X&Y
Coldplay's third studio album, a turbulent yet triumphant record that became the best-selling album of 2005.
X&Y is the third studio album by the British rock band Coldplay. It was released on 6 June 2005 by Parlophone in the United Kingdom, and a day later by Capitol in the United States. Produced by Coldplay and producer Danton Supple, the album was recorded during a turbulent period for the band, during which their manager and creative director, Phil Harvey, briefly departed. Producer Ken Nelson was originally tasked with producing the record; however, many songs written during his sessions were discarded due to the band's dissatisfaction with them.
The album's cover art combines colours and blocks to represent the title in Baudot code. The album contains twelve tracks, divided into respective halves labeled "X" and "Y", and an additional hidden song, "Til Kingdom Come", which is listed as "+" on the disc label and inside the record's booklet. It was originally planned for American country star Johnny Cash to record it with lead singer Chris Martin, but Cash died before he was able to do so.
At a runtime of 62 minutes and 30 seconds, it is Coldplay's longest studio album. After facing high anticipation, X&Y received positive reviews and was a significant commercial success. The album reached number one in 32 countries upon release, with EMI shipping over 5 million copies in its first week worldwide. In the United Kingdom, the band earned the third-highest debut in history.
In the United States, they earned their first Billboard 200 chart-topper. X&Y was the second-best-selling album of 2005, with 8.3 million copies, behind Mariah Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi. It ranks among the biggest records of the 21st century, with 13 million units by December 2012. Four singles were made available: "Speed of Sound", "Fix You", "Talk" and "The Hardest Part".
Despite its success, the band's opinion of the album has soured over time, largely due to the recording's turbulent dynamic and their disappointment in the final product.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Coldplay
- Release year
- 2005
- Genre
- Alternative Rock, Electronic Rock
- Key singles
- Speed of Sound
- Fix You
- Talk
- Production style
- Darker and more experimental than previous works
Lore & Background
Coldplay announced details about X&Y in March 2004 while the album was being recorded. Their initial plans were to stay out of the public eye throughout the year. Lead singer Chris Martin stated, "We really feel that we have to be away for a while and we certainly won't release anything this year, because I think people are a bit sick of us." This plan was not carried out, because of the pressure their second album A Rush of Blood to the Head had induced; but they were trying "to make the best thing that anyone has ever heard".
Prior to the announcement, Martin, lead guitarist Jonny Buckland and British record producer Ken Nelson had started recording demos while in Chicago. The band then entered a London studio in January 2004. The band spent all of 2004 producing X&Y. The released album is the third version the band had produced during the recording sessions, and some have even considered it as their fifth album due to constant changes in track lists and re-recordings.
The band members were not satisfied with the output of their initial sessions with Nelson, who had produced the band's previous two albums, Parachutes (2000) and A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002). It also remains the only Coldplay album in which they had been through the creative process without Phil Harvey's "presence, influence and guidance". The initial set release date was late 2004, but was later pushed back to January 2005. As the new target date was approaching, the band again discarded songs, which they deemed "flat" and "passionless".
Sixty songs were written during these sessions. The band started rehearsing the songs for a planned tour, but felt the songs sounded better live compared to their recorded versions: "We realized that we didn't really have the right songs and some of them were starting to sound better because we were playing them than they did on record, so we thought we better go back and record them again." Guitarist Jonny Buckland has said that the band had pushed themselves "forward in every direction" in making the album, but they felt it sounded like they were going backwards compared to their earlier works.
Attempting to perfect their work, Coldplay had to "step it up a few notches and work hard at it to get it right". The band chose Danton Supple, who mixed the bulk of A Rush of Blood to the Head, to oversee the production of X&Y.
Reader's Guide
The music of X&Y consists of multi-layered production with heavy electronic influences, featuring the extensive use of synthesizers. Musical characteristics that contribute to the album's multi-layering and grandiosity include fast tempos (in contrast to the two previous albums), dynamic drum patterns, distorted guitar riffs, and driving basslines. Coldplay have also cited various other influences in the album. That of German electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk is evident on the song "Talk", which borrows (with permission) its hook from 1981's "Computer Love", with the riff being played on electric guitar instead of on a synthesizer.
Also present is large electronic musical influences, from some of the likes of English musicians David Bowie and Brian Eno. Eno, who would later produce Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, also played backing synthesizer on the track "Low". The first single, "Speed of Sound", also takes inspiration from the drumbeat of English singer-songwriter Kate Bush's song "Running Up that Hill". According to Jon Pareles of The New York Times, who wrote a controversial article extensively criticizing the album, the band attempts to "carry the beauty of 'Clocks'" across the album, borrowing some of its features in songs like "Speed of Sound".
The opening track "Square One" also features the famous motif from Also sprach Zarathustra, known better as the title theme of Stanley Kubrick's 1968 science-fiction film 2001: A Space Odyssey. The three-note sequence is replicated in the song by distorted guitar riffs, with a backing synthesizer added for musical texture. The sequence also transitions as a part of the song's chorus, showcasing Chris Martin's trademark falsetto voice. "Fix You" features an organ and piano sound.
The song starts with a hushed electronic organ ballad, including Martin's falsetto. The song then builds with both an acoustic guitar and piano sound. The sound then shifts with a plaintive three-note guitar line, ringing through a bringing rhythm upbeat tempo. Its instrumentation is varied with the sound of church-style organs hovering throughout the background, piano notes, acoustic and electric guitar riffs, drums, bass guitar, and a singalong chorus.
"The Hardest Part" features a faster piano ballad sound, and starts with a repeating two-note piano riff, and features an instrumentation of a singsong guitar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the title X&Y actually mean?
The name uses mathematical variables to symbolize unknowns in life and relationships, reflecting the band's desire for creative openness. Chris Martin selected it to suggest the music could fit any emotional equation a listener might bring.
When was the album released by Coldplay?
Coldplay officially dropped their third studio record in June 2005 while riding high after the success of 'A Rush of Blood to the Head'. This timing solidified their status as major global artists during that era.
How did the musical style change on this record?
Listeners noticed a distinct shift away from simple acoustic sounds toward intricate compositions featuring synthesized layers and heavier guitars. This darker approach marked the transition before they fully adopted electronic production techniques.
Which singles were most important to the album's success?
Key releases included 'Speed of Sound', 'Fix You', and 'Talk', which showcased the band's evolving songwriting within alternative rock. These tracks explored complex emotions while integrating new sonic elements into their signature style.
More in Eras & Musical Evolution
Elsewhere in Coldplay
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