Like a Serenade of Sound

Coldplay's new EP Prospekt's March is now out.

Six tracks are leftovers from the Brian Eno-produced "Vida" sessions, many of which make noticeable, if not exactly terrifying, departures from the band's swelling rockery. "Life in Technicolor ii" (which is a song, Chris Martin cracks on the band's Web page) gets words, "Glass of Water" is unusually bombastic, and "Rainy Day" sports a jittery electro beat in the vein of U2's "Zooropa."

I don't get the collaboration with Jay-Z, but I guess everybody needs a gimmick. I actually quite enjoy Viva La Vida - especially the title track and Strawberry Swing - so I'll likely pick this up as well.