Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head

[Titan]

Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head

<LI>Politik
A solid and frightening intro, especially if you were expecting the toned down sound like that of the last album. Leading in with transcendental lyrics, the song burns into an easy rockful 4/4 chorus... 4/4... something that will become a little to old whilst listening to this album. (If you don’t what 4/4 is, listen to Seraphim’s album. Ouch. It’s okay, I’m in the band. No, really. I’m the maraca player.) An interesting interlude, that keeps you listening, and el finale. So far it kicks along pretty well.

<LI>In My Place
Though it is a single, it really is a very good track. I say this because singles are usually pop tracks, not good ones. Not to say that there aren’t good pop tracks, but usually the pop tracks are easily outshined by other tracks on the album. Chris Martin does some of the best vocals on this track. Very memorable, very unique melodies. A fabulous taunting bridge, makes you wish you were on the virge of a break up, so you could save it with this song. Jon Buckland’s newly enhanced reverb plucking style is used very well here.

<LI>God Put a Smile Upon Your Face
Very mysterious yet wrought with hopeful emotions. A bid of a classic nod up-beatism of the poppy sixties tracks. This one definitely hooks you at first, and then grows on you even more. Face it kids, you’ll be singing along to this one for days. This poppish masterpiece isn’t one that should get old fast.

<LI>The Scientist
The first few hints of piano make you think it’s going to be Oasis’s “Don’t Look Back in Anger”. Not so, it’s quite different, but almost as good. One of my favourites off the album. A slow, piano-driven song. Haunting love-burdened vocals spew inside of slowly pounding piano bars. The vocals on this are some of the best on this song. And the lyrics provide the right mood... listen for “Oh take me back to the start”. If you download no other, get this one, very powerful, it will do you good.

<LI>Clocks
Like a quite train, egging along, searching for a meaning, this song chugs along and eventually arrives at the tunnel of great harmonies, but, unfortunately, it does not enter. It misses it’s chance, so many untapped harmonies. One thing that is a little lacking on this album. Good piano work, and a good flowy vibe going through this track, but nothing exceptional. Unless you like to singalong and make up your own harmonies like me, then it’s a winner.

<LI>Daylight
A good effort for some great experimental guitar work. Although Jon should probably stick to the guitar. I could have done without his low vocal part over the whole song. It’s not that he can’t carry a tune, but it just really clashes with the feeling of the rest of song. You get used to it, but it’s certainly a stretch. Not the most dazzling song on the album anyway. A fabulous outro though, I must note.

<LI>Green Eyes
I’d have to say the lyrics are probably the highlight of the song. Some interesting melodies are awakened, but mostly nothing substantial. After a couple minutes it kind of turns into a bit of a fun head bobbing song though. I’d pit most of the acoustic songs of of “Parachutes” (their prior album) against this song though.


<LI>Warning Sign
At first the somewhat strange melodies may seem daunting. But after about the 3rd listen I recognized how anthemic this song is, it stirs up alot of want. Not the greatest chorus, but it fits and works with the song. The slow drum beat, the rhythmic guitar, and the strings in the background provide for an interesting atmosphere for what the song’s about. “I’ve gotta tell you what a state I’m in, I’ve gotta tell you in my loudest tones, that I started looking for a warning sign... and the truth is... I miss you.” Once again though, a KILLER outro.

<LI>Whisper
One of the more rocking tracks. This song accomplishes a minor sense of break shitism with a groovy choppy beat and superflowy guitar over it. Somehow with only two vocal tracks laid on top of each other for the chorus, it sounds like a riot of people protesting. Lots of experimentation going on with sound, and it’s actually quite bassy. Anyway, it’s a song you’ll have in the background and it’ll energize you. Not a rock track or anything.

<LI>A Rush of Blood to the Head
I was not a big fan of this song the first time I heard it. Alot of continuous guitar plucking going on again. But the melodies are different, and fit very well with the vocals. The guitar actually adds alot of tension that makes you want to sing out. Which is not surprising, some of Chris’s lyrics have actually involved the phrase “sing out” on occasions. Verses are “meh” as Combat Chuck would say, but when you divulge into that chorus, it makes up for it. This one will last for a while.

<LI>Amsterdam
Here’s the thing, when “Daylight” comes on, you kind of think you maybe should be singing along to “God Put a Smile Upon Your Face” because the melodies are similar. When “Amsterdam” comes on, you can hear some similar chordage to “Warning Sign”. This actually isn’t too bad though, usually it is. It kind of ties the album together pretty well. The songs don’t SOUND alike so much as they have alot of the same essence. This is a great piano ballad. And yes, once again, it has a kickass outro, a beautiful end to a beautiful album.

<LI>My Rating - 82%
Fun to listen to and sing along to, but for some of the songs, only for so long. The quieter songs don’t seem to have as much of an impact as the graceful ones off of “Parachutes”, their prior album. A great fun album, but not an epic lastable. Understandable why it was revered by the so-called expert critics. Worthy the purchase, but not as worthy as “Parachutes”.

Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head

[Ugly Bastard]

Titan-

Thank you for your thorough review of this album. Your reviews are second to none, I enjoy reading them.

I happened to download this album a few months ago, and I would say that it is NOT as good as their first album (Parachutes), but it is still pretty damn good.

Thanks for the work.

-Ugly Bastard