Yep, that's what the four-piece British rock band claimed after releasing the album on the 4th of December. This legendary band consisting of Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman and Will Champion has contributed so much to the music industry in establishing a name which is engraved so deep in music history that time cannot erase it. Coldplay released a total of seven albums since their formation; they have had numerous collaborations with artists from different music genres since, such as Rihanna, Avicii, Beyoncé –who is featured on this album-, and many more. They have won 8 Brit awards, 7 Grammys and many other awards, selling over 60 million records worldwide.
Their latest release, A Head Full of Dreams, sounds like a mixture of their old music and new experimental harmonies that fans can realize sounds like a good final album, which is really sad, and I really hope Coldplay prove us wrong and come back with another smashing album. (Please, Coldplay, please!)
A Head Full of Dreams is the complete opposite of the previous Ghost Stories, which sounded exceptionally dark and muted but powerful (not a surprise since it was released after Chris Martin divorced from the famous actress Gwyneth Paltrow). In the charts, A Head Full of Dreams is at No. 2 in the Billboard Top 200; again, not shocking. However, many listeners and critics claim that the album was not up to their expectations, and deem it a failure compared to past albums. They claim that this new sound of theirs does not suit them and that it lacks the old Coldplay vibes, and I totally respect their opinions. However, many others think that this album is as lively, just like a whoosh of melodies from the wing of a soaring eagle, a fruit of many years in the music industry.
Coldplay has a unique sound; when you’re listening to one of their songs on the radio, you instantly know it’s Coldplay. Not because their sound is repetitive –no, but because it’s distinctive; I mean, Chris Martin’s vocals are incredibly insane and outstanding, and allow one to undergo a storm of emotions when listening to any of their songs, be it old or new.
Songs like A Head Full of Dreams and Adventure of a Lifetime are upbeat with rejuvenating rhythms, classic disco beats, and typical Coldplay sentiments that can put you in a good mood instantly. Meanwhile, other songs like Everglow and Amazing Day maintain indie and limestone rock tones, bringing something from the old and adding to it to the new, never missing Martin’s strong falsettos.
Did I say how much I love it when they collaborate with other artists?! Their song with Beyoncé, Hymn for the Weekend, is truly marvellous. And if you think you are the biggest Coldplay fan out there, then you might want to redo your calculations because guess what?! President Barack Obama beat you to that. Yup, he absolutely loves Coldplay and listens to them from his iPod. Not only that, but he’s featured in the album as well! Kaleidoscope is a sampled rendition of “Amazing Grace”, and amid its piano chords is President Obama’s voice. Personally, I am not a fan of Tove Lo; in fact, I really dislike her music, but her song with Coldplay, Fun, is exceptionally good, -really, really good- and it might be my favourite on the album. The song starts with a beautiful and ethereal guitar solo that takes you somewhere far away to a place of evocative lyrics and the soothing vocals of Martin and Tove Lo combined, making it, beyond doubt, a song to remember.
All in all, I am still sad that it is their last album, but man, have Coldplay done a lot, from hit tunes like Paradise and Viva la Vida to Yellow and A Sky Full of Stars. I don’t think anyone can deny that Coldplay has created albums that can be described as, simply, masterpieces, and this is no exception.
*Hears crying from the distance* “Sarah, what’s wrong?!!” *sighs deeply and looks into the distance* It’s the last Coldplay album ever, like, ever
A Head Full of Dreams Album Review by Sarah Al Attiyat