• POP

COLDPLAY

Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends

5 Capitol

*** ½

At first listen to Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, Coldplay's fourth studio album, you might wonder: What is wrong with Chris Martin?

The singer seems to be in a bad place, judging from many of his lyrics, which seem full of angst and obsessed with one's shortcomings. But upon repeated plays, and as Martin's glorious melodies fully sink in, the sun begins to peek out from behind all the clouds.

Producer Brian Eno (U2, Talking Heads) shows why he's considered the father of modern ambient music -- his eerie, atmospheric touch and unorthodox song structures pervade the album, allowing the band to step out of its verse-chorus-verse comfort zone. Coldplay is clearly bent on stretching its musical boundaries, and the result is not as easily accessible as previous works, but it's ultimately thrilling.

Echoing guitar and swelling synths add a sense of foreboding to the otherwise lively, sing-song Cemeteries of London;a thunderous bass drum, hand claps and church organ elevate Lost! beyond a mere pop song; and a complex musical interlude that recalls classical compositions by John Adams liberates Death and All His Friends from typical morose piano ballad.

Elsewhere, Martin struggles with temptation on Yes (``It's not easy when she turns you on . . . God knows I'm trying my best/But I'm just so tired of this loneliness''); mourns lost ones on 42 (``Those who are dead are not dead/They're just living in my head''), which breaks out of its dirge midway through with a crashing, jagged, Radiohead-style guitar jam; and bemoans a fall from grace on the compelling, string-driven first single Viva La Vida: ``I used to rule the world/Seas would rise when I gave the word/Now in the morning I sleep alone/Sweep the streets I used to own.''

But on Lovers In Japan/Reign of Love,Martin is inspired to declare, ''I have no doubt/One day the sun will come out.'' Beyond the album's litany of human weaknesses, its true message is hopeful: Mankind will forge on despite all its flaws.

Pod Picks: Cemeteries of London, 42, Viva La Vida.

-- MICHAEL HAMERSLY

mhamersly@MiamiHerald.com

WALTER BECKER

Circus Money

5 Over 12/Mailboat

***

Walter Becker won't win awards for productivity. Circus Money is only his second solo effort in 14 years and his parent group, Steely Dan, has only issued two studio albums since 1980.

But maybe Becker's music is like fine wine, it just needs time to age. Circus Money is vintage late-period Steely Dan. Though he's working with producer Larry Klein (who is coming off an Album of the Year Grammy win for producing Herbie Hancock) instead of longtime Steely Dan partner Donald Fagen, Becker captures the precise sophistication -- and audiophile finesse -- of Steely Dan albums like Gaucho. But, inspired by reggae and Jamaican dub rhythms, Becker gives his rhythm section a different kind of workout.

Becker's character sketches also remain quirky and oddly compelling. There's Betsy Button on Door Number Two, who feeds the Vegas slots with her paper cup of nickels in vain. ''She needs three bars, three cherries, three lemons, three pigs, a date with Elvis, a new car'' Becker sings.

On Downtown Canon two jaded Los Angelenos -- one ''a half-crazed painter fool in some damn bar'' -- fuel their ''cocaine dreams and Chiba-Chiba nights'' by ''chasing sensations to remind us who we are.'' Becker, who abdicates the lead vocal spot in Steely Dan to Fagan, does a fine job reflecting loss in Paging Audrey.

Steely Dan fans are going to love playing this Circus Money.

Pod Picks:Downtown Canon, Three Picture Deal, Bob Is Not Your Uncle Any More.

-- HOWARD COHEN

hcohen@MiamiHerald.com

EMMYLOU HARRIS

All I Intended to Be

Nonesuch

**

Any individual song on Emmylou Harris' first studio CD in five years -- which also marks a reunion with her ex-husband and producer Brian Ahern -- would be a gem on any one of her albums.

Best is the lovely Shores of White Sand, a sad but ultimately hopeful dedication to Doobie Brother drummer Keith Knudsen who died of pneumonia in 2005. ''Some say I'm sinking to the muddy bottom / But somehow I'm sailing to shores of white sand,'' Harris sings in her distinctive nasal tone.

Gone, with harmonies from long-time collaborator Dolly Parton, is nice too, and her faithful cover of Tracy Chapman's evocative All That You Have Is Your Soul is worth a listen if you don't have Chapman's 1989 original.

But, as on nearly all of her albums, the unrelenting downbeat tempos and Harris' unwavering, depressed delivery becomes overwhelmingly monotonous over the course of a 13-track CD.

Pod Pick:Shores of White Sand.

-- HOWARD COHEN

BENNY BENASSI

Rock 'N' Rave

5 Ultra Records

** ½

Italian DJ/producer Benny Benassi is renowned for pumping up nightclubs all over the world (including South Beach hot spots such as Mansion), but he's best known for his 2003 electro-house stomper Satisfaction,which tasted the mainstream when it was featured in a commercial for Wendy's.

Benassi is back with a double CD, Rock 'N' Rave,which, as its title suggests, offers a set of original dance tracks with teeth and a set of remixes of old-school favorites.

Highlights of the first CD include the instrumental Finger Food,which mixes the Euro-house style of Bob Sinclar with clanging techno synths to create a smooth yet powerful groove; U Move U Rock Me, Benassi's answer to Satisfaction with its crunchy electro bass and robotic vocals; the swirling keyboard-driven first single, I Am Not Drunk,whose synthetic female voice adds the twist ''enough'' to its title at the end; and the dreamy, exhilarating Love and Motion,featuring vocals by Christian Burns of the popular British pop band BBMak.

The six-song second CD feels little more than an afterthought. The sluggish Bring the Noise Remix can't be saved by a shout-out from Public Enemy rapper Chuck D. But almost worth the price of the whole thing is Benassi's remix of Black Box's 1990 hit Everybody Everybody -- his pulsing synths give a classic a fresh shot of energy.

Pod Picks: I Am Not Drunk, Love and Motion, Everybody Everybody.

-- MICHAEL HAMERSLY

Join the discussion

Note: If this is your first time using our NEW commenting system, you will have to LOG OUT and then LOG BACK IN.

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.CommentBody@

@Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@