![parachutes coldplay album cover parachutes coldplay album cover](https://www.udiscovermusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Coldplay-Parachutes-album-cover-web-optimised-820-1000x600.jpg)
Initially, there was some hope: A Rush of Blood to the Head was an improvement in certain areas, despite the band still feeling hopelessly contained. No doubt, Parachutes laid a solid-yet-unexciting foundation. Lyrically, he’s unable to move past sugary sentiments, showcased clearly on “Yellow”: ‘look at the stars/look how they shine for you/and everything you do.’ On the lavish opener “Dont Panic”, Chris Martin sings ‘we live in a beautiful World’ as though he’s tired of the very thing he’s gushing over. Crucially, Parachutes lacks the passion that made these artists so beloved (to various degrees). Without even scratching the surface you hear elements of U2, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, and, of course, Travis. Instead, it lays bare the many influences that formed the arena-rock titans that we know today. Had Coldplay gone on to do great things, I imagine that their debut record would have been looked back on rather fondly, at least as a showcase of fundamentals within sombre pop-rock. Parachutes has plenty of memorable hooks and melancholic sing-a-longs. It’s so inoffensive that it inadvertently becomes offensive. It’s just too damn passive for my liking. I see the value in that, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy a good portion of the tracklist. Listening to Coldplay’s debut album is effortless, requiring almost nothing from the listener.
![parachutes coldplay album cover parachutes coldplay album cover](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/wyEAAOSw8mpbIP9J/s-l400.jpg)
There is very little here that arouses anything resembling excitement, or any other sensation for that matter. Keen defenders of the band are quick to point out that their earlier albums showed exciting potential, and whilst Parachutes is no doubt a pleasant listen, I don’t wholly agree. It’s incredibly easy to dismantle their derivative sound, and admittedly rather fun.
![parachutes coldplay album cover parachutes coldplay album cover](https://audioxide.com/api/images/album-artwork/parachutes-coldplay-medium-standard.jpg)
Coldplay are an easy target, and for good reason.