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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
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Parachutes
by Coldplay
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...
90
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.
85
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.
83
Entertainment Weekly
This is dreamy, regretful pop with melodies that dog you like a missed opportunity. [11/17/2000, p.127]
80
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."
80
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]
80
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.
80
HOB.com
Refreshing and ultimately brilliant premiere.
80
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.
80
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.
80
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.
70
Ink Blot Magazine
If you usually enjoy pop music made by young white males with guitars, you'll almost certainly like Parachutes.
70
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]
70
Neumu.net
Once you fall for "Yellow," the rest of the album will kick in, and fast.
70
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.
60
Trouser Press
Even for a debut album, it’s too tentative and timid for its own good.
60
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.
60
Billboard
Although "Parachutes" brings nothing new to the table, Coldplay seems talented enough to transcend this early identity crisis.
53
Pitchfork
Pretty, lovely, fine, fair, comely, pleasant, agreeable, acceptable, adequate, satisfactory, nice, benign, harmless, innocuous, innocent, largely unobjectionable, safe, forgettable.
40
Village Voice
There's little on Parachutes that demands attention or punctures the pensive spell, and, unlike Travis's, Coldplay's hooks are slight.
20
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 43 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
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