Nothing Really Adventurous About Coldplay's Latest Effort

I admire Coldplay very much. In the 21st century they've put out some compelling singles. "Clocks" never ceased to be riveting. "Speed of Sound" delivered on the stadium sized harmonies only the likes of U2 are especially known for. Chris Martin has vocal gifts that shy away from overwhelming the listener but take care to add everything from melancholy to grandiose passages to haunting chill worthy classic backdrop sounds. Nothing but praise going on here as you can tell. That's why it puts heaviness in my heart to inform you that "Adventure Of A Lifetime" is far from adventurous. In fact you'd be forgiven if you took one listen and presumed the song was better equipped for the Muzak file at your friendly neighborhood dentist's office or piped into the grocery store as a means of getting you to hurry up with your shopping because the longer you dilly dally the more of this saccharine enhanced treacle you'll be forced to listen to. "Adventure Of A Lifetime" has to be the most wide audience pandering cut Coldplay has ever foisted upon us. There are bells and whistles galore, not a positive statement for a band with Coldplay's long history of excellence. Jonny Buckland and Guy Berryman mix in their alto and bass guitars to form a light, gooey froth not unlike what angel food cake tastes like. If you listen close enough you might discern voice tricks appropriate to an '80s era Peter Gabriel track than a Coldplay number. Something about the special effect makes me think of stirrings in the jungle. But, getting on to brass tacks, "Speed of Sound" wore the coat of an outfit primed for adventure. "Clocks" couldn't help but make you feel cognizant of the time warp we all must endure as price of participation in the human race. "Adventure Of A Lifetime" sets the bar unusually low. Possibly Coldplay was under the impression that, at this stage of its career it could assemble a song with "phoned in" written all over it. I suppose even the most accurate basketball player is bound to have a few clang off the rim. I'm merely saying I don't respect a song that doesn't deliver what it promises to deliver. I prefer not to think "Walgreens pharmacy department" when I hear a Coldplay song but, that's the unfortunate conclusion I come to. "Head Full Of Dreams" hits the street next month. We're in trouble if "Adventure Of A Lifetime" represents the best track of the bunch. Will Champion's drumming here makes him look like (embrace the corny joke if you dare) an also-ran rather than a champion (I'm here, maybe not all week, but nice lean chunks of it). Have we entered a period in modern music where A-list bands can get away with so much less than what they're capable of? If Coldplay's fronting that non-revolution what a shame that outcome would be. This band has fully demonstrated its versatility often in the past. It's that versatility which brought them to the head of the musical chow line. "Adventure Of A Lifetime" is about as exciting as a trip to the dry cleaners.