Coldplay

Editor's Review:

"Open Up Your Eyes," sings Chris Martin in the chorus of "Politik," the poignantly tense introductory track to Coldplay's latest album, Rush of Blood to the Head. In the year-plus time span since the British quartet scored international success with "Yellow," they have circled the globe, playing in front of audiences throughout Europe, Asia, the U.S. and Australia. It seems the scenery change has done the boys some good. Their experience abroad has opened their eyes to social injustices that the citizens of less economically developed countries face, and the result was a head rush of responsibility. Instead of songs entirely about relationships and the like, the lyrical focus has moved into more cerebral realms, addressing issues of war, revolution, religion and technology to the disadvantage of humanity. The group even devotes a page of the liner notes to unfair trade practices and prints a laundry list of global organizations' Web sites.
The maturity has lent itself to Coldplay's music as well. Overall, piano provides the meat of the 11 tracks while heavily-layered strings and acoustic guitars reinforce most selections. With stellar guitar riffs, a symphonic rhythmic approach and Martin's pristine voice, the band emanates a vibe as if performing from some higher place, issuing angelic sympathy and stoic power. Still, the crack of a wry smile is detected in Martin's Lennon-esque melodies and emotionally jubilant songs such as "Clocks" and in "In My Place," (the latter the obvious successor to "Yellow"). This album avoids forceful aggression, instead latching onto dreamy mid-tempo ballads and gradually-building, overwrought tunes with occasional flickers of righteous energy. This, in addition to Blue Source's classy packaging, makes for a pretty darn good album.
- Maurice S. Teilmann

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Record Label Capitol Released September 2002

Tracks Politik In My Place God Put a Smile Upon Your Face The Scientist Clocks Daylight Green Eyes Warning Sign A Whisper A Rush of Blood to the Head Amsterdam

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