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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

Parachutes
by Coldplay


8.5

based on 20 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 41 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

The debut album from the London quartet earned the band a Mercury Music Prize nomination and frequent comparisons to Jeff Buckley and Travis.

LABEL:	Parlophone
RELEASE DATE:	07 November 2000
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Alternative, Rock

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

New Musical Express

All told, it's incredible this is a debut album. Accomplished, yet subtle, it works perfectly as a whole in a way all the production skills in the world couldn't replicate.

Wall of Sound

Parachutes is a fully realized and expertly crafted masterpiece, each song holding its own quite well, but when grouped with the rest, they make up an impenetrable fortress of sadly beautiful, melodic, glorious Britpop.

Entertainment Weekly

This is dreamy, regretful pop with melodies that dog you like a missed opportunity. [11/17/2000, p.127]

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Showcasing the group's boundless warmth and flair for moodily dramatic pop craftsmanship--and, after no fewer than five EPs, proving its ability to sustain a mood over the course of a full-length album--the disc is likable from wire to wire, deviating from that consistency only to hit transcendent peaks with "Spies" and the perfect single "Yellow."

Alternative Press

Shimmering guitars haunt tormented tunes, dark gravel growls vie with Thom Yorke-y high notes. Unquestionably, Coldplay could not have existed without an awe-stricken respect for Radiohead's The Bends, but they are also capable of escaping its shadow... [12/2000, p.94]

CDNow

Parachutes is full of devotional songs that whisper their honorable intentions in our ears like a repentant sinner's promises, while moody sonics mostly call to mind Radiohead, though at times you can hear the grandiose bellow of U2 and the vocal poignancy of Jeff Buckley.

HOB.com

Refreshing and ultimately brilliant premiere.

L.A. Weekly

There?s a magical sound potion that can cure lovesickness, and it?s called Parachutes, the first full-length CD by Coldplay.... Every song sounds like a hit.

All Music Guide

Combining bits of distorted guitar riffs and swishing percussion, Parachutes is a delightful introduction and also quickly indicates the reason why this album earned Coldplay a Mercury Music Prize nomination in fall 2000.

Q Magazine

Their debut album's secret arsenal comprises frontman Chris Martin's voice - prematurely aged for someone in their early twenties - and some supple, persuasive melodies. That and a great big side order of melancholy.

Ink Blot Magazine

If you usually enjoy pop music made by young white males with guitars, you'll almost certainly like Parachutes.

Revolver

Nearly perfectly formed, a confident showing of pristine, heartfelt songs that stand up alone and gain greater strength in the context of the full album, which ebbs and flows in a great purge of emotions. [#3, p.120]

Neumu.net

Once you fall for "Yellow," the rest of the album will kick in, and fast.

Rolling Stone

Coldplay make straight-ahead, melodic Brit pop that strives for significance with a capital s, even as it has a hard time shaking its influences -- you can also hear the ethereal guitar chime of U2, a bit of Dave Matthews' breathy folk implosion, even a misting of Roger Waters-era Pink Floyd.

Trouser Press

Even for a debut album, it’s too tentative and timid for its own good.

Spin Cycle

Following a path forged by fellow U.K. exports Badly Drawn Boy and Travis, still-wet-behind-the-ears quartet Coldplay prefers a folksy, familiar approach to guitar pop.

Billboard

Although "Parachutes" brings nothing new to the table, Coldplay seems talented enough to transcend this early identity crisis.

Pitchfork

Pretty, lovely, fine, fair, comely, pleasant, agreeable, acceptable, adequate, satisfactory, nice, benign, harmless, innocuous, innocent, largely unobjectionable, safe, forgettable.

Village Voice

There's little on Parachutes that demands attention or punctures the pensive spell, and, unlike Travis's, Coldplay's hooks are slight.

Magnet

Musically, the quartet is borderline worthless. [#48, p.84]

The average user rating for this album is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 41 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

AMR TOW gave it a10:
One of the most romantic albums I have heard. i loved Spies, Easy to Please, Trouble and Beautiful World.

Scott W gave it an8:
A good solid album. Nice and easy to listen to. Considering its the first album they did, its very good.

andie v gave it a10:
coldplay is a legend now

Mihai V. gave it a10:
Still sounds fresh today.

Veronika L gave it a10:
I think,that this is the best album.I love,love.love this band

Iban L gave it a6:
This is by far the best record that Coldplay has released to date. It was a worthy debut and they showed they had some kind of talent that, unfortunately, they have completely wasted.

Myles #13 gave it an8:
A great album, a must-buy. Although Coldplay's initial effort is not as refined as 'AROBTTH' or 'X&Y', it is still one of the best albums you will ever hear.

Parachutes by Coldplay

Parachutes
by Coldplay