Ghost Stories

Coldplay - Ghost Stories
Critic Score
Based on 38 reviews
2014 Ratings: #954 / 1042
User Score
2014 Rank: #513
Liked by 106 people
Sign In to rate and review

CRITIC REVIEWS

80
AllMusic

Coldplay may not be forceful, but within their incessant politeness they do have a distinctive personality, one that shines through whatever tricks individual producers bring to the table.

75
The Line of Best Fit

As much as Martin may emphasise it being a learning curve or “joyful realisation” about the ups and downs of love, it’s inescapably, undeniably a break-up album. Rousing, downtempo pop to soothe a troubled soul. ​

75
Paste

It’s them getting back to their roots after taking the majority of the world by storm. For the most part, gone is the orchestral, light experimentalism of Viva la Vida and the synthed-out bombast of Mylo Xyloto.

75
Entertainment Weekly

It’s a drowsy experience, and often a true bummer; for all his skilled self-deprecation, Martin sounds genuinely heartbroken. But Ghost Stories can’t help but feel like a prelude to something bigger and deeper.

70
No Ripcord

On Ghost Stories, despite a near derailment, they "fly on," moving in fresh directions while keep the catharsis that gave them their audience in the first place.

70
SPIN

This doesn't mean Ghost Stories is a bleak album. In fact, its deep sea of synth-encrusted pop glistens under a halo of angelic ambient touches and Martin's ever-rosy perspective

70
NME

This isn't quite early Coldplay rebooted. It shares a simple sparseness with 'Parachutes', but the approach is radically different.

67
A.V. Club

Martin does a touching though frequently ham-handed job of working through his feelings, at least on eight of these nine tracks.

60
Drowned in Sound

You can feel the thought and polish that has gone into everything, and though Ghost Stories is almost unprecedentedly pared down and shorn of ego for a sixth album by an act of this stature, the music never has the ragged quality to put it in sync with Martin's voice. 

60
Exclaim!

It has brief sparks of a fresh creativity and has plenty of potential, but doesn't take steps bold enough to totally reinvent itself, making for a record littered with moments that let it sink into the forgettable parts of the band's catalogue.

60
American Songwriter

While there are moments in which Coldplay take some interesting steps forward on Ghost Stories, there are a few moments when the band rests a little too heavily on easy listening or pop music clichés. 

60
musicOMH

But you do get a short and sweet nine-track exorcism of demons and one crushed dude who knows how to pen some beautiful, infectious ballads.

60
DIY

‘Ghost Stories’ is the sound of Coldplay finally coming to terms with who they are - a universally loved, often loathed, slightly cheesy outfit. 

58
Consequence of Sound

Even though it’s not Coldplay’s strongest, Ghost Stories should be applauded for scaling back the gaudy excesses of their previous albums. 

56
Sputnikmusic

Overall, Coldplay’s decision to drop back a couple of gears does not serve them well, especially given the fact that the quality of Martin’s lyrics rarely rise above the serviceable. 

50
Pretty Much Amazing

For an album that aims to explore the most emotional time in Martin’s life, Ghost Stories stands as Coldplay’s most distancing effort to date.

44
Pitchfork

Ghost Stories is unmistakably Coldplay's "breakup album," a subdued work that finds Martin and his band crisply moping through mid-tempo soundscapes and fuzzy electronic touches that have the visceral impact of a down comforter tumbling down a flight of stairs.

40
Time Out London

Weighing in at a scant 40 minutes, the tone of ‘Ghost Stories’ is electronic and plodding, not guitary and surging. Forget the idea of Coldplay writing for stadiums – this is the sound of a band restraining themselves and desperately holding it in.

30
PopMatters

Despite all the emotional gravitas and metaphysical significance Coldplay wishes to impart with this album, the tunes are too flat to hit home at their best and perilously teetering over the edge of plagiarism at their worst.

20
God Is in the TV
Even by Coldplay’s peerless standards then, this is a dull, lifeless record, its brevity (9 tracks) its only positive quality.
ST4T1C
80

I can see why most people would hate this album, as "Ghost Stories" is a very quite, ambient, and lowkey album. It is because of this, I legitimately loved this album, and I honestly do consider it to be as good as some of Coldplays other projects. There are so many just magical moments on here like "Oceans" and "Midnight". Even some of the lesser tracks like "Another's Arms" is still amazing, and honestly, "A Sky Full Of Stars", while a little ... read more

elitimesfour
39

😴😴🥱😮😐

MinatoArisato
65

I surprisingly think that this album is one of the more underrated records in Coldplay's discography. Yes, Ghost Stories does have massive problems, repetitive and has some weakish songs, however, this album has something which I think think the other Coldplay albums of this decade have lacked, personality. Ghost Stories feels like an album, it has a feeling and a concept even if it's your basic Coldplay heartache album I do think that this album has a unique aspect to its sound that for me ... read more

SleepinOshawott
100

(Edit: 98 --> 100)

Yeah, I'm gonna do my 3rd 10 in a row, What am I a dumbass?

This is a very enchanted album. It has a lot of heart put into it for such a heartbreaking experience. After the conscious uncoupling, Chris Martin decided to make an album more subdued than the rest of Coldplays output. The best way I can describe it is ambient, it has a lot of elements that make Parachutes look like X&Y. Also has some great lyrical highlights. "Tell me you love me, if you don't then ... read more

Shades002
77

1. Always in My Head - 6/10
2. Magic - 8/10
3. Ink - 7.5/10
4. True Love - 8.5/10 ⭐
5. Midnight - 10/10 ⭐⭐⭐
6. Another’s Arms - 7/10
7. Oceans - 7/10
8. A Sky Full of Stars - 7.5/10
9. O - 7.5/10

69/90

7.7/10 (Good 7.0-7.9)

Most underrated of their projects. "Midnight" is a gorgeous, ambient dreamscape. The Bon Iver inspiration in that track is highly evident.

Stasious
85

This was amazing. I love the ethereal feel on this album so much and it really took me on a trip, expecially the last part. I just have one thing to say; now, A Sky Full of Stars was a good song... but why on this album? Maybe the story (maaaaaaybe) but I don't know. Other than that, great listen.

Purchasing Ghost Stories from Amazon helps support Album of the Year. Or consider a donation?
Become a Donor
Donor badge, no ads + more benefits.
Advertisement

Track List

1Always In My Head
3:36
78
2Magic
4:45
80
3Ink
3:48
73
4True Love
4:05
74
5Midnight
4:54
83
6Another's Arms
3:54
71
7Oceans
5:21
73
8A Sky Full of Stars
4:28
72
9O
7:46
Contains hidden track "Fly On"
84
Total Length: 42 minutes

Year End Lists

#41/The Telegraph
#48/Rolling Stone
Sign in to comment
1mo
1mo
1mo
2mo
4mo


Added on: March 3, 2014