A Rush Of Blood To The Head - Coldplay
User Score
8.6 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 257 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 232 out of 257
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 257
  3. Negative: 15 out of 257

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  1. DaveD.
    Sep 8, 2002
    4
    I'm a huge fan of brit-pop and of Coldplay's former album, "Parachute", but I just can't understand the universal acclaim of this album. I bought it before I read any reviews, and I thought it was a horribly repetitive, inspireless work. The lyrics are incredibly tepid and sound like a singer whose just filling in repetitive rhythms with cliched lyrics and spoiled imagery. It sounds as if they're trying to sound like Doves's "Lost Souls", creating pop music that builds upon sonic landscapes, but can't find enough interesting ideas that can fill out a four minute song. Listening to this album back to back with Radiohead's past few sonic excursions, I realized Coldplay really is just a wannabe in every respect. I now know that I shouldn't have expected as much from their last meisterwork, "Parachutes". Coldplay is little more than Oasis deciding to steal the sound of Radiohead and Jeff Buckley instead of The Beatles, and the day will come when they matter just as little to the current pop landscape as the horrid imitative brats Oasis. A year ago I was hoping for only the best for Coldplay, but they have lost one fan because of this album. Hopefully next time, they'll write some songs that were created from inspired imagination instead of the awkward formulas that dominate this album.… Expand
  2. DR
    Feb 15, 2009
    4
    I remember buying this album when it came out after thoroughly enjoying parachutes and being underwhelmed. Very bland radio friendly stuff. No wonder the backlash against these guys; it started with this album.
  3. Frank
    Sep 20, 2002
    3
    really bland stuff and so damn middle of the road. The amount of acclaim this record is getting shows how boring music critics are. At least Travis had the decency to do a humorous video clip.
  4. SusanB
    Sep 13, 2005
    3
    Mediocre at best, dull and lifeless at worst. The occasional good track, i.e. The Scientist, is cancelled out by the overwhelming blandness of the album as a whole. Uninventive, unemotional and overated
  5. ErwinK.
    Sep 30, 2002
    2
    Yes. Music for bedwetters.
  6. Jazzy
    Nov 12, 2002
    2
    Comparisons to U2 and Radiohead are bound to happen when you have fans that have their head stuck that far up their arses. Every song on this album sounds like it has been created through some Let's-try-and-sound-like-Radiohead-but-with-a-bit-of-Jeff-Buckley-thrown-in-but-lets-try-not-to-be-so-self-conscious-about-it-formula. Lyrically piss-weak, Martin has nothing interesting to say. Yyyyaaawwwnnn!!!!… Expand
  7. AliM
    Jul 2, 2003
    1
    New York Magazine got it spot on. Colplay are the most emotionless, boring, unfun, unadventerous, average and overrated band ever. Can anyone honestly tell me that Colplay have that edge, that greatness and ability to make peoples jaws drop, which is common with all the greatest bands ever (Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Beatles etc.) Please do not waste your time on this band. Words like ''aquired taste, multi-layered, strongest album of 2002, experimental'' DO NOT apply to this album. It is far from any of these things. Chris Martin is NOT a lyrical genius, the guitar parts show no mastering at all, no chord progression, the bassist sounds quite frankly bored and the drummer is nothing special either. The lyrics aren't clever, it isn't a good album. If you want experimental, fantastic, out-of-this world, TRUE rock (because Coldplay are as good as a boyband) listen to the Mars Volta. They will blow your narrow-minded bodies out of the water. Fools......… Expand
  8. musicLover
    Oct 17, 2002
    0
    Bought the album - Can I get a refund ???
  9. Bk
    Jan 3, 2005
    0
    over rated!
  10. Melissa
    Sep 4, 2002
    0
    100% facade.
  11. OsaA
    Dec 9, 2006
    0
    I bought this album because it won a Grammy for album of the year so I thought it most be good and decided to by it at Best Buy. The album sounded good at first, but then I realised that is album was not that great and cannot believe it won a Grammy because it was so safe with not too many great songs. The only song that was most appealing and radio friendly was Clocks, which was about it. I was so disappointed that I sold it on Amazon. If you a person who likes poems and deep storyline music that makes you think this album is for you, but not for me unfortunately.… Expand
  12. LukeAtMadick
    Nov 3, 2002
    0
    Well.. It's just another boring album by another Brit Band
  13. ShawnT
    Feb 27, 2003
    0
    worst band and album ever. The songs are sooooo boring!!!!!!!!!
  14. Wolfmother
    Jan 19, 2011
    0
    Its incredible how the people who give Coldplay zeros give absolutly no reason or justification behind their score, at least no descriptive enough, how about going into detail? Boring? Thats it? You have yet to learn about what it means to grade music, this album is Pink Floyd reincarnate. 473rd greatest album of all time, Too low. These critics are reliable people but people even discredit them without any evidence, so why do we even have a user score if 90% of them are completly bias.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 25
  3. Negative: 2 out of 25
  1. CultureDose.net
    60
    Without the emotional resonance of Martin's voice at its most free, Coldplay's brilliantly minimal musical foundation has nothing to support. So it falters.
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  2. Village Voice
    70
    Coldplay's new record is a little edgier, trancier, and more conversational than their last. It is called A Rush of Blood to the Head, and in waves and swells of major tunes and frisky then looping time signatures, that's just about the effect it has.
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  3. Pitchfork
    51
    But while the sound of this album is more expansive, the influences a bit less obvious, and the approach more varied, the guys forgot to tote along their initial strength: the songs.
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