Coldplay - A Rush Of Blood To The Head (2002)

Coldplay's 2nd album after their debut, 'Parachutes', which spawned their popularity due to their singles 'Yellow' and 'Trouble', showed the world this was a talented band which could seemingly write hits whenever they pleased. The simple and arty cover indicates to us the way the music will be - and 'Politik' starts things off with a good build up and sets the mood: Just four guys making basic songs which sound modern post-millenium-like bringing in a new world and new sound. It could be said that Coldplay have been the most successful band of the last 20 years, seemingly dominating the charts with every album having at least one hit, which is no easy tasks in the slippery world of pop. So how to define Coldplay?

They have that indie rock vibe of the 90's but made new, thanks to the more minimalist arrangements and strong, distinctive voice of singer Chris Martin weaving his easily recognizable melodies through his voice and his piano-playing. Everything Coldplay write seems to be simple and repetitive but this is both their strength and their weakness. You know what you are getting with them and in fact they manage to relate to a lot of people which points to that 'x-factor' which only a few bands can manage, if we are truthful.

For many of us they are a soundtrack to a particular part of our lives and this second album is often the favourite of fans along with their debut and Viva la Vida. Here they take their sound to new heights and the first half of this album contains all the singles from that period while having some very good songs on the more obscure second part. It could be a classic, but that's up to you. To me, the artwork, the songs and the nostalgia make it a classic pop rock indie classic, even if I never owned it or particular was interested in Coldplay at the time, such is the strength of their songcraft. 

I want to also mention the lyrics which are simple and perhaps incomprehensible and yet they spoke to an entire generation tired of silly lyrics as we entered a more serious period here in the U.K. from where Coldplay originate. the attack on the Twin Towers in New York in 2001 and the continuing war in Iraq made people long for some clarity and songs like 'A Rush Of Blood To The Head' speak to that need. I remember Chris Martin doing interviews on daytime television and him wearing all these bracelets on his wrist, with messages like "Peace, Not War", so this conscience it has to be understood has also been a part of the Coldplay message, and this is perhaps the humanity that so appealed to the masses of the times.