Review: Coldplay at Etihad Stadium, November 13, 2012

COLDPLAY
Mylo Xyloto Tour
Etihad Stadium
Tuesday, November 13, 2012

*** 1/2

Coldplay lit up the hearts – and wrists – of all and sundry in a confetti-inflected, technicoloured, energetic love-in at Etihad Stadium last night. From teens to silver-hairs and even the nose-clogged (the toilets had suspiciously long queues, and one young bloke exited a cubicle with a blood nose), everyone got what they paid for. While favouring their latest album a little too much they still weaved in enough classics to remind us why they’ve been the soundtrack to so many lives. Standouts were God Put a Smile Upon your Face, Yellow, Warning Sign, Viva La Vida and Violet Hill. 　

Review: Muse - Madness

MADNESS
Muse, Warner Bros.

***1/2

It’s a million miles from Stockholm Syndrome and Assassin, but Madness, the poppy second single from the forthcoming Muse album (The Second Law, to be released October 1) brings its own level of interest.

I disliked it on first listen; it reeked of Queen (even more so than some of their recent efforts) and the slinky electronic pulse sounded just too camp to be taken seriously.

But subsequent hearings have softened my stance. It’s a nicely crafted slice of electro-pop with a chorus that should haul them to the top of the mainstream charts. Which, I can't help thinking, is the aim.

It’s like they enjoy toying with their fans’ heads. There’s that, and the fact that Matt Bellamy is one restless mofo.

Progressive? Not especially. Catchy? Absolutely.

Top 50 Radiohead Songs

 1  Let Down OK Computer
 2  Karma Police OK Computer
 3  Paranoid Android OK Computer
 4  Pyramid Song Amnesiac
 5  Bones The Bends
 6  Bodysnatchers In Rainbows
 7  Kid A Kid A
 8  There There Hail to the Thief
 9  Motion Picture Soundtrack Kid A
10 Idioteque Kid A
11 No Surprises OK Computer
12 Nude In Rainbows
13 2+2=5 Hail to the Thief
14 Everything in Its Right Place Kid A
15 Weird Fishes/Arpeggi In Rainbows
16 A Wolf at the Door Hail to the Thief
17 Last Flowers In Rainbows Disc 2
18 Exit Music (For a Film) OK Computer
19 How to Disappear Completely Kid A
20 Jigsaw Falling Out of Place In Rainbows
21 Fake Plastic Trees The Bends
22 Creep Pablo Honey
23 Where I End and You Begin Hail to the Thief
24 Fitter, Happier OK Computer
25 I Will Hail to the Thief
26 The Bends The Bends
27 15 Step In Rainbows
28 Morning Bell Kid A
29 Subterranean Homesick Alien OK Computer
30 Street Spirit (Fade Out) The Bends
31 Reckoner In Rainbows
32 Videotape In Rainbows
33 Lotus Flower The King of Limbs
34 Sulk The Bends
35 The National Anthem Kid A
36 My Iron Lung The Bends
37 Electioneering OK Computer
38 Sail to the Moon Hail to the Thief
39 Like Spinning Plates (live piano version) Amnesiac
40 Give Up The Ghost The King of Limbs
41 High & Dry The Bends
42 Anyone Can Play Guitar Pablo Honey
43 Codex The King of Limbs
44 Four Minute Warning In Rainbows Disc 2
45 Blowout Pablo Honey
46 Knives Out Amnesiac
47 Fog Non-album track
48 Life in a Glasshouse Amnesiac
49 Polyethylene (Parts 1 & 2) Non-album track
50 Stop Whispering Pablo Honey