Musical Thesis: Coldplay “Everyday Life”

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At the center of every album is a musical thesis. This thesis can be the driving force behind the album, a theme that interweaves songs together, or a feeling you are left with after the very last song plays. With some albums, the thesis is easy to find. On others, it is hidden and requires you to be more than a passive listener. These reviews are not about rating an album. Instead, it is about uncovering a musical thesis.

I have been a fan of Coldplay since the very beginning, but, if I am being honest, my relationship has wavered in the last few years. As their music became pop-oriented and more accepted by a larger audience, I found myself turning away. So much so, that I skipped the last two releases entirely.

I don’t know what made me give “Everyday Life” a chance. Maybe it was a music video, a song in my Spotify rotation, or perhaps it is the fact that ending a relationship has never been one of my strengths. Whatever the reason, I am so glad I did. Taken as a collection, these songs serve as a reflection of the moment in which we find ourselves. They are deeply soulful to the point of almost appearing religious. It is impossible to listen to these songs and not hear a longing for our better angels. With a couple of exceptions, these songs are also subdued and…