Coldplay's newest EP, Prospekt's March (released today) is in many ways an extension of their latest album Viva la Vida - so much so that there's a deluxe version of Viva la Vida that includes all the new tracks from Prospekt's March. In this critic's humble opinion, Coldplay can rarely do wrong, but Viva la Vida was a little short on tracks and this is how it should've been all along. Regardless, if you liked Viva la Vida, you will love Prospekt's March because it is similar, but not the same.
It takes less risks (like the sweeping "42" or "Yes" - two of my favorite tracks from Viva la Vida), but it is still bold in its own way: unpredictably moving inbetween parts in Glass of Water and playfully overlapping different instrument melodies in Rainy Day. The new Life in Technicolor II is fantastic (and aptly titled) - the most earnest "extension" of a song from the previous album.
I didn't need another version of "Lost!" (yet alone one with Jay-Z rapping in the background) and the "Osaka Sun Mix" of "Lovers in Japan" isn't quite different enough for me to choose over the original (in fact, it sounds virtually the same minus a couple background vocals), but everything else is a must-have for any Coldplay fan - perhaps this album is Coldplay's answer to Keane's phenomenal Perfect Symmetry. Both bands will undoubtedly have their following, but anyone wise enough to enjoy both has a lot to be thankful for this year.
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