It was an album I missed when I was buying the rest of their discography on CD and I am mad that it took me a month or so longer to get my hands on this one because it's one of my favourites. If Coldplay are considered to be too far gone into "popslop" this is proof that they are still very capable of producing something unique and enjoyable to listen to. It not being popslop kind of means it's underrated though like I don't think I have heard a single person (outside of diehard Coldplay circles) say that any of the tracks on here are one of their favourites, the only track from Everyday Life that I have heard played in public/radio was Flags from the JP edition of the album when I was in a Tesco the same night I was seeing the early preview screening of Moon Music. If that's what happens when they do something different then no wonder they swung right back around in the other direction and made MoTS after this.
The first three tracks are great, Trouble in Town really explodes towards the end and I wish they did that with more songs because off the top of my head the 2 other ones I can think of that are like this are Such a Rush from Safety EP and All I Can Think About Is You from Kaleidoscope EP. Daddy is beautiful and WOTW/POTP is an alright interlude track but WOW Arabesque is such a good track it just has that aura and definitely one of their best tracks the end of the song feels really good on my ears with headphones on.
The first track of the second half (Sunset) Guns sounds unique like it reminds me of another song but I can't pinpoint what, it's also crazy hearing Chris swear in a song. Orphans is a banger but usually with anti-war albums/tracks they aren't really this uplifting?? Eko is nice and Cry Cry Cry sounds cool with the record crackle and the funny little voice on this track isn't anywhere near as annoying as it is on their next album. Children of Adam starts off with the crazy piano which is apparently just Kaleidoscope from the last album and then goes into this beautiful sounding second half to transition into Champion of the World like what more could you ask for in a mainly instrumental track. Champion of the World is a track I had on repeat the week I was really getting into the album and the title track is a really nice closer.
I do really like the album and I think if the tracks in the middle were just a bit better or even if it was more condensed it would easily be a top 3 Coldplay album. I listened to this on repeat when playing Deadlock a while back and listening to it again I totally get why I listened to it so much.