Frontman Chris "Ricky" Martin spoke with Billboard about the effort, "We're still obsessed with making songs that can be sung to the rafters. We just wanted to present them differently." The CD title had a thoughtful back story* until they added the "or Death and All His Friends," which we're not sure about the loca reason for that addition. Maybe he likes the conflicting statements. Like Apple to Orange?

Nevertheless, Martin and those other guys brought on Markus Dravs and Brian Eno to produce the ten track album which hits stores on June 17th. But there is hope for some kind of extras CD or a 'make our fans buy this again' special addition, as the band reportedly recorded more song then they can use. Some of those tracks are supposedly titled "Postcards From Far Away," "Rainy Day" and "Now My Feet Won't Touch The Ground." Here are the tracks that did make the final cut or as we like to say 10 Reasons To Avoid The New Coldplay CD:

Life In Technicolor
Cemeteries Of London
Lost!
42
Lovers In Japan/Reign Of Love
Yes
Viva La Vida
Violet Hill
Strawberry Swing
Death And All His Friends

*Martin told Rolling Stone that the album title was inspired by a painting by Mexican artist Frida Khalo. Viva la Vida translates to the rather redundant statement "long live life". However, when taken in the context of Khalo's battle with polio, a broken spine and chronic pain, the words do convey a stronger message and that connected with Martin. "She went through a lot of sh*t, of course, and then she started a big painting in her house that said 'Viva la Vida,'" says Martin. "I just loved the boldness of it."