On Coldplay's A Rush of Blood to the Head, the melodic excellence of Parachutes remains, as does the delicate soulfulness of Chris Martin's voice. But now different styles are approached, as the band develop even further beyond their debut album (and the numerous Radiohead comparisons that dogged them at first). "God Put a Smile upon Your Face", for instance, has a thumping voodoo quality, while the hypnotic "A Whisper" has a wild vocal arrangement recalling Jefferson Airplane. Beyond this, each of the 11 tracks--from the literate power ballad "In My Place" to the 60s-style mantra "Daylight"--are given room to breathe, gradually reaching an ecstatic crescendo where Martin and that huge Coldplay piano ride over a pulsing rhythm and orchestrations that are powerful but never overblown. "Give me real, don't give me fake" says Martin in the opening "Politik" and it's an appropriately uncompromising demand, for A Rush of Blood... is without doubt the most heartfelt and emotionally liberated album to top the charts in ages. --Dominic Wills
Politik 5:18
In My Place 3:48
God Put A Smile Upon Your Face 4:57
The Scientist 5:09
Clocks 5:07
Daylight 5:27
Green Eyes 3:43
Warning Sign 5:31
A Whisper 3:58
A Rush Of Blood To The Head 5:51
Amsterdam 5:19
