What Chris Martin Craves

I've grown to like Viva La Vida, but don't love it, and find it funny that the same critic's that blasted their previous one are now singing the band's praises just because they hired Brian Eno and have made their "serious" album. You see all artists eventually succumb to this temptation. For most, the years of being given scant critical respect makes them ditch the frothy singles and go for big statements. Chris Martin is feeling the need for a pat on the back. At a scant 45 minutes you have to give him credit for not indulging one's ego by padding this out for over 70 minutes. Like R.E.M.'s latest, Coldplay keep their songs quick and to the point. But does it add up? I like the lead singles, and hear "Lost" as the best song on the album. On second spin I liked it better, but it's not their best work (I'll go with their first), and like R.E.M. it will be admired by the critic's more than the die-hards.