Dense Defined
Dictionary.com offers these two meanings to the term "dense": 1. having the component parts closely compacted together; 2. stupid; slow-witted; dull.

Coldplay is putting the finishing touches on their fourth album this week, anticipating an early 2008 release. In a post on their website, the band says of the new material: ""It feels like a very dense record."

Now, when I read that statement, I looked up the term, "dense," and read the possible meanings. My initial thought was to give the band the benefit of the doubt and assume they'd meant the that the "component parts" were "closely compacted together." But, having listened to Coldplay's music in various elevators and during movie trailers, I could only arrive at one conclusion: "Stupid; slow-witted; dull."

Maybe I'm being harsh. Let's put this to a test, using their track record to inform the meaning of the term, "dense." Take, for instance, the lyrics to their most popular song to date, "Yellow."

Look at the stars/ Look how they shine for you,
And everything you do/ Yeah, they were all yellow
I came along / I wrote a song for you,
And all the things you do / And it was called Yellow.
Then I took my turn / Oh what a thing to have done,
And it was all Yellow.

You be the judge: 1) Having parts closely compacted together, or 2) stupid and dull? Maybe the photograph of the band's lead singer will help: