Welcome back to the final review of AMHS’s favorite LPs.

Let’s start off strong with Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends by Coldplay.  When it comes to Coldplay, I’ve always appreciated their grandiose display of the interplay between art and music, of which there was certainly no shortage on Viva la Vida.  Upon listening to the album that contains its iconic title track, I truly recognized Coldplay’s ambition and experimentation, which differed significantly from the style of their earlier songs such as “Fix You” or “Clocks.”  Personally, I think the track “Death And All His Friends” stands out because of its incredible guitar solo.  I also liked “42,” “Yes,” and “Violet Hill.”  My one complaint was the song “Life in Technicolor.”  It didn’t really do anything for me and I definitely don’t think it deserved to be the first track on the record.  Overall, the album’s themes were very inspiring and optimistic, as aptly depicted by the cover art, Eugène Delacroix’s famous painting of the July Revolution called La Liberté guidant le peuple.

In Utero was disturbing (to say the least), but an absolute masterpiece.  Through its raw sound in tracks like “Scentless Apprentice,” the famous “Heart-Shaped Box,” and “R*** Me,” I got to understand frontman Kurt Cobain just slightly more through his unabashed and unfiltered expression of his deeply repressed anger and frustration.  Nirvana fans like to say that this record was a farewell to listeners before Cobain’s tragic death a little over six months after its release.  Musically, In Utero combines elements of grunge music (which Nirvana catapulted into the mainstream with their 1991 release, Nevermind), with a more experimental noise-rock vibe in order to create some sort of disturbing atmosphere that complements the lyrics.

Here’s the album the Taylor Swift fans won’t like me for talking about: Reputation.  As any Taylor Swift fan will eagerly tell you before listening, this album was created in response to a dark period in Swift’s life.  Her previous album, 1989, was wildly successful and marked her transition from a country music artist into a mainstream pop artist.  However, her continual rise in popularity also brought about her widely-sensationalized and media-scrutinized feud with Kanye West and his then-wife Kim Kardashian over a particular lyric in West’s song “Famous.”  At this time, there were multiple reasons (including legal troubles) to dislike Swift as a person and as an artist, prompting her to hide from the spotlight indefinitely.  Therefore, Reputation attempts to regain the favor of the public.  Although the story of redemption through revenge is great and all, it’s nowhere near as good as 1989, in my opinion.  “Look What You Made Me Do” is the only song that sounds remotely different from previous works, and the album sounds like it was only composed to follow trends.  Lyrically, Swift talks about the troubles of being away from the spotlight and maintaining her public persona, all while handling personal issues and relationships.  While it’s not my favorite, I do praise Reputation for its bravery.

Lastly, I wanted to review OK Computer by Radiohead.  This album was a milestone in Radiohead’s career and the development of 1990s rock.  Blending genuine emotion from the paranoia that frontman Thom Yorke experienced after a car accident, complex imagery, and innovation, songs like “Airbag” and “Paranoid Android” contemplate the toils of human existence, making the album’s themes easily relatable for the average person.  The overall messages bravely delve into contemporary issues such as our reliability on technology, social dissociation, and a very real sense of anxiety.  I really enjoyed “No Surprises,” however, due to its quiet introspection of security and happiness within our world.  Because this album captivated me immediately and also left me questioning my place in the modern world, it instantly became one of my favorites.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this series as much as I have enjoyed listening to and writing about your suggestions.  My knowledge has definitely been expanded and I am eager to keep exploring new genres and new music.