Out of nowhere the London band Coldplay conquered the hearts of fans of (alternative) guitar music in 2000 with their debut album . Ten intimate songs that stood out because of the fragile voice of singer Chris Martin, the open sound and the beautiful, dynamic playing of the band members. Two years and millions of records sold later, A Rush Of Blood To The Head is released. It is a worthy successor
… to the acclaimed debut. The band sound has remained the same, but due to the success and the many gigs, Coldplay sounds a bit heavier and more confident, without the vulnerable character of the music being significantly affected. Most important are the songs, which are again of a high level. Only towards the end the album collapses with weaker songs like A Whisper, the title track and Amsterdam. A Rush Of Blood To The Head may not be a shocking step forward but it can largely measure up to the successful debut and that is an achievement in itself. (MS)more