Atlantica - 01.11.2001, Side 22

20 A T L A N T I C A
Chris is trying to get more involved in
now is the whole anti-handgun violence
thing in the US, but there are loads of
things that we are trying to use our influ-
ence with so we can make people more
aware of the big problems out there.”
And so here is the band whose work fea-
tures lyrics like, “I want to live life/never
be cruel”, living by that motto. They
turned down an offer to headline this
summer’s V2001 festival in Chelmsford
and Weston Park in Stafford, explaining
that since they had only recorded one
album to date, they would prefer if a more
prolific band led the way. They also
turned down an offer to feature one of
their tracks on Sylvester Stallone’s most
recent film, Driven, but in the nicest way
possible, of course, with Will describing
the offer as “flattering”, but adding that
the band just didn’t think the track was
appropriate to the film.
Moreover, the bumpy ride of the last two
years doesn’t seem to have blunted their
enthusiasm, with one of the new tracks
aired at Laugardalur repeating the lyrics,
“it’s a wonderful life/I’ve never felt so
alive” (and if that doesn’t get right up
McGee’s nose, I don’t know what will).
Nor have they strayed from their feel-
good course with singer Chris announc-
ing to the crowd, “You know, I can hon-
estly say, that apart from the place
where we were born, we have never felt
so welcome anywhere as we do here.”
Cringe-making? Maybe a little. But then,
that’s just our maladjusted, cynical
selves calling, and the moral of this
story is that we should keep a check on
them.
Jennifer McCormack is a staff writer.
“It’s having your own personal copy that’s been given to you by the band or bought from
the band that makes it special.”
C O L D P L A Y
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