The Warmth in the Cold Upheaval (A Rush Of Blood To The Head - Coldplay)

Member Name: etherealie

Product:	A Rush Of Blood To The Head - Coldplay
Date:	13/03/03 (774 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: vocal, instruments, lyrics

Disadvantages: creepy and startling

Its high time the highfalutin bands start packing and go back where they came from. The so-called “celeb” music and things like that will meet their doomsday. Things change. I’m glad there’s Coldplay --- for genuine music fans with no-nonsense substance and austerity in their music. Starting off with “Yellow” as their gambit, Chris Martin (vocal/piano/guitar), Guy Berryman (bass), Jonny Buckland (guitar) and Will Champion (drums) have overawed the world making an indelible mark with a seamless collision of vocal and the rest of the instruments. “A Rush of Blood to the Head” - their sophomore album is one thing you wouldn’t want to miss.

I’ve tried to give a general synopsis for each track for describing in detail is writing another epic!


Politik- I can’t really understand the lyrics of this opening song. They seem as if they were not well considered and related while being written. But there is a note on the CD- cover about the song – that this track was actually written to create awareness to stop the ongoing illegal trade in the developing countries. Back to the track, it sounds to me as some sort of Anti-Climax but the guitar beginning played rapidly and crashing down again and beginning again after the verses and finally crashing back again into the piano. There is a striking contrast cast between the soft verse and the chorus of the repetitive line “Open up your eyes”.

In My Place – This is a very impressive single starting off with the drums, followed by the ringing of the guitar within a short time, which merges in so well. The lyrics speak of Chris’s life, his place and his regrets. Sounds like a child’s plea in the beginning but you are then swept away (you’re lost) by the continuous ringing of Buckland’s blissful guitar.

God Put a Smile Upon Your Face- Very Euphemistic, I should say. The a
ngst that
is to be expressed is very subdued yet is a very beautiful song addressed to (some) girlfriend and sounds as if seeking salvation. It starts off pretty well, sounds a bit stagnant in the beginning until Chris’s voice kicks off from the oblivion. Will’s drums steal this show.

The Scientist – Yeah! Now that’s my favourite one in this album! It has a mild climax. It begins with the piano – soft at first and later joins the drums though the actual “rock” begins way later. Chris howls well (the “OOOOOhhhhhhhhhh” in the end) as his voice becomes subtler until it fades completely. The lyrics speak of a scientist (Chris himself in the video) who often forgets his loved one and begs her pardon. Thoroughly breathaking!

Clocks – It’s a promising and euphoric start on the electric piano and the mild drums. It strikes a golden mean between the heavy ones (Whisper) and the soft ones (Amsterdam). Sometime later, you feel the song is about to end but then you are sure caught in by a surprise when it turns louder than before.

Daylight – A “fine” track with mere shades of “whisper”. It is sure to go round and round in your head as the music goes. But it all depends upon your taste. Don’t know why, it strangely reminds me of steam engines.

Green Eyes – Now, now. I am not very much impressed by this song. They sound very much like the old-fashioned folk of the west. The lyrics are fairly good. (Green eyes/are in spotlight). It is light-hearted and positive to hear, but also sounds a bit stolid, monotonous and deadpan to me. Still, it doesn’t hamper the enjoyment of the CD as Chris’s voice sounds brilliant.

Warning Sign – The track opens with the strumming of the guitar playing delicately. This song highlights the chorus rather than the verse, which is soothing to hear as it sweats out utter loveliness throug
h th
e swerving romanticism (yeah the truth is/ that I miss you). The vocals form the foreground along side the instruments.

Whisper –This is certainly not what you will expect after the euphony of the previous track. The abrupt clash of drums is cacophonous and stays in reminiscence for a long time overshadowing the haunting of repeated “whisper”. Now, this track sends chills down my spine. It sounds kind of weird to me though it is another amazing track. The end sounds like the pendulum beats in a solitary place.

A Rush of Blood to the Head – That’s really a long title. But a great follow up to “A whisper”. Chris opens this song, all alone and out of nowhere though the guitar strums lightly behind. The lyrics are wild, telekinetic and I just can’t get it what they are trying to convey making thing way too creepy. It seems to focus on relationships through violence! (I’m gonna buy a gun and start a war) Should play on a romantic Halloween! Ghoul stuff!

Amsterdam – Fashioned similarly as “the Scientist”. It sounds very mellow to me and very rich in texture. It’s the same dilatory piano and the “rock” being introduced, though this adds a very different and beauteous colour to it. The track goes slow and hazy until the other instruments are introduced.

Phew! Summarizing it up, I must say that this album is absolutely compulsory to those who enjoy almost alternative, especially rock. It’s intertwined up with beautiful lyrics, a new feel and infuses more vigour and tempo than the “Parachutes”, their first album.

These are tunes that ooze out every emotion they wish to speak. Certainly, Chris’s heartfelt vocals surround you like a state of bliss and anxiety and a depth that makes you lose yourself in it. Moreover I’m very much enthralled by the band’s modesty, originality and simplicity. The songs spe
>ak for themselves – nothing else makes things most beautiful than simplicity.

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