsettos, Coldplay is ultimately trying to figure out the equation for their own identity.

The title "X & Y" describes the inherent dualities in people and chromosomes but this album couldn't be more consistent. Johnny Buckland's guitar always accentuates Martin's plush vocals and Will Champion's propulsive drum taps always warn of the crashing hooks to come. On "Fix You," Coldplay has never sounded more confident (though "God Put a Smile on Your Face" was pretty close). The Gwyneth Paltrow-inspired epic is universally great. "Lights will guide you home/And ignite your bones/And I will try to fix you," Martin promises before a sweeping current of Buckland guitar takes the fastest elevator to heaven. The song will kill live and is immensely replayable.

Other songs are quite boring and seem perfectly fit for a variable amount of film trailers. "The Speed of Sound" is a murmur that sounds just like "Clocks." Luckily the third act of the song bails the redundancy out with a drum break that culminates in Martin and Buckland's melodic teamwork.

Other songs work to perfection. Chris Martin's falsetto on "Swallowed in the Sea" bleeds with empathy and the hidden track is a welcome acoustic departure.

Teamwork defines the work of Coldplay and the only element that glaringly fails the tight equation of Coldplay is Martin's lyrics. Martin isn't afraid of waxing sappy, and that's acceptable. But words like "I tried to sing, but couldn't think of anything" feel dangerously melodramatic.

"X &Y's" biggest drawback is that it comes after the brilliant and eclectic "Rush of Blood to the Head." The bands aim is now the singular vision of greatness. With "X & Y" Coldplay, has officially become an epic band worthy of stadium-sized scrutiny; and, yes, we should be lucky to be waiting for the next stab at the stars.

Who Should Listen: Those sick of Travis, Starsailor and Keane.

The White Stripes- Get Behind Me Satan

Jack and Meg White are back again with "Get Behind Me Satan." The Stripes started their career with a stripped down aesthetic that sounded like a fever pitch. White Blood Cells then offered the perfect marriage between Detroit punk and Southern folk. Recently they went Zeppelin on "Elephant." By now we know them as all of the above incarnations, and "Get Behind Me Satan" finds us terribly under their spell, ready to follow the rock wherever it may roam.

There are a new elements here. The record was recorded in Detroit and mixed in Tennessee. Toy pianos grace the blunt-fisted crunch of "Red Rain." "Blue Orchid" is embellished by guitar distortion. Tracks like "Little Ghost" show that The Stripes can spit bluegrass just like The Carter Family. The best track, "Forever for Her (Is Over for Me)", features a marimba tune that takes the sound into Africa.

Jack's songwriting has never been more playful and mournful after manning the studio for his idol Loretta Lynn. White switches moods on a dime, from the mandolin stomp of "As Ugly as I Seem" to the heartbreaking piano ballad "I'm Lonely (But I Ain't That Lonely Yet)." "I'm Lonely" is Jack's most flagrant stab at rumors of a siblinghood between him and Meg (And I love my sister/Lord knows how I've missed her/ Sometimes I get jealous/Of all her little pets).

By now we get the inside joke and as the final piano arpeggios twinkle, Jack White helps us realize there are no distant plains of Americana he will leave unturned. This CD is one of the year's best.

Who Should Listen: Those looking for bruising and beautiful songs from a band that mixes bluegrass and rock.
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