K-Tel does Coldplay.
HAVINGRECORDED two albums and a few EPs, is it too soon for Coldplay to get their own tribute album? That depends on your definition of "tribute album." There's the traditional type, as demonstrated in the 90s by far too many comps of lame indie acts rushing for the chance to release more product?after, that is, they bought albums by the acts they were supposed to be honoring.
This soon led to a different kind of tribute album. Savvy businessmen realized that the term allowed them to have a hip new moniker for their bargain-line CDs of artists covering songs "in the style of" hot acts of the time. The original K-Tel label built an empire on that kind of crap. Even a young Elton John once paid his rent by banging out faithful imitations of hit tunes.
Europe churns out all kinds of el cheapo "tribute albums" to everyone from Kate Bush to Roxy Music to Backstreet Boys, with each track questionably credited to individual acts. But is A Tribute to Coldplay one of those cold marketing devices, or a genuine show of love?
Christ, who can tell? The songs almost sound like generic remakes, but it's great to finally hear them performed with some passion. The Big Eye label has also chosen all the best tunes from both albums. I'd rather see these no-name acts touring together than suffer through another Coldplay concert. Have you ever seen those guys live? I once saw the Cars in concert during that period when the members didn't even speak to each other backstage. And yet they still seemed like a band of brothers compared to the stilted presence of Coldplay.
Advice: Buy this CD for about $10 and replace both of the Coldplay albums currently in your collection. It's a fine condensation of a two-album career, and their third album will likely really blow. You won't want to own it anyway. Even the eventual best-of compilation may pale next to A Tribute to Coldplay, since Shannon Dea's lovely vocal on "Amsterdam" is a definite improvement on Chris Martin's delivery.
Now if only somebody would kindly do the same for other Britpop acts. Have you seen how much Pulp's singles collection costs?