A Rush of Blood to the Head
by: Coldplay
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Sales Rank: 422
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Music : A Rush of Blood to the Head |
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 X&Y |  Parachutes |  Live 2003 |
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Rating:  - * Things Unsaid ... While it doesn't exactly transcend Parachutes, this is a very decent sophomore effort. Sure it's mopey; sure it's resigned. That's the whole point. The question then becomes, how well does it achieve its goal to mope you out? Well, as it turns out it's pretty damn effective in that department. Most of the songs are mid-tempo, with lots of dynamic shifts and volume-tweaking. Coldplay have been criticized as being Radiohead Lite (for one thing) but that isn't really true. Coldplay is a lot more melodic than Radiohead; more conventionally "pretty." While that may sound like proof of the very charge, I think the comparison is made more for the quality and timbre of Chris Martin's voice. The similarity to Thom Yorke's voice is sometimes uncanny. There are some problems, though. Sequencing "Daylight" immediately after the beautiful, shimmering "Clocks" was a mistake as although they are structurally different they have virtually identical rhythms. Great songs both, particularly the former, but a little close for comfort. Another problem (not a serious one, however) is the pacing of the rest of the album. As I said, most of the songs are mid tempo and some ("Green Eyes," "Warning Sign," "In My Place") even have a quasi-country lilt to them which is nice, but there's a certain sameness that gets to be distracting: instead of just losing yourself in the lushness of it all, you might find yourself critiquing it instead. Like here. But when it's good, A RUSH is great. "Clocks," "A Whisper" (particularly the coda), "God Put A Smile On Your Face" are all required listening . . . in fact, nothing on this album is anything less than very good. Oddly, however, I find the title track to be the weakest of the bunch, mainly because of its length (nearly six minutes). So, I keep coming back to this album - - more so than to the debut. I didn't like it much at first. But there's a certain closeness to it - - a certain confessional quality I find compelling. So . . . I guess it transcends PARACHUTES after all. Rating:  - * Singer ain't that good ... I was given this album as a gift three years ago and while it was new to me I immediately noticed that the lead vocalist had no idea of how to break away from singing very "clunkily" in syllables...to every song!!! I haven't read all the reviews to this album (would take days) but wonder if he annoys anyone else as much as he annoys me? Rating: - * Phenomenal ... The Coldplay album to get if you're only going to get one, but all of them are good. this isn't as mellow or low-key as Parachutes. amazing orchestration, sweeping melodies. i admit this isn't for everyone.. some may find it depressing but i think the songs aren't straight depressing- they're more bittersweet, melancholy, hopeful. simple lyrics everybody can relate to. i still play this cd all the way through sometimes and i've had it for years. Rating:  - * A Rush Of Blood To The Head ... I like this CD, but after a while all of the songs on it sound the same. Coldplay is a great band and I recomend this CD for anyone who likes that kind of music. Rating: - * my favorite cd ... No matter how many CDs I buy, I find myself listening to this one again and again. Invigorating and soothing at the same time. |
Where the NBA Dynasty series (the other initial entry is the slightly meatier Los Angeles Lakers: The Complete History) outdoes Ultimate Jordan is in the six playoff games--one for each year--as they were originally broadcast, minus halftime and commercials. Having the nearly complete game (usually running 90-100 minutes, from the TV introductions to post-game interviews) means you can skip straight to John Paxson's clutch basket or what was expected to be the final shot of Jordan's career. Or you can savor each game in its entirety, all the better to appreciate the artistry of Jordan in his three-pointer barrage against Portland or his "flu game" against Utah. You can see other great players too, of course, including Jordan's teammates--Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, Dennis Rodman--and those opponents unfortunate enough to face the Bulls--Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley, John Stockton, Karl Malone, and others. Because these are all NBA Finals games, you won't see Jordan's shot over Craig Ehlo or his 63-point coming-out party against Boston, but the 1990s Chicago Bulls were a team for the ages, and merely having their games--some of them all-time classics--available for home viewing is a major milestone in archived sports. --David Horiuchi
While last-minute heroics tend to be the standard by which we define excellence, there are many other moments that have left an indelible impression, many of them highlighted here. The video clips fall into 10 categories: Dunks, Alley-oops, Assists, Steals, Blocks, Teamwork, the Clutch Shot, Moves, Hustle, and Buzzer-Beaters. At the beginning of each section is a brief introduction. Before showing the top 10 dunks of all time, for example, we learn about the evolution of the dunk--from the first slam to the man who could fly, Michael Jordan--and we hear background commentary from NBA legends such as Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Dr. J, and Bill Russell. This video recalls familiar moments of NBA lore that you will want to own for countless repeat viewings. --Jeremy Storey
