Ranked: Coldplay
Ranking and thoughts about one of my favourite (if not my most favourite) bands, Coldplay.
They've been quite an "interesting" artist for me. If you'll ask me, their first five albums — Parachutes to Mylo Xyloto — are my favourite, and what I'd say their essential albums are 'cause they'd form the sonic blueprint of what's to come. Since then, they've produced mixed results, ranging from decent to just... nah.
1.
Coldplay's hallmark album; the one that defined their "sound". Full of sweet, memorable, lovely, and sincere tracks - ranging from love, guilt, heartbreak - it's a roller coaster of emotions and ideas, one that's very well-done. An album you must hear before you die.
2.
My second favorite. The atmosphere in this album is unbeatable. Here, they laid their foundations as for what to expect in their next record. Songs are "simple", but are well-written and are impactful. Yellow is still one of my favorite songs to this day - which is also the one that I first heard from them.
3.
Viva La Vida. This is where Coldplay started branching away from their melancholic, alt-rock sound to a more experimental, diverse record; also, in my opinion, where they started exprimenting with pop music (Viva La Vida).
The lyrics are different from the "sad" lyrics (which I love btw) that were present in the past records, and this now focuses more on broader topics such as historical moments, and war; the intimate melancholic lyrics and sounds are present in some songs, but are not the main focus anymore. This also has more electronic samples worked into the songs - Lost!, Life in Technicolor, The Escapist, Glass of Water, and Rainy Day; compared to the previous records, which add to the heavier atmosphere and themes of the songs, here, they work more as a "torch" to brighten the mood, quite pop-y, and will be fully realized in their next album.
Well done songs, whether they sound alternative or pop - it's just well-written. Overall, a solid album, showcasing Coldplay's evolving musicianship.
The lyrics are different from the "sad" lyrics (which I love btw) that were present in the past records, and this now focuses more on broader topics such as historical moments, and war; the intimate melancholic lyrics and sounds are present in some songs, but are not the main focus anymore. This also has more electronic samples worked into the songs - Lost!, Life in Technicolor, The Escapist, Glass of Water, and Rainy Day; compared to the previous records, which add to the heavier atmosphere and themes of the songs, here, they work more as a "torch" to brighten the mood, quite pop-y, and will be fully realized in their next album.
Well done songs, whether they sound alternative or pop - it's just well-written. Overall, a solid album, showcasing Coldplay's evolving musicianship.
4.
First thing I'll say is this - it's an overhated album. Like, really overhated.
I'm not saying it's perfect. It has some production issues (mixing is quite ass and bricked-wall compressed to shit); the pacing somewhat falls apart in the second-half; the whole "concept album" shctick somewhat exists, but you can enjoy this without minding that (which speaks about how strong the story is tbh); but, I can't deny that this is a good album that I enjoy and it has some classics in it.
The first half of this album is one of Coldplay's best, like, it just flows so well, and while the guitar work is more laid-back and minimalist, serves the songs quite well (ex: Charlie Brown - that riff is just... euphoric); but that's not to say Jonny has some "rock-y" moments here, such as Major Minus (the breakdown/bridge is amazing). A lot of people lambast the album for being the one that started their "downfall", and even them "selling out", but I see it (to some extent) as a reasonable evolution from their previous album. While Viva La Vida had the band experimenting with more "exotic" sounds (at least, to them), it also had them experimenting with "pop-y" sounds - such as Viva La Vida, and 'Lost!'; you can argue it had a more "rock" sound to it, but it definitely laid the foundation for their "pop-y/electronic phase".
This belongs with the previous four albums as their best work (imho) yet, and these first five albums are pretty much the "full realization" of what they can and want to do - its sounds and themes are re-explored and tweaked in Post-MX albums (Ghost Stories is literally just Parachutes with the electronic soundscapes of Mylo Xyloto). It's pop rock/electronic for sure, which is a major departure from their previous sound, but it still has that 'Coldplay character' that I know and love - the piano, guitar, vocals, and lyrics - which, in my opinion, was lost somewhere in 'Everyday Life' and 'Music of the Spheres'.
So yeah, all-in-all, really good Coldplay album.
I'm not saying it's perfect. It has some production issues (mixing is quite ass and bricked-wall compressed to shit); the pacing somewhat falls apart in the second-half; the whole "concept album" shctick somewhat exists, but you can enjoy this without minding that (which speaks about how strong the story is tbh); but, I can't deny that this is a good album that I enjoy and it has some classics in it.
The first half of this album is one of Coldplay's best, like, it just flows so well, and while the guitar work is more laid-back and minimalist, serves the songs quite well (ex: Charlie Brown - that riff is just... euphoric); but that's not to say Jonny has some "rock-y" moments here, such as Major Minus (the breakdown/bridge is amazing). A lot of people lambast the album for being the one that started their "downfall", and even them "selling out", but I see it (to some extent) as a reasonable evolution from their previous album. While Viva La Vida had the band experimenting with more "exotic" sounds (at least, to them), it also had them experimenting with "pop-y" sounds - such as Viva La Vida, and 'Lost!'; you can argue it had a more "rock" sound to it, but it definitely laid the foundation for their "pop-y/electronic phase".
This belongs with the previous four albums as their best work (imho) yet, and these first five albums are pretty much the "full realization" of what they can and want to do - its sounds and themes are re-explored and tweaked in Post-MX albums (Ghost Stories is literally just Parachutes with the electronic soundscapes of Mylo Xyloto). It's pop rock/electronic for sure, which is a major departure from their previous sound, but it still has that 'Coldplay character' that I know and love - the piano, guitar, vocals, and lyrics - which, in my opinion, was lost somewhere in 'Everyday Life' and 'Music of the Spheres'.
So yeah, all-in-all, really good Coldplay album.
5.
Ahh, my least favourite "Oldplay" album.
Not saying it's bad, it's just... good, not Parachutes or AROBTTH (long-ass title) good, but good nonetheless. It's synth and electronic atmospheres (such as in Square One and Talk) are really amazing, and succeeds in making you feel like you're in space (compared to that one album about being in space...). I also like the lyrics and themes here - much more personal and "dark" than the previous albums (White Shadows, Square One, Talk, What If). Some of the songs, while similar to their alt-rock predeccesors, just feel like something's missing. 'What If' is a great example; I think it's good, from vocals, lyrics and instrumentation, but something's keeping me from adding it to my favourites (the live version soars though). The pacing also kind of sucks - by the time I'm at the second-half, I felt like I listened to more than an hour worth of tracks.
With that being said, it's a good album.
Not saying it's bad, it's just... good, not Parachutes or AROBTTH (long-ass title) good, but good nonetheless. It's synth and electronic atmospheres (such as in Square One and Talk) are really amazing, and succeeds in making you feel like you're in space (compared to that one album about being in space...). I also like the lyrics and themes here - much more personal and "dark" than the previous albums (White Shadows, Square One, Talk, What If). Some of the songs, while similar to their alt-rock predeccesors, just feel like something's missing. 'What If' is a great example; I think it's good, from vocals, lyrics and instrumentation, but something's keeping me from adding it to my favourites (the live version soars though). The pacing also kind of sucks - by the time I'm at the second-half, I felt like I listened to more than an hour worth of tracks.
With that being said, it's a good album.
6.
First and foremost, I think this album is... fine. It has some songs that I think are great additions to the classics (Arabesque, Church, Trouble in Town, Daddy, Champion of the World, Everyday Life), and this is probably their boldest attempt at an "experimental album", because boy do they jump from one genre to another in this one (from Jazz to 'Oldplay' piano alt-rock to an acoustic number), it is sonically expansive. However, I think this experimentation is not done right - to some extent.
Some "experimental songs" here - most of which appear in the 'Sunrise' half - are... eh. 'BrokEn' and 'When I Need A Friend' are different from your typical Coldplay songs, but also, they just don't do much other than "wow, a gospel song, that's new!" and after that, you pretty much forget about them. I'm not saying they should be these loud and climactic songs like 'Arabesque' - 'Daddy' is a very intimate and heartfelt song, and while not having loud brass and guitars and drums, has an emotional climax that justs... hits, and is what I know that Coldplay can pull of confidently. It's just that a lot of the songs here are just filler, and seem to be an album with some outtakes sprinkled here and there. This "filler-syndrome" is more apparent in the second half - Sunset - which has the most acoustic, and "fine" songs' - they're not bad, but I won't come back to them or pretty much remember them when I think of this album; 'Orphans', 'Guns', 'Champion of the World', and the title track are amazing though, but that's pretty much it for the second half.
This rant has gone too long now so I'll stop for now, and I might add (or change) some thoughts later (2025/07/03).
Some "experimental songs" here - most of which appear in the 'Sunrise' half - are... eh. 'BrokEn' and 'When I Need A Friend' are different from your typical Coldplay songs, but also, they just don't do much other than "wow, a gospel song, that's new!" and after that, you pretty much forget about them. I'm not saying they should be these loud and climactic songs like 'Arabesque' - 'Daddy' is a very intimate and heartfelt song, and while not having loud brass and guitars and drums, has an emotional climax that justs... hits, and is what I know that Coldplay can pull of confidently. It's just that a lot of the songs here are just filler, and seem to be an album with some outtakes sprinkled here and there. This "filler-syndrome" is more apparent in the second half - Sunset - which has the most acoustic, and "fine" songs' - they're not bad, but I won't come back to them or pretty much remember them when I think of this album; 'Orphans', 'Guns', 'Champion of the World', and the title track are amazing though, but that's pretty much it for the second half.
This rant has gone too long now so I'll stop for now, and I might add (or change) some thoughts later (2025/07/03).
7.
Ghost Stories is one of the results after Chris and Gwyneth's divorce. A haunting, and heartbreaking record which mixes their newly found electronic sound with the intimacy and melancholy of their earlier records.
As much as I like the vibes of this album (listening to it by the beachside at night would probably be top 10 experiences ever), it's sort of situational? Like, it's good but really mid at the same time. I don't think it's bad, but it doesn't pop up in my mind as much as the albums that precede it.
Nonetheless, a decent attempt from Coldplay, and a catharsis - in a way - for Chris Martin.
As much as I like the vibes of this album (listening to it by the beachside at night would probably be top 10 experiences ever), it's sort of situational? Like, it's good but really mid at the same time. I don't think it's bad, but it doesn't pop up in my mind as much as the albums that precede it.
Nonetheless, a decent attempt from Coldplay, and a catharsis - in a way - for Chris Martin.
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