Alan McGee (former Creation Records and Oasis star maker) has lambasted Coldplay several times – in the pages of NME, by referring to the band as ‘bedwetter’s music’. Coldplay with their debut album prove that they are much more than art school wannabes as they have been portrayed as. The art school slam on the band has similar tones of insults made at Blur from the then relatively new Oasis. McGee’s frustration at the death of Britpop might arise out of the thrashing Creation took over the miserable sales of Kevin Rowland’s (Dexy Midnight Runner’s frontrunner) despite a massive publicity push.
There has been a growing moodiness in Britpop of late, especially with the gargantuan popularity of bands like Travis and Radiohead. Travis’ ‘Why Does It Always Rain On Me’ and Radiohead’s ‘Karma Police’ are less happy footstompers but more complex introspection, if not exactly depressive and downcast, then certainly tinged with melancholy and a hint of transient beauty. Do not be swayed by naysayers like McGee into believing that Coldplay is merely a Radiohead or a Jeff Buckley shadow. These youngsters have a giant of a debut album, more artistic and more mature than what Radiohead had achieved at a similar stage in their career. Musically it may not be as ‘mature’ as the former or as full, but simple lyrics interwoven with equally light and melodious overtones make this a listening pleasure.
The tracks everyone is talking about seem to be ‘Yellow’ and ‘Trouble’. Both have beautiful melodies, simple acoustic verses. Watch out for the beautiful and fluid piano rendering in the latter. Chris Martin (The Front man) explores the theme of first love as never handled before. The propulsive rhythm guitars only make these emotions more palpable. The crescendos that they build on the tracks are reminiscent of Radiohead’s ability to employ compelling stop-start dynamics. ‘Parachutes’ (Title Track) is not just a half-baked pot-pourie of emotions poured forth with gutless guitaring but is a very mellow and beautiful track. ‘Shiver’ seems to be the track that shows how aptly the two bands can be compared.
With a blistering guitar attack and a tender, quiet mood on the verse. Martin is quite adept at using his voice both in a full-throated manner, which brings out the lighters and fills the air with charged intensity and also fully capable of a sweet falsetto that pines for lost love. Radiohead comparisons be damned. They are a talented bunch enough not to be tainted with that label.
In conclusion “Parachutes” is a great debut for a talented quartet who are destined to go places. They deserve a place next to giants like Travis and Radiohead and are musically as compelling as the others in the Britpop - Hangover scene.
To find out more about the latest album ’’A Rush of Blood to the Head’’ check out my new review.