A Head Full of Dreams

very good

The vinyls came regular black instead of coloured but I emailed the customer service and they were beyond helpful offering either to replace or refund. They're checking now for a replacement coloured vinyls and should send it in two weeks if it's in stock, plus they let me keep the ones I received too as I'm in Egypt and the return costs would have been very costly. They also upgraded the delivery time for another order I made, which was gratuitous of them.The album overall is very different from their first few, defining albums, so don't listen to it expecting something similar and you won't be disappointed. It follows smoothly from Mylo Xyloto and Ghost Stories, but it still stands on its own legs.I fervently hope it's not their last album, but if it is, it's well-worthy of that stature.Hymn for the Weekend is my favourite so far. It has it all, the poetic lyrics, the wonderful tune, Chris's sublime vocals, Beyonce's subtle voice in the background. It is both mellow and upbeat. Perfect in my opinion.Fun has a strong beat that suits the vocals smoothly. Again, Tove Lo's background voice takes it to another level, I can't stop listening to it.Army of One is one of the songs that sounds quite new to me and I can't relate it to their other songs. It shows how the band evolved from its previous albums.Adventure of a Lifetime is quite lively and follows in the footsteps of A Sky Full of Stars. It's at a slightly higher tempo on the LP than it is in the music video (which I happen to find playful and well-designed)A Head Full of Dreams is upbeat and dancy and Chris's "OH" near the end, with the rest of the band's backing vocals, creates a picture of a packed concert with the entire crowd singing along in perfect harmony.Everglow is very mellow and deep, kind of like O from Ghost Stories, which I believe is one of their masterpieces.Birds is a catchy tune that fits nicely in the joyful theme of the album.Amazing Day sounded like a choir song which makes it one of the more relaxed/calming songs on the album.Up&Up is just another impeccable close to another great album. The tune was very melodic with a steady reviving beat.Hope that was helpful!

When my car was written off they scrapped it. I forgot to take this CD out of the player and I was mortified!!. I love all the tracks even though they're older. Life without Coldplay would be a sad place.

Bought for a present. Coldplay best group ever

A Head Full of Dreams is the light to the shade of "Ghost Stories". That album was a beautiful collection of sombre tracks such as 'O/Fly On' and 'Midnight', coupled with the more upbeat 'Magic' and 'A Sky Full of Stars', which will become live staples for years to come. "A Head Full of Dreams", on the other hand, is a compilation of typically pop-sounding tracks, with the odd piano ballad thrown in for good measure.The record opens with the eponymous track, 'A Head Full of Dreams', which echoes the band's earlier work 'Life in Technicolor II' from the "Prospekt's March" EP and the track 'One Tree Hill' from U2's "The Joshua Tree". A ready-made stadium anthem including trademark "woahs" throughout and a funky Guy Berryman bassline, this song could happily slide anywhere into the tracklisting on "Mylo Xyloto" with its dance vibes.'Birds' follows, again a throwback to The Edge-style guitarwork that Jonny Buckland has been able to master over the previous couple of albums. Layered over a shimmering guitar is a playful sing-along track that has the potential to be single material. Then comes track three - 'Hymn for the Weekend'. By far the biggest surprise on the album is this groovy R'n'B-sounding number, featuring a backing vocal appearance from Beyoncé. The catchy hook in the chorus will have stadiums dancing and signing in unison, with a fabulous brass band in accompaniment.Next up is 'Everglow', a piano ballad that would have fit anywhere in the band's earlier work, and echoes Keane's fabulous first album, "Hopes and Fears". The melody is pleasant and the lyrics are emotive. Without being particularly special in its own right, it brings a moment of serenity as the album goes into overdrive.At first, I didn't particularly like 'Adventure of a Lifetime', but it certainly is a grower. It shows the band have developed and honed their sound, with their musical talent never before so prevalent as it is in this song. Chris Martin has labelled it as his favourite-ever Coldplay song, and it certainly will have the thousands-strong crowds on their 2016 tour bouncing and chanting in unison to its closing crescendo of "Wooh-oohs!"Unlike "Mylo Xyloto's" 'Princess of China', a collaboration with Rihanna which didn't particularly work, the collaboration with Tove Lo on 'Fun' is quite spectacular. The two vocals complement each other quite expertly, and this track leads into the instrumental 'Kaleidoscope'. Following this is 'Army of One', which is driven by a church organ which conjures memories of 'Fix You' from "X&Y". A hidden track at the end of this scope, 'X Marks the Spot', has divided fans, but it is a grunge Hip-Hop track that shows the band having fun with what they're doing. It is certainly different from anything we've previously heard.'Amazing Day' follows. The live version we heard back in September lacks the same soul that the studio version is able to boast. A track you can't help but sway along to, the string orchestra backing is sublime, and the intricacies of Jonny's guitar work are there for all to hear. Another instrumental in 'Colour Spectrum' precedes the final song - 'Up&Up - a seven-minute outpouring of Coldplay at their most distinctly Oasis-ish. Featuring a guitar solo from Noel Gallagher, this is a soaring, upbeat anthem that will prove a suitable concert closer for years to come.Overall, this album lacks the coherence of "Ghost Stories", which told a story from start to finish. This is more of an eclectic and random compilation, but it certainly demonstrates the band's musical abilities to the maximum, as well as the development of their sound. Coldplay are a band that keep reinventing themselves, and that is to be commended.

I love it

SUPERB STUFF

I have been a Coldplay fan forever and just wow, what a pleasant surprise ‘A Head Full of Dreams’ is! I absolutely love it. It’s fresh, young and very hip which I think most ‘Coldplay Purists’ might consider as ‘selling out’ (whatever that means). For a band to survive in this day and age, they need to keep up with the trends in music and still retain their true identity. I think Coldplay managed to achieve that balance with this album. Although the sound is a lot more current, it has not been overdone – it’s without a doubt Coldplay. My absolute stand outs have to be the heart-breaking ‘Everglow’, I love ‘Fun’ and was actually dancing to ‘Army of One’ which would do even Timbaland proud! Is that Beyonce I hear on ‘Hymn for the Weekend’? I am happy with my purchase – well worth every penny. Great Christmas pressie for a few members of my family who love Coldplay as much as I do.