Published on Apr 21, 2005
Every now and then, there comes along a record that sells more
on the buzz than on actual quality. Unfortunately,
A Rush Of Blood To The Head is one such example.
This was an album that I really wanted to like, All the hype
seemed to make it out to be one of the best records of the new
millennium. I had not heard Coldplay’s first effort
Parachutes, and had only been exposed to the brilliant
single that was “Clocks.” So, the stage was set, the curtain was
drawn back and….blah.
In one word, that is
A Rush Of Blood To The Head. Blah. It’s neither good nor
bad. It doesn’t make me feel anything, but doesn’t bore me. This
sucker goes right down the middle, and I suppose that’s a testament
of sorts to the album, but that’s not a good thing here.
Let’s get the good stuff out of the way first. “Clocks” is a
tremendous song, that cascading piano riff that gets things going
gives me chills every time I hear it. “God Put A Smile Upon Your
Face” also bucks the general sound of the album, with a decent
melody and better than average lyrics. “The Scientist” starts off
softly, but builds a slow, burning intensity as the music unfolds.
It was moments like these that made me wonder why couldn’t Coldplay
turn in performances like these throughout the whole album?
Once you hit “Clocks,” you’ve passed the point of no return.
Three of the first five songs have been good, so of course you’ve
got to finish the album. Problem is, the remainder of the tunes
don’t do much. They meander along at a very slow place, with three
of the tracks topping off at about five and half minutes. “Green
Eyes” is the lone exception; it is short, sweet, and bare. Don’t
get me wrong, the production on this album sounds good, but the
album misses out by not including more songs in the vein of “Green
Eyes.”
One strike right now, but here comes the second. Lyrically, the
words the band sings fit in very well with the mood of the album.
Dark and lonely images abound:”Lights go out and I can’t be saved /
Tides that I tried to swim against / Have brought me down upon my
knees.” Guess what though — this isn’t the first time someone has
used the ocean as a metaphor for the ocean, or a crushing force.
Many of the words you hear throughout
A Rush Of Blood To The Head you’ve probably heard many times
in many other songs. Again, there are exceptions; “A Rush Of Blood
To The Head” echoes the sentiments of albums like
Nebraska, and it works. There just aren’t enough moments to
keep me interested.
I’ve come down pretty hard on Coldplay, but they do have
something that will make me want to listen to future releases;
potential. It’s there in the music, and it’s there in the lyrics
and production. If the band can manage to get those three aspects
to mesh where they are at the same level of quality, Coldplay can
record a kick-ass album. However, they aren’t there yet.