Coldplay, one step forward (A Rush Of Blood To The Head - Coldplay)

Member Name: marconad

Product:	A Rush Of Blood To The Head - Coldplay
Date:	26/09/02 (1123 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great improvement from parachutes

Disadvantages: in my place ?

This is definitely the most awaited record of the year, and I have to say, Coldplay really don't disappoint.

Though highly derivative from the previous "Parachutes", "A rush of blood to the head" is a step forward, with a greater confidence in songwriting and the skills to keep off from the cliches of making a thousand different versions of "Yellow", which is, IMHO, one of the worst songs they ever wrote. Highlights of this cd are "Politik", "The Scientist", "Clocks" , the title-track, and "Amsterdam". It seems that Coldplay know what they are up to, and deliver a classic here.

Let' s take a deeper look... I read many reviews and they all seem to differ, I mean they compare this record to U2's Achtung Baby, or Neil Young, but I feel Coldplay are turning a page here.

They definitely prove that Parachutes was a - great collection - of mid-tempo-low-key love songs, but instead of sitting on it, they decided they had to change.

And what a change. A Rush of Blood to the head is such a masterpiece in songwriting... I mean, Chris Martin's lyrics only have become a thousand miles better than they were before, and any song is definitely more structured, just have a look at the way the endings are made... any song just ends differently from how it started, which is just a sign of a more constructive work in the studio.

I think it's really difficult to say "Listen to this song if you want to have an idea on this record..." , as it is a very uniform and homogeneous effort, in which the only "black sheep" is the radio-friendly In My Place.

I'll just make a list of what is good and what's not so good for each song:

Politik - great lyrics and great guitar pattern, though it could have been made much more powerful with a different drumming style.

In My place - a good song for kids, a genius 3-
note riff that gets stuck in your head, but not much more than it...

God Put A smile on you face - Another gem... great acoustic intro, followed by a killer guitar riff, another song which I am not fully satisfied with the drums during the verse, but I have to say the drums are in full fashion in the great choruses.

The Scientist - A piano wonder, in which Chris Martin excels... another great ending with the full band.

Clocks - A peak of this record, with an hypnotic piano base and - yes ! - a great drumming and bass rythm, definitely a single with style.

Daylight - Perhaps the most Parachutes-style track, but in a Radiohead-fashion, if I can say it... It reminds me the rythmic section of some OK-Computer tracks.

Green Eyes - A ballad, acoustic guitar in, and then full band follows. It has echoes of some classic guitar-based american rock.

Warning Sign - A potential sing with a very smart chorus... with Chris singing "and the truth is... I miss you" . Surely a hit with the broken hearted.

A Whisper - Great rythm section on this one, and a very dark sounding verse, with just a great chorus ... it reminds me some Swervedriver songs... if anybody remembers them !

A Rush of Blood to the head - A marvellous song, in which Coldplay trash a thousand of U2's ballads at one time !

Amsterdam - An amazing piano track, with a good falsetto from Chris Martin... a perfect ending for this high quality album.

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