A lot of people don't seem to like Chris Martin. Possibly because he's a Bono-type in-your-face frontman, possibly because his wife is Gwyneth Paltrow, possibly because he named his child Apple, I don't know. What I do know however is that this man has produced the most timeless melodies of the 21st Century and for that reason, he is owed the second spot in our weekly list of the best.
In 1997, the Britpop scene was coming to a close and something of a void was left for the alternative rock mainstream. Travis were fine for a couple of years, the Stereophonics were good but not great and Radiohead seemed a bit outside the whole idea of chart-success. It was a puzzling time, which was dominated by the continual growth of boy-bands, girl power and general pop music. In 2000 however, with the dawn of a new millenium against the background of a beach came this man, looking somewhat dishevelled in the video for "Yellow." With Coldplay was a new Oasis... well, if they had gone to college and grown up in better social conditions with a penchant for piano riffs.
The album Parachutes was a quasi-acoustic great with delicacies among other tracks besides the lead single, including "Trouble," "Everything's Not Lost" and "Sparks." A Rush of Blood to the Head was even better. Featuring the singles "The Scientist," "Clocks," "In My Place" and "God Put A Smile Upon Your Face," it was a more grandiose burst of energy which elevated them soon to the high ranks of the pop/rock world; their only true competitors being U2- an Irish band formed in the late '70s. Considered one of the best albums of recent times, it showed just how talented a pianist and writer Martin was. There was never much to be found in the lyrics but because of their generalised themes and the chord progressions, which were enough to hook but not lose the listener, he was able to succeed on a massive level.
Coldplay - God Put A Smile Upon Your Face on MUZU.TV.
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After a third album in X and Y which continued on from the sounds of their last two records, it was time for a change of pace however. In 2008, "Violet Hill" was the small taster for a greater vision, a rock-leaning tune with a more colourful, vibrant timbre than anything before. "Viva La Vida" would be the smash-hit of that year though; proving that Martin was a force to be reckoned with both in the charts and on the stage, as Coldplay delivered another widely popular tour. Always looking to push their limits however, they experimented for a great deal of time before releasing Mylo Xyloto in late 2011. Five albums on and Martin once again was able to produce a monster hit in "Paradise" across a span of numbers which showcased their variety most eloquently, from pop-rock ("Charlie Brown") to acoustic ("Up With the Birds") to sentimental ("Up in Flames") and beyond. The only question left worth asking when it was over was; what they could possibly bring next.
Coldplay - Viva La Vida on MUZU.TV.
Martin does not have as interesting a life story as other songwriters- he's not particularly radical and by rock standards, he's fairly tame. He has gained a wealth of respect however from U2 to Jay-Z for his aptitude for what he does best; sitting at a piano and knocking out the most clear and distinctive songs of today. He is a rare combination of mainstream and intriguing in this sense; a sure legend to come in the songwriting book of fame and a good deal more humble than anyone else in his position.
For next week: Well, we've reached the end of the line and next week, the #1 top songwriter of these past 25 years will be revealed. Here's our final clue: it's not Matt Bellamy, Pharrell Williams, Alex Turner, Eminem, Damon Albarn, Thom Yorke, Jay-Z, Kurt Cobain or Chris Martin.
