Some reviews:
Amazon.com
As a band they have advanced to a stage where they outshine nearly every one of their rivals in terms of imagination and emotional pull... Even if they haven't come up with another "Yellow," you would be hard-pressed to care. This is exquisite stuff.
Amazon.co.uk
"Give me real, don't give me fake" says Martin in the opening "Politik" and it's an appropriately uncompromising demand, for
A Rush of Blood... is without doubt the most heartfelt and emotionally liberated album to top the charts in ages.
dotmusic
In 2000, armed with an undisputedly touching debut album, Coldplay emerged as serious contenders. That they were marginalised in some quarters by the tawdry bleating of frontman Chris Martin - resulting in Alan McGee's infamous "bedwetters" slight - is also hardly in question. For this was a band whose swollen emotional gravitas also left them terminally noosed by sorrowful self-pity. But, as Glastonbury suggested, and 'A Rush Of Blood To The Head' now resolutely attests, maturity, bravery and fire make the man. They also make Coldplay's second album a stellar triumph.
Billboard.com
On A Rush of Blood to the Head, the U.K. foursome proves worthy of the superlatives, crafting a stronger, more distinctive album than its predecessor in nearly every respect.
The Sun (UK newspaper - not online, so here's the full article)
COLDPLAY's follow-up to their dubut No1 album Parachutes proves the band can take on the mighty RADIOHEAD and U2 to make it big in the US.
A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD is out on August 26 and it is so good that world domination seems inevitable.
Here's the Sun's track by track preview with marks out of 10.
POLITIK - Their most adventurous track so far. Opens to loud angry guitar before it quietens into a pleading CHRIS MARTIN: "Open up your eyes". 8/10
IN MY PLACE - Their new single makes the hairs on you neck stand up. It should be their first number 1. Trademark irresistable guitar - riff that the EDGE will wish he'd written. 9/10
GOD PUT A SMILE UPON YOU FACE - A live favourite from their recent tour, reworked into a quality version for the album. 8/10
THE SCIENTIST - A stand-out track with spine-tingling piano. A melancholy tale of the heart with Chris pleading "Nobody said it was easy, it's such a shame for us to part". It will become the soundtrack to a thousand break-ups. 10/10
CLOCKS - Another instant classic. The pounding piano is addictive. Death and under-achievement are the themes. This is a truly beautiful song. 10/10
DAYLIGHT - An Eastern feel to this in ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN style song which features their singer IAN McCULLOCH and some STONE ROSES style base. 6/10
GREEN EYES - Some fans wont like this folky acoustic jaunt. But it builds into a lovely anthem which will resound around Britain after a night down the pub with your Green-Eyed missus. 8/10
WARNING SIGN - This is the one - Their finest moment. Simple yet stunning. If you thought their second album would struggle, this would prove you wrong. 10/10
A WHISPER - The menacing sound to this song puts a nail in the coffin of the "old Coldplay" sound. Jagged and uneasy but doesn't stand up against it's predecessors. 7/10
A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD - An intimate number that starts with the whisper: "I'm gonna buy this place and burn it down". It slowly builds into something magnificent and then you'll realise your listening to a very special album. Great harmonies. 8/10
AMSTERDAM - A heavy piano tune with Chris singing - "My star is fading". But he couldn't be more wrong. A mellow end to a melancholy record (are they the new SMITHS?). Builds into a stadium scarf-waver, proving that COLDPLAY can be as big as U". 9/10
Overall: 9/10 A seminal work. It's only a matter of time before the rest of the world wakes up to them.
Memo to Coldplay: Book your table at the Brit Awards NOW.