Best Albums Ever - Coldplay, A Rush Of Blood To The Head
When I first started blogging a few years ago, I went through a series of blogs that catalogued my very favorite songs. That list has changed, probably a lot, since I wrote it. Rather than revisit my top 100 songs of the moment, I decided I’d tackle something that actually means more to me personally. I decided to write about my favorite albums, and I also decided I’d keep the list fairly short, which means choosing only a few will be tough. It might end up being more than ten.
When I set out to do this, I knew most of the albums would be at least a few years old. While my favorite songs change on almost a daily basis, my favorite albums as a whole don’t shift too much. There are just some albums that, for me, tell a story, have a beautiful tone that’s consistent all the way through, encapsulate an emotion or a feeling or a vision so well, they have no competition.
Yeah, this list is biased. But would did you expect? So without further ado, let’s jump right in, in no particular order.
My first top album is A Rush Of Blood To The Head, by Coldplay (2002). I’m sure many of you would agree, and I probably don’t really need to explain why. But because I’m a musical scientist and I feel the need to break everything down, I’m going into elaborate detail.
I’d probably heard of Coldplay when this album came out, but only in passing and I didn’t know what kind of music they did. I’d never heard “Yellow” (shocker!) and I wasn’t in touch with that particular genre of music at the time. Then, one night when Jay Leno was closing out his show, I heard that beautiful ostinato, that polyrhythm piano melody that persistently carries through “Clocks”, and is now so well known. I heard it all the way from upstairs, and ran down to find out who it was.
Coldplay. I suddenlyliked loved Coldplay. Who knew? I was all about odd dance and electronic music and remixes, so this was a new thing for me. I fell fast and hard and didn’t even try to look back.
So I bought A Rush Of Blood To The Head and the rest is history. As for my thoughts on the rest of the album, where do I start? It’s beautifully constructed from start to finish, with songs in perfect order. The album artwork is unique, intriguing and compelling. The lyrics are smart, insightful and powerfully moving.
This really is the album that put Coldplay in the forefront. Suddenly, they were compared to U2 and ushering in a new era of moving power pop rock. Sweet.
Every song on the album is a keeper. Nothing is filler. One of my prerequisites for being a top album is it must be listenable from start to finish, over and over again. This album certainly falls into that category.
The dynamics are awesome. You’ve got the urgent “Politik” with it’s beautiful dissonance and euphoric and synchronized pounding drums and guitars. When you really listen to it, there’s not much there: Chris’ layered vocals, cymbals, drums, a little piano and some guitar, and glorious strings. It sets the tone brilliantly for the rest of the album. “Open up your eyes…” Awesome. What a cool thing to say to people ‘listening’ to your music. But that’s not my favorite lyric. “Give me strength, reserve, control; give me heart and give me soul.” That’s my favorite lyric.
Moving on. “In My Place”, ah yes. The song that won two Grammy Awards and is consistently ranked as one of the band’s top tracks. That opening beat. Those soulful guitars. They almost sound like bells, chiming in the evening. Then the energy softens as Chris’ voice comes in, so torn, and aching. Then the chorus comes back and boom! it goes right through you, and you find yourself screaming it: “yeeeeaah, how long must you wait for it?” What I’ve always loved about lots of Coldplay’s songs is the meaning is a little ambiguous and broad, and that’s awesome because those songs relate to so many people going through so many different things. This is no exception. It’s just brilliant. And now I’ve got to find the string arrangement and bust out my violin. #FavLyric: “Come back and sing to me, to me, come on and sing it out, now.” Yeah. Now!
I was surprised how much I loved “God Put A Smile Upon Your Face” straight out the gate. It’s not something I’d typically like, with the repetitive acoustics and not-as-melodic arrangement. But something about the energy, the intensity, that cool reverb when the bassline and the electric guitar come in before the second verse… it’s kind of addicting. And I love that it’s just Chris and that guitar in the first verse. So simple and effective. But that bassline! It’s excellent. And it’s just the same thing, over and over, with little licks here and there. The drumbeat is actually a lot like a club drumbeat, without quite so much boom and no electronic synthesized sound. Then you get a chance to scream again in the chorus. I love the message of this song, that it’s so easy to fall and even if you love the fall, you always want to try to work your way back. #FavLyric: “God gave you style and gave you grace,” of course.
My paragraphs are getting progressively longer, I’ll try to cut back…
But that will be tough, because one of my favorite love songs ever is next. “The Scientist” caused an awesome stir in the music video world with its backwards footage. It’s often called Coldplay’s best song, and it’s the first time on this album we get a chance to relax a bit and (maybe) even shed a tear. From the start, that piano melody just makes you sad. When Chris’ voice comes in, it just fills all the air around you: Great touch, leaving the piano front and center and letting the vocals fill everything else. It creates such a great atmosphere. Enter strings… man, I wish I could have played in the studio for this album. Simple arrangement, and heart aching. Just wonderful. More layers with the acoustic guitars and finally, a simple beat, like a heartbeat. There’s not much else to say except… take me back to the start. And you will: You’ll hit repeat at least once. #FavLyric: “Questions of science, science and progress, do not speak as loud as my heart.”
Enter “Clocks”, (probably) my favorite Coldplay song, partly for sentimental reasons, because it’s the one that got me hooked on them. I’ve already talked a bit about the construction of this song, but I could go on forever. It’s not just that piano riff, or the driving beat, or the oh-so-cool lyrics, or the epic chorus-like chords going through the whole song. It’s the entire recipe as it goes through your ears like a perfect three-course meal at dinner. Yeah, I did just write that. This song, like many of theirs, doesn’t have a lot of lyrics. The ones it does have are intense and perfect. Typical. The instrumentation in this song is divine: Euphoric, ethereal, and all that good stuff. Need more? It won the Grammy for Record Of The Year. #FavLyric: “Cursed missed opportunities”
“Daylight” took more time to grow on me than others on the album. But back then, this was (believe it or not) a little too rocking for me. That and the dissonance creates this harsh effect that, for me, took some getting used to. The song lacks a distinctive melody, and is more about the rhythm and the lyrics. So when I sat back and read the lyrics, I totally got it. It’s about impending light, sneaking up on you after a rough and dark time, and you probably aren’t quite ready for it yet. So musically, this is perfect for the lyrics. The same sounds we’re now familiar with are prominent: Guitars, syncopated drums and piano. And hey, that’s another awesome bassline. The orchestra must have had a ball recording those glissandos too. #FavLyric: “To my surprise and my delight, I saw a sunrise, I saw sunlight.”
I have always loved the cuteness and simplicity of “Green Eyes”. It sounds like something from an older album, like a familiar track you used to know really well. Every time I hear that guitar I want to learn how to play it. Once the second chorus comes in, there’s this faint flavor of rockabilly or country twang. It’s a refreshing change of pace, and it’s so, so endearing. #FavLyric: “I came here with a load, and it feels so much lighter now I’ve met you.”
When I first heard “Warning Sign”, I wasn’t sure about it. It starts slowly, guitar tucked away to the right corner. Sad and lonely strings burst in with sluggish drums. Then all drops out except Chris and the guitars (by now I’ve realized what a lovely combo that is). And once again this combo works its magic. By the time that first chorus comes in… “when the truth is… I miss you”. Ahh. Heart-breaking good. And again I notice how completely awesomely the music works with the tone of the lyrics. It’s someone dragging the best they can after realizing they miscalculated and walked away for the wrong reasons. I swear there’s a glass harmonica in the second chorus. There’s a great warmth that builds in there, and then by the end, when Chris sings, “so I crawl back into your open arms” (yep, #FavLyric), it just envelopes you. That piano melody… wow, goosebumps. And Chris’ whispered singing… sexy vocal perfection.
“A Whisper” was another track that initially rocked a little hard for me. Now, when I hear it, I start tapping my foot and bobbing my head immediately. Repetitive? Yeah. But I love that it sounds like they recorded it in a big church or a stadium. The reverb is intense. It’s another track that sounds a bit like an older song. That twinkly melody toward the end is oh-so-awesome, and when the song reaches its gentle climax, I often find myself hitting the repeat button. #FavLyric: “Night turns to day and I still get no answers.”
Like others on the album, “A Rush Of Blood To The Head” starts softly, with that perfect vocal/guitar combo. But something is different here, slower, less hopeful. Most of the other songs have at least a hidden silver lining, but this one is entirely regretful and full of mourning. I love the music, the distant piano echoing like a ghost in the background. It’s rocking pretty good in the chorus, with guitars filling right and left and all around, leaving only traces of the brilliantly-identical vocal patterns. It’s easy to lose track of the words, and I think that’s the idea. #FavLyric: “And they call as they beckon you on, they said, start as you mean to go on.”
If there was one song that echoed Parachutes, it would be “Amsterdam”. The piano plays a huge roll as the centerpiece, and Chris’ voice sounds superb here: When he’s in that lower range, there’s a wonderful richness. Cue the fabulous organ after the second chorus, and the heroic and inspiring ending. Stuck in a rut, sick of the secrets, at the very end, as the sounds fade out and just when you think it’s all over, the light finally comes out as “you came along and you cut me loose”. Fabulous, simple, effective. #FavLyric: “And I know I’m dead on the surface but I’m screaming underneath.”
So that’s it. I wrote all of this as I listened to each song. Truthfully, it’s been a while since I sat and listened to that all the way through without interruption. I need to do it more often.
What’s my next album? See, that’s a surprise. I’ll be back.
When I set out to do this, I knew most of the albums would be at least a few years old. While my favorite songs change on almost a daily basis, my favorite albums as a whole don’t shift too much. There are just some albums that, for me, tell a story, have a beautiful tone that’s consistent all the way through, encapsulate an emotion or a feeling or a vision so well, they have no competition.
Yeah, this list is biased. But would did you expect? So without further ado, let’s jump right in, in no particular order.
My first top album is A Rush Of Blood To The Head, by Coldplay (2002). I’m sure many of you would agree, and I probably don’t really need to explain why. But because I’m a musical scientist and I feel the need to break everything down, I’m going into elaborate detail.
I’d probably heard of Coldplay when this album came out, but only in passing and I didn’t know what kind of music they did. I’d never heard “Yellow” (shocker!) and I wasn’t in touch with that particular genre of music at the time. Then, one night when Jay Leno was closing out his show, I heard that beautiful ostinato, that polyrhythm piano melody that persistently carries through “Clocks”, and is now so well known. I heard it all the way from upstairs, and ran down to find out who it was.
Coldplay. I suddenly
So I bought A Rush Of Blood To The Head and the rest is history. As for my thoughts on the rest of the album, where do I start? It’s beautifully constructed from start to finish, with songs in perfect order. The album artwork is unique, intriguing and compelling. The lyrics are smart, insightful and powerfully moving.
This really is the album that put Coldplay in the forefront. Suddenly, they were compared to U2 and ushering in a new era of moving power pop rock. Sweet.
Every song on the album is a keeper. Nothing is filler. One of my prerequisites for being a top album is it must be listenable from start to finish, over and over again. This album certainly falls into that category.
The dynamics are awesome. You’ve got the urgent “Politik” with it’s beautiful dissonance and euphoric and synchronized pounding drums and guitars. When you really listen to it, there’s not much there: Chris’ layered vocals, cymbals, drums, a little piano and some guitar, and glorious strings. It sets the tone brilliantly for the rest of the album. “Open up your eyes…” Awesome. What a cool thing to say to people ‘listening’ to your music. But that’s not my favorite lyric. “Give me strength, reserve, control; give me heart and give me soul.” That’s my favorite lyric.
Moving on. “In My Place”, ah yes. The song that won two Grammy Awards and is consistently ranked as one of the band’s top tracks. That opening beat. Those soulful guitars. They almost sound like bells, chiming in the evening. Then the energy softens as Chris’ voice comes in, so torn, and aching. Then the chorus comes back and boom! it goes right through you, and you find yourself screaming it: “yeeeeaah, how long must you wait for it?” What I’ve always loved about lots of Coldplay’s songs is the meaning is a little ambiguous and broad, and that’s awesome because those songs relate to so many people going through so many different things. This is no exception. It’s just brilliant. And now I’ve got to find the string arrangement and bust out my violin. #FavLyric: “Come back and sing to me, to me, come on and sing it out, now.” Yeah. Now!
I was surprised how much I loved “God Put A Smile Upon Your Face” straight out the gate. It’s not something I’d typically like, with the repetitive acoustics and not-as-melodic arrangement. But something about the energy, the intensity, that cool reverb when the bassline and the electric guitar come in before the second verse… it’s kind of addicting. And I love that it’s just Chris and that guitar in the first verse. So simple and effective. But that bassline! It’s excellent. And it’s just the same thing, over and over, with little licks here and there. The drumbeat is actually a lot like a club drumbeat, without quite so much boom and no electronic synthesized sound. Then you get a chance to scream again in the chorus. I love the message of this song, that it’s so easy to fall and even if you love the fall, you always want to try to work your way back. #FavLyric: “God gave you style and gave you grace,” of course.
My paragraphs are getting progressively longer, I’ll try to cut back…
But that will be tough, because one of my favorite love songs ever is next. “The Scientist” caused an awesome stir in the music video world with its backwards footage. It’s often called Coldplay’s best song, and it’s the first time on this album we get a chance to relax a bit and (maybe) even shed a tear. From the start, that piano melody just makes you sad. When Chris’ voice comes in, it just fills all the air around you: Great touch, leaving the piano front and center and letting the vocals fill everything else. It creates such a great atmosphere. Enter strings… man, I wish I could have played in the studio for this album. Simple arrangement, and heart aching. Just wonderful. More layers with the acoustic guitars and finally, a simple beat, like a heartbeat. There’s not much else to say except… take me back to the start. And you will: You’ll hit repeat at least once. #FavLyric: “Questions of science, science and progress, do not speak as loud as my heart.”
Enter “Clocks”, (probably) my favorite Coldplay song, partly for sentimental reasons, because it’s the one that got me hooked on them. I’ve already talked a bit about the construction of this song, but I could go on forever. It’s not just that piano riff, or the driving beat, or the oh-so-cool lyrics, or the epic chorus-like chords going through the whole song. It’s the entire recipe as it goes through your ears like a perfect three-course meal at dinner. Yeah, I did just write that. This song, like many of theirs, doesn’t have a lot of lyrics. The ones it does have are intense and perfect. Typical. The instrumentation in this song is divine: Euphoric, ethereal, and all that good stuff. Need more? It won the Grammy for Record Of The Year. #FavLyric: “Cursed missed opportunities”
“Daylight” took more time to grow on me than others on the album. But back then, this was (believe it or not) a little too rocking for me. That and the dissonance creates this harsh effect that, for me, took some getting used to. The song lacks a distinctive melody, and is more about the rhythm and the lyrics. So when I sat back and read the lyrics, I totally got it. It’s about impending light, sneaking up on you after a rough and dark time, and you probably aren’t quite ready for it yet. So musically, this is perfect for the lyrics. The same sounds we’re now familiar with are prominent: Guitars, syncopated drums and piano. And hey, that’s another awesome bassline. The orchestra must have had a ball recording those glissandos too. #FavLyric: “To my surprise and my delight, I saw a sunrise, I saw sunlight.”
I have always loved the cuteness and simplicity of “Green Eyes”. It sounds like something from an older album, like a familiar track you used to know really well. Every time I hear that guitar I want to learn how to play it. Once the second chorus comes in, there’s this faint flavor of rockabilly or country twang. It’s a refreshing change of pace, and it’s so, so endearing. #FavLyric: “I came here with a load, and it feels so much lighter now I’ve met you.”
When I first heard “Warning Sign”, I wasn’t sure about it. It starts slowly, guitar tucked away to the right corner. Sad and lonely strings burst in with sluggish drums. Then all drops out except Chris and the guitars (by now I’ve realized what a lovely combo that is). And once again this combo works its magic. By the time that first chorus comes in… “when the truth is… I miss you”. Ahh. Heart-breaking good. And again I notice how completely awesomely the music works with the tone of the lyrics. It’s someone dragging the best they can after realizing they miscalculated and walked away for the wrong reasons. I swear there’s a glass harmonica in the second chorus. There’s a great warmth that builds in there, and then by the end, when Chris sings, “so I crawl back into your open arms” (yep, #FavLyric), it just envelopes you. That piano melody… wow, goosebumps. And Chris’ whispered singing… sexy vocal perfection.
“A Whisper” was another track that initially rocked a little hard for me. Now, when I hear it, I start tapping my foot and bobbing my head immediately. Repetitive? Yeah. But I love that it sounds like they recorded it in a big church or a stadium. The reverb is intense. It’s another track that sounds a bit like an older song. That twinkly melody toward the end is oh-so-awesome, and when the song reaches its gentle climax, I often find myself hitting the repeat button. #FavLyric: “Night turns to day and I still get no answers.”
Like others on the album, “A Rush Of Blood To The Head” starts softly, with that perfect vocal/guitar combo. But something is different here, slower, less hopeful. Most of the other songs have at least a hidden silver lining, but this one is entirely regretful and full of mourning. I love the music, the distant piano echoing like a ghost in the background. It’s rocking pretty good in the chorus, with guitars filling right and left and all around, leaving only traces of the brilliantly-identical vocal patterns. It’s easy to lose track of the words, and I think that’s the idea. #FavLyric: “And they call as they beckon you on, they said, start as you mean to go on.”
If there was one song that echoed Parachutes, it would be “Amsterdam”. The piano plays a huge roll as the centerpiece, and Chris’ voice sounds superb here: When he’s in that lower range, there’s a wonderful richness. Cue the fabulous organ after the second chorus, and the heroic and inspiring ending. Stuck in a rut, sick of the secrets, at the very end, as the sounds fade out and just when you think it’s all over, the light finally comes out as “you came along and you cut me loose”. Fabulous, simple, effective. #FavLyric: “And I know I’m dead on the surface but I’m screaming underneath.”
So that’s it. I wrote all of this as I listened to each song. Truthfully, it’s been a while since I sat and listened to that all the way through without interruption. I need to do it more often.
What’s my next album? See, that’s a surprise. I’ll be back.
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