Summary:The seventh full-length studio release for the British alternative rock band was produced by Rik Simpson and Stargate with guest appearances from Beyoncé, Merry Clayton, Noel Gallagher, Tove Lo, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Annabelle Wallis.
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Record Label:Atlantic
Genre(s): Britpop, Pop/Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
This warm and busy album pursues pop as a democratic ideal. The uplift isn't subtle--the tracklisting looks like something you'd come up with after a wrap of MDMA-- but it's infectious. [Jan 2016, p.110]
Blissful even at its most bittersweet, it’s an album on which three songs make lyrical references to diamonds--as in, “We are diamonds”--and every surface contentedly gleams.... Mr. Martin, who has rediscovered the radiant properties of his voice, gilds a lot of lyrical treacle and borderline nonsense here.
Throughout, the band’s big, bittersweet sound is, as ever, wonderfully immersive: whalesong cycles of electric guitar echoing through a buoyant soup of synths that sound both pleasant and forgettable.
The majority of the track list is made up of songs that run far too long, have beyond cringe worthy concepts and lyrics (see: the attempt at love struck club banger, complete with Beyoncé, on 'Hymn For The Weekend') or simply sound too unoriginal to stand out from the others.
No matter how overblown or nonsensical Coldplay have progressively gotten since 2002’s watermark A Rush of Blood to the Head, as long as they deliver one gobsmacking single per album, they’re kings--and rightfully so. That’s how you build a career. A Head Full of Dreams follows suit with first single “Adventure of a Lifetime”.
Now it is established: even if Coldplay come up with Sgt Peppers, critics will still hate them. Their lyrics are deeply scrutinized and theirNow it is established: even if Coldplay come up with Sgt Peppers, critics will still hate them. Their lyrics are deeply scrutinized and their attempt at reinventing themselves on every album is seen as aping other bands. By contrast they go gaga over Taylor Swift. Oasis were forgiven through the biggest bad-album streak in history yet Coldplay, a band whose worst album IMHO (Mylo Xyloto) is still leagues better than the rest, are never given a chance. Good thing the general public disagrees. I can't praise this album enough; have a feeling in a few years time this will be regarded as one of the great albums. Neatly bookended by the title track (a track that reminds one of U2's triumphant start to The Unforgettable Fire, A Sort of Homecoming) and the closing track Up and Up, which is haunting, glorious, epic, and melacholy at the same time (with nothing less than a gleaming guitar solo from former scoffer Gallagher), and containing unexpected, shimmering melodies in between, this album works for anyone, Coldplay fan or not. So my message is: NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS, give this album a listen and you will love it. Guaranteed…Expand
Coldplay and I is I is I is I a masterpiece lot of to the get go on a trip to down the and я ну ну раноше раньше было все равно в час иColdplay and I is I is I is I a masterpiece lot of to the get go on a trip to down the and я ну ну раноше раньше было все равно в час и
It's Coldplay, music turns into magic. What's so incredible about them is, they've never dono anything like the albuns before, such asIt's Coldplay, music turns into magic. What's so incredible about them is, they've never dono anything like the albuns before, such as Parachutes, Viva La Vida. It's pretty much a journey where they can print their own mark into anything. I'm glad Coldplay's still around.…Expand
To appreciate this new Coldplay's album, you must definitely have in mind that the British band evolved a lot since "A Rush Of Blood To TheTo appreciate this new Coldplay's album, you must definitely have in mind that the British band evolved a lot since "A Rush Of Blood To The Head" (to most, their best album to date) and "Parachutes". Following the disappointing 2014 "Ghost Stories", Chris Martin and his friends bring new material to the old and usual one on "A Head Full Of Dreams".
Yes, some ballads are classic post-"Viva La Vida" Coldplay. Yes, the album doesn't have a lot of outstanding hit records on it. Yes, it might seem at first like everything sounds the same. To be absolutely honest, "A Head Full Of Dreams" isn't very surprising. Coldplay called some guests here and there and none of the collaborations (except maybe one - I'll talk about it later) really bring something to the record. But what makes "A Head Full Of Dreams" a much better album than the previous one is that it is a much more creative one. By adding funk and fun, colorful tones and significant guests (Gwyneth Paltrow, Barack Obama, Noel Gallagher ...) to their usual artistry, the band offers something really joyful and refreshing to their fans. Something you'll like to listen to for the next few months.
The ballads "Amazing Days" and "Everglow" are typical from Coldplay but they prove that the magic still works. The emotional track "Army Of One" is the perfect indie pop song you'd expect from the band. The only real surprise might be the Beyoncé-assisted "Hymn For The Weekend", the proof that once in while Coldplay can create an unexpected and potentially successful hit record. On a "A Head Full Of Dreams", it is an unique and uplifting party anthem.
So yes, "A Head Full Of Dreams" is an unsurprising album, and it will definitely be a huge disappointment to those still hoping for "A Rush Of Blood To The Head" 2.0, but Coldplay still manage to find some ways to be creative, and even though this creativity may seem minimal on most songs, it is obvious on some others - the best songs of the albums, and the few ones we'll remember.
This is clearly not a good "final" album, but something tells me it's not, so let's get to the facts : it's a very enjoyable and fun record. If you're a Coldplay fan or you just enjoy listening to colorful indie music, "A Head Full Of Dreams" will be the perfect album for your winter 2015-2016. But if you expect something musically outstanding and complex, you truly should forget Coldplay's name one and for all.…Expand
I’ve just noticed that the covers of Coldplay’s albums (at least the last 4 ones), match really well with the overall sound of every project.I’ve just noticed that the covers of Coldplay’s albums (at least the last 4 ones), match really well with the overall sound of every project. Not saying I really like them, but the colours, forms and aesthetics define what the album will sound like. Viva La Vida had that Delacroix painting of the French Revolution that was epic as for example the homonime song, Viva La Vida. Mylo Xyloto had a lot of colours and graffitis in the cover, same as I relate the sound, really colourful, with a lot of elements and maybe too much production, and the graffitis symbolize the more young, modern and changed sound of that CD. Then, Ghost Stories and the minimalist cover. The peaceful dark blue match with the more intimate, melancholic and calmed sound (except for A Sky Full of Stars, still don’t get the point of putting that EDM **** in that album, also it would had fitted better in this album). And we’re here with AHFOD, with a cover that breaks with the minimalism of the last one, and again adds a lot of colors that reveal the sound itself: more happy vibes, more lightful and danceful songs, a lot of synths and electronic elements… everything reminds a little bit to Mylo Xyloto, but this time with funk and dance. But the cover kinda reveals one of the problems of this: too much elements. There is an excess of production. Also it seems there is not a well defined direction in the album, a problem of combining producers of different genders on the same disc. Matter of fact, the only parts I really like are these kind of interludes. I think AHFOD is far from the level of Mylo Xyloto but, you know what? I don’t blame Coldplay after all. This album is conceived to be played and performed live. That’s why Ghost Stories didn’t have a tour. Songs like “Magic” or “Midnight” are not adequate to be played live at all. And this album is actually a right move in practical terms. It is an enjoyable album if you know, as I did, what you’re expecting to listen here. And I was prepared to listen another different Coldplay, moving even further than the sound of their first 3 albums. There are no good lyrics in this album cuz they don’t even care. Coldplay made this album for the temporary joy, not as a permanent reminder in this band’s legacy.…Expand
