Coldplay - A Head Full Of Dreams
A Head Full Of Dreams
Coldplay
TigerRating: 8.5 / 10
Pop Nouveau
I went into my first listen of 'A Head Full Of Dreams' ready to denounce it and write it off. How surprised (and slightly annoyed) was I, then, to discover a lighthearted, rousing gem of a final chapter for a band it has been fun to publicly hate but secretly kind of enjoy.
It might be something to do with the fact that it's December - the final chapter of a hellish year - and, rather than kicking into a slower gear and trying to purge the horror of these past months, the world
has seen an intensified state of fear, panic, outrage and hatred. If it's not been Isis attacks, senseless shootings or natural disasters (my part of the world is in drought whilst a few countries in the Northern Hemisphere are in flood), there are just the usual reports of racism, apathy, religious clashes and violence. A friend of mine sat down and just burst into tears over the state of the world yesterday.
It unfortunately felt like an appropriate response.
Life gets heavy. And we're caught in between two extremes.
Twitter trends today pendulum between the London stabbing (on the back of flood victims being rescued) to new Kardashian West baby. There is no longer a neutral ground.
There is no real way you can be unaffected by all of this. It clings to you like dust to sweat. It leaves you feeling grimey. Even bathing in the sweet oblivion entertainment news or social media offers is no longer effective. That stuff is as cruel and negative as the news is bleak.
Unexpectedly, hearing the heart and sentiment behind Coldplay's new album did actually bring a sliver of respite, though.
Yeah - it surprised me a lot.
As Pitchfork pointed out in their review, Martin has always been obsessed by the idea of transcendence and rising above. Not only is the average feel of a Coldplay single generally a rousing affair, but the lyrical focus of the band is generally grand in focus. This has garnered them the reputation of being a poor man's U2. That may all be fair, and you may continue to hate on Coldplay (I'm certainly not going to be having them as my phone's wallpaper anytime soon),
BUT
there is something refreshing and even soothing about a band that sings of hope, not even as a response to current affairs, but just because it's built into their DNA somehow.
Their relentless positivity has come at the most perfect time and it could actually (for me at any rate) inspire the normal seasonal feelings of goodwill and hope that should be felt at this time of year.
I know that's all incredibly saccharine and even trite, but what is the alternative?
'A Head Full Of Dreams' is soothing balm for a hurting world.
Track by track review:
1. A Head Full of Dreams - the title track and the single you've probably heard by now. This slow builder gains steady, undeniable momentum (thanks to that relentlessly catchy bassline) to shimmering peaks and there maintains a steady altitude. You somehow already know that this is the opener for their final album. This track surveys a 15 year career from its lofty vantage point. Chiming U2 style guitars are complimented nicely by scorching synth as Martin sings about miracles, all leading to a cliche "woah oh oh oooooh" bridge. The perfect seasonal single. Thanks for lifting us out of this world for 3:44 minutes. Cheers lads.
2. Birds - a continuation of the "elevation" themes and catchy basslines. It's hard to know or care exactly what Martin is warbling about, but it has that same weightless feel to it. Just listen. Let the forgettable riffs wash over you. Not everything has to be intellectualized. You snob.
3. Hymn For The Weekend (feat. Beyonce) - the lowlight of the album. This track (unsurprisingly) does not fit in anywhere on this album. Bey sings about being drunk. Martin sounds whiter than ever as this faux hip hop track just gets more awkward as the party wears thin. Skip >>
4. Everglow - Forgettable piano lead slow jam with ex Gwyneth on the track. Skip >>
5. Adventure of a Lifetime - Hopefully the next single, track 5 sees the boys (successfully) getting into a disco groove. Martin waxes lyrical about magic and diamonds and heartbeats and a plethora of percussion ensure at very least a head nod while you listen. Dancing is an acceptable way to celebrate the holiday season. The beat drops out and remerges at perfect points. Another highlight of their album / career.
6. Fun (feat. Tove Lo) - one of the more successful collabs on a collab heavy album, 'Fun' is subtle and rather beautiful. These might not be the most memorable tracks (compared with their first few albums), but a strong drum section and that damn bass ensure even the flimsiest tracks will have some structure. This is a pleasant prom romp.
7. Kaleidoscope - Obama recites a poem over baroque piano. Okaaaay. Part of the save-the-world / heal-the-trees-vibe. Just go with it. You'll feel lighter hearted after I promise. It's Christmas. It fits.
8. Army Of One - Keeping up with contemporaries Imagine Dragons means playing with vocals in choppy samples, something which is effective on yet another track about stars, fighting for good stuff and being high. In an elevated way. I think.
9. Amazing Day - This is an album you don't think about. You just have it in the background of a Christmas Day lunch and it's perfect. This 3/4 waltz of a track is soft, subtle and effective. This is a swan song of an album with a variety of hues and (bar the Beyonce monstrosity), it's beautiful in it's cohesion. Great track.
10. Colour Spectrum - not a song. Pointless tinkling interlude.
11. Up&Up - Clever chord changes that invoke that sense of climbing from the mundane. This track is mercifully retsrained from venturing into the cheesy, toe curling, arms in air waving, cellphones aloft moments. Only just. By the time the second guitar solo and tambourines kick, it's already begun the slow fade back to bottom, leaving only vestiges of sentiment, a faint sense of joy and a heart that's a little lighter for having heard all of that.
2. Birds - a continuation of the "elevation" themes and catchy basslines. It's hard to know or care exactly what Martin is warbling about, but it has that same weightless feel to it. Just listen. Let the forgettable riffs wash over you. Not everything has to be intellectualized. You snob.
3. Hymn For The Weekend (feat. Beyonce) - the lowlight of the album. This track (unsurprisingly) does not fit in anywhere on this album. Bey sings about being drunk. Martin sounds whiter than ever as this faux hip hop track just gets more awkward as the party wears thin. Skip >>
4. Everglow - Forgettable piano lead slow jam with ex Gwyneth on the track. Skip >>
5. Adventure of a Lifetime - Hopefully the next single, track 5 sees the boys (successfully) getting into a disco groove. Martin waxes lyrical about magic and diamonds and heartbeats and a plethora of percussion ensure at very least a head nod while you listen. Dancing is an acceptable way to celebrate the holiday season. The beat drops out and remerges at perfect points. Another highlight of their album / career.
6. Fun (feat. Tove Lo) - one of the more successful collabs on a collab heavy album, 'Fun' is subtle and rather beautiful. These might not be the most memorable tracks (compared with their first few albums), but a strong drum section and that damn bass ensure even the flimsiest tracks will have some structure. This is a pleasant prom romp.
7. Kaleidoscope - Obama recites a poem over baroque piano. Okaaaay. Part of the save-the-world / heal-the-trees-vibe. Just go with it. You'll feel lighter hearted after I promise. It's Christmas. It fits.
8. Army Of One - Keeping up with contemporaries Imagine Dragons means playing with vocals in choppy samples, something which is effective on yet another track about stars, fighting for good stuff and being high. In an elevated way. I think.
9. Amazing Day - This is an album you don't think about. You just have it in the background of a Christmas Day lunch and it's perfect. This 3/4 waltz of a track is soft, subtle and effective. This is a swan song of an album with a variety of hues and (bar the Beyonce monstrosity), it's beautiful in it's cohesion. Great track.
10. Colour Spectrum - not a song. Pointless tinkling interlude.
11. Up&Up - Clever chord changes that invoke that sense of climbing from the mundane. This track is mercifully retsrained from venturing into the cheesy, toe curling, arms in air waving, cellphones aloft moments. Only just. By the time the second guitar solo and tambourines kick, it's already begun the slow fade back to bottom, leaving only vestiges of sentiment, a faint sense of joy and a heart that's a little lighter for having heard all of that.
It's pretty easy in this cynical, irony loving and jaded hipster society to write off everything without actually listening to it. And then, when we do, we're listening for flaws. We watch spaces so we can criticize the gaps.
But sometimes music exists just as a pallet cleanser.
Sometimes it's nice to just listen and to overlook the obvious; to simply enjoy what is good.
Maybe you miss the beauty for seeing the flaws.
'Head Full of Dreams' is not perfect, but it's light hearted, positive and looks for beauty, which is more than this world seems capable of today.
WVS out for 2015.
Merry Christmas x
But sometimes music exists just as a pallet cleanser.
Sometimes it's nice to just listen and to overlook the obvious; to simply enjoy what is good.
Maybe you miss the beauty for seeing the flaws.
'Head Full of Dreams' is not perfect, but it's light hearted, positive and looks for beauty, which is more than this world seems capable of today.
WVS out for 2015.
Merry Christmas x
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