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Coldplay’s new album is on it’s way and I for one am very excited. Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends is produced by Brian Eno who is regarded as the father of modern ambient music and has previously been involved with the likes of U2 and Bowie. The album is said to take a new direction featuring less of lead singer Chris Martin’s iconic falsetto with a ballsier sound. Currently available for pre-release download from iTunes, the two tracks we’ve had a sneak peak of are Violet Hill and Viva La Vida, the title track. I for one am a big fan of both which is why I went nuts when I saw that Apple had iPod+iTunes-ified Viva La Vida.

Above is a screen grab, click here to check it out on Apple.com or click here to download the Quicktime movie.

Check out more about Coldplay at Coldplay.com, on Wikipedia or iTunes.

Music is such a large motivator, shaping my mood and reflecting thoughts I would otherwise have trouble expressing, so I bring you all the Soundtrack to my Life (aka. my iTunes Top 10), which this week is:

1. Time to Pretend / MGMT
2. Crazy (James Michael Mix) / Alanis Morissette
3. Nicest Thing / Kate Nash
4. Cologne Cerrone Houdini / Goldfrapp
5. A&E / Goldfrapp
6. Tell Me Why (Radio Edit) / Supermode
7. On the Verge of Something Wonderful / Darren Hayes
8. Pretty Vegas / INXS
9. Thou Shalt Always Kill (Radio Edit) / Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip
10. Naughty Girl (Radio Edit) / Mr. G

If you’re keen to hear a preview of any and you’re iTunes savvy, check out the iMix I just created!

To give a quick plug to a few of the songs… Time to Pretend is a phenomenal song, I mentioned it and the amazing music video in my last post. Alanis / Crazy have helped me get through some of the longer and more challenging days at work. Goldfrapp’s new album Seventh Tree is a perfect cure for the morning after a big night, A&E is the biggest seller so far, but I love the violin stabs in Cologne Cerrone Houdini. Tell Me Why is a bit of disco/techno goodness, and Pretty Vegas is another indulgence, just love the beat! Thou Shalt Always has been around for a while, but I rediscovered it the other day and I love the sentiments! Naughty Girl is the fruits of Chris Lilley’s labour in last year’s popular ABC series, Summer Heights High. If you’re a fan, check out the EP, it has a half dozen remixes, including a Paul Mac one. Which leaves only the haunting and melancholy Nicest Thing by Kate Nash (more violin goodness). It’s utterly depressing, but we’ve all been there and felt it.

I also just watched a lot of the music vids for the first time. While Time to Pretend is still the favourite clip of the week, I’m also a big fan of On the Verge of Something Wonderful. Pretty Vegas also has a little eye candy depending on your tastes too!

So that’s it. Let me know what you think in the comments!

My musings are always bought on by something I’ve seen, been told, or realised. In the case of my last post it was two things. One was an awesome idea I saw on a profile on a dating website I use infrequently, where in the “What I’m Looking for” section, the guy had a quiz with points… if you scored more than 100 he suggested you should message him. I thought it was an awesome concept, which sent me into the “Why can’t I come up with those anymore” tailspin… ideas that is…

The other is an amazing video Dan emailed me earlier today – MGMT’s Time to Pretend. I’ve linked the YouTube video below, but if you’re keen check out the Hi-Res version and their album on iTunes.  By all accounts, Rolling Stone has put them on their 2008 “Artists to Watch” list!

For the record, I scored 132 out of 177. Whatever that means!