Let’s try something new today. Even before I got into politics, sports, or really much of anything, I was enthralled by the power of music. I distinctly remember making whole sets out of toy drums and listening to anything I possibly could with my parents. However, even from the beginning, one artist in particular always had a greater resonance. That artist was Coldplay. Something about Chris Martin’s soothing baritone voice and the calm instrumentals accompanying him put my young mind at ease, even when it was one song (“Don’t Panic”) off of the soundtrack for the movie “Garden State.” My mom loved that movie, and the soundtrack even more. Such were the days of 2007 for you.

After the later release of Viva La Vida in 2008, and my first real listens to it the following year, my young mind was truly made aware of music as more than just background noise. The same factors as before had been enhanced with a stadium-ready scale that I could barely comprehend, because I was seven. As the years went on, this band became damn near all I listened to for years on end, and I’ll be honest when I say that made more sense at the time. But now, I’m in college and can legally drink, though I probably won’t. Regardless, I still love Coldplay, at least most of their work. But that’s the point of this entry, to rank all their albums from worst to best and maybe tell a little bit of my life through that. Without further ado, I’ll stop meandering about and we’ll finally get started.

#9: Music Of The Spheres (2021)

It is unfortunately the nature of a ranking that something has to come in last. However, at least it isn’t much of a contest here for what takes this spot. After all, the three best songs on this Coldplay album are a blatant, but passable 80s throwback (“Higher Power”), a 10-minute closing track (“Coloratura”), and a decent, if completely out of the blue, collaboration with BTS (“My Universe”). I even think BTS are in fact a pretty good pop act, and I’m still surprised that working with Coldplay turned out to not lead to a massive sonic clash. Credit where credit is due though, because these songs are at least catchy as hell or laudable in pure ambition, if nothing else. 

The rest of the album, however, gives me the feeling that something didn’t click quite like on previous projects. Whether it’s the title my mother had to explain to me as I wrote this, or that they may have tried to recapture Mylo Xyloto’s sound a little too late in their careers, this is almost a genuine misfire. Hell, for any decent band, including Coldplay, this kind of is one. And to explain the title as I mentioned earlier, it alludes to an old superstition about the Solar System in which the planets’ orbits would be not unlike a record player, making music to communicate with the outside universe. I call bulls***.

#8: Everyday Life (2019)

I bet this album has been mostly forgotten about at this point, and that’s a shame, because it’s got some genuinely enjoyable songs on here. “Orphans” and “Arabesque” are both legitimately good songs, and that’s probably why they were the lead singles. The good news is that they had an album’s worth of fine material here. Why they made it a double album, though, I honestly couldn’t tell you. Yes, this album suffers from more bloat than a pufferfish, but songs like the two aforementioned tunes and the emotionally-charged “Daddy” do what Coldplay does best. It’s not quite what Coldplay used to be, but it’s still solid. 

Heck, despite the bloat, most of the songs (such as “Everyday Life” and “Champion of the World”) are still at least somewhat passable. Not to mention, the more experimental pop nature of this album, even down to the surprisingly direct lyrics on many songs, is appreciated. In fact, “Guns” could’ve worked better for a younger Randy Newman, just saying. I’m not saying this album is for every Coldplay fan, and definitely not for those uninitiated, but it’s respectable. I’ll give it that praise.

#7: Ghost Stories (2014)

This Coldplay album is not like the others. After all, whereas most Coldplay output by this time was bright, cheery, rock-adjacent pop, Ghost Stories is a melancholic, brooding, and almost mournful change of pace. Granted, this makes much more sense once the context of this album is figured out, that being that Chris Martin and his ex-wife were going through their “conscious uncoupling.” Yes, his wife was Gwyneth Paltrow. Needless to say, the more sorrowful tone of most of the album combined with the muted, dour electronic influences has Coldplay not at their best, even for this era of their career. And yet, they stick the landing, if a little awkwardly, with most of the songs.

“Always In My Head” is a sweet and sorrowful opening track at the same time, while “Magic” is similar in tone, with both being decent vibe songs. “Midnight” also falls into the category of a vibe song, but it’s much more electronic and melancholic, with a slightly less accessible structure, too. I personally find this best listened to as a calming piece of music, mainly due to its ambient soundscape. However, the real highlight on this album is “A Sky Full Of Stars.” This song is so top-notch it is probably Coldplay’s last great masterpiece almost a decade later, and it certainly helps that the late, great Avicii helped produce the tune. It works wonderfully as the album’s emotional climax, and is also genuinely fun, danceable, and emotional all on its own.

However, that leads to the big problem with this album, which is that “A Sky Full Of Stars” renders the rest of the songs to be completely mediocre by comparison. Sure, I can vibe with “Another’s Arms” and other previously mentioned songs every once in a while, but I’d always rather listen to ”A Sky Full Of Stars” instead. And then, there are two songs titled “Ink” and “True Love,” with both of these songs being inferior versions of tunes right next to them in the tracklist. Still, this is the first genuinely decent album on the list, and it is worth a listen for fans of both Coldplay and this style of melancholic electronica.

#6: A Head Full Of Dreams (2015)

A Head Full of Dreams is exactly as bright and colorful as its album art suggests. I could end this segment of the ranking right here, but then I’d be doing myself and anyone actually reading this a major disservice. While I wouldn’t call this album great, however, it is a fun listen and done quite competently for the most part. Sure, “Fun” and “Army of One” are still clunkers, but the rest of the album more than makes up for those weaker points. After all, this album has “Adventure of a Lifetime” and “Hymn For The Weekend.” I definitely should mention that the latter song features Beyonce, because her performance really sells the vibe, which feels like that at a fancy bar that’s not ashamed to play pop tunes.

Of course, there’s more to listen to than the hits. “A Head Full of Dreams” and “Up&Up” are genuinely soaring songs, with the latter’s outro being a guitar solo by Oasis’ Noel Gallagher. As can clearly be seen, this album brought out all of the stops, and considering it’s as of now their last smash hit album to date, they succeeded to a decent degree. This is genuinely good guitar pop for the most part, and I’d definitely revisit this one at least once. I still wouldn’t come into this expecting the album to wow you, but there are moments of that, for sure.

#5: Mylo Xyloto (2011)

If A Head Full of Dreams was a fun listen, this album will satisfy that exact same itch in an even better way. This album has massive hits like “Paradise” and “Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall,” with that song in particular being one of the most vibrant and bright in Coldplay’s discography. “Charlie Brown” has an infectious guitar lick to it, and “Princess of China” features Rihanna, who has surprisingly great chemistry with Chris Martin on this track. Even better, this is the first album on the list where there are no genuinely bad songs, so that’s always good news. 

Granted, I was nine years old when this came out, so some of it may have held up worse than the rest. “Hurts Like Heaven” is a fun first song after an ambient opening track, but this isn’t Coldplay’s strongest opening, for sure. “Up In Flames” does foreshadow the direction taken on Ghost Stories, and is certainly a weaker song on the album, but it’s not terrible. On the other hand, “Us Against the World” is a slow, mostly acoustic number, but it fits well with the album and is peaceful in its tone. This is definitely a great album, but mileage may vary in terms of it being a must-listen. For Coldplay fans and 2010s pop listeners, it certainly is, but outside of that, that statement is more debatable. Still absolutely worth a listen or two at minimum.

I should also take some time to talk about the live shows for this and A Head Full Of Dreams alike, because I went with my family to a concert during each of those tours. Simply put, Coldplay puts on a magnificent live show, with flashing lights on the audience’s wristbands and crowd engagement being absolutely top-notch. Heck, some of the songs even sounded better live, with “Us Against The World” even featuring serene backing vocals from drummer Will Champion. In short, see Coldplay live whenever you can, because you will never regret the experience. In fact, their live show could well win over some on the fence about the band all by itself. They’re that good.

#4: Parachutes (2000)

This is Coldplay’s debut album, and while that fact does show at times, none of the songs here are weak at all. After all, this album has “Yellow” on it, which is truly a masterpiece of a song and one of my all time favorites from the band. Therefore, while the rest of the album definitely feels somewhat lesser in comparison to that song, there are still many gems here. “Shiver,” “Trouble,” and “Sparks” are all genuinely emotional, heartfelt songs that helped lay the foundation of what Coldplay would become, and to this day, I can still listen to those and “Don’t Panic” on repeat.

The general vibe and tone of this album is incredibly mellow and meditative throughout, which creates an album perfect for calming down after an emotional day out in the world. Therefore, I’d definitely call this the first absolute must-listen on the list. And yet, it’s only ranked 4th on this list because there are times where listening to the deep cuts on this album isn’t quite as impactful as those from the top three albums on this list. Just goes to show how good the prime of Coldplay was.

#3 X&Y (2005)

This album has Coldplay’s greatest ever track in my opinion, that being “Fix You.” Something about the dynamic contrast between the two halves of the song leaves the whole thing sounding transcendent, and the tune itself hits gut-wrenching emotional highs stronger than just about any other song of its sound and era. But unlike the previous four albums in this ranking, the rest of X&Y isn’t overshadowed by that magnum opus of a song. “Speed of Sound,” for example, is a masterful stadium pop anthem, with a drumbeat that instantly makes its way into your head. Songs such as “Talk” and “The Hardest Part” certainly sound similar, and those two in particular get a little mixed up in my memory at times, but that shows to me they are both good songs on their own, too.

This album, however, does have its weaker parts, such as “Low” and “Twisted Logic.” But also buried in that portion of the album is the poignant “Swallowed In The Sea.” The lyrics on this tune are both blunt and abstract at the same time, and it’s a shame this song doesn’t have the recognition it deserves. And “‘Til Kingdom Come” is in a similar boat, with the added benefits of being mostly acoustic and even somewhat evoking the late, great Johnny Cash at times.

In short, this would be many bands’ best, and you may like far more than just the two big hits. And yet, it’s only the third best Coldplay album. But then again, the two albums ahead of it are just absolute masterpieces in many more ways, so X&Y, as amazing as it is, still has to settle for the bronze medal. Goes to show why Coldplay are such titans of their era.

#2 A Rush Of Blood To The Head (2002)

This album exemplifies Coldplay’s original style, and is absolutely loaded with some of the best guitar pop of the early 2000s. I mean, who doesn’t love the iconic piano riff in “Clocks” or the expertly-crafted moodiness of “The Scientist?” However, this album is much more than those two classic tunes. “Politik” is a good opener, but somehow a weaker track on the album because of what else is on here. “God Put A Smile On Your Face” is absolutely a highlight, with a sound more akin to a folk rock tune and a lead guitar part that adds a somewhat darker tone than expected. “In My Place” is much brighter in sound and definitely shows the versatility of Coldplay’s early formula, a trait this album absolutely revels in. “Green Eyes” feels like a refined version of a Parachutes cut, and “Amsterdam” is a brilliant closing track. In short, if you like chill pop rock with a wide variety of vibes, this album is absolutely essential listening, and probably the best entry point for new Coldplay fans. And yet, there is one album more masterful than even this.

#1 Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008)

Yes, this album has the endlessly memed “Viva La Vida” on it, but that song topped the Billboard charts with good reason. After all, that song has got an iconic chord progression, a soaring chorus, and legendary lyrics that feel like the farewell speech of a king. Just a majestic tune all around, but only in the middle of the pack in terms of how I’d rank the songs here. “Lost!” is soaring in an almost transcendent manner, and “Lovers In Japan” is similarly striking. “Violet Hill” is probably the best song here, and showcases a sonic grit completely unlike most Coldplay songs. And still, with endlessly relatable lyrics about longing, it still is unmistakably their song. Then, experience a complete 180 with “Strawberry Swing,” one of the grooviest and most trance-inducing songs in Coldplay’s whole discography. It’s also a favorite of mine simply because they really should be doing more songs like this, and less like Music of the Spheres.

I’d also like to bring up the track “Yes” because of the sheer difference between the song and its hidden track. You see, the almost baroque pop feel of the first half fades into an actual shoegaze track in the second half, something I’m genuinely surprised they haven’t done more of in their career. The point is, Viva La Vida as an album is a masterpiece to the point where there’s an EP of B-Sides called Prospekt’s March that is still about as good as Mylo Xyloto. Seriously, I can’t recommend this album enough, and it’s easily Coldplay’s magnum opus.

And now, for some final thoughts. First is a tier list, with everything in S or A tier being a recommendation. S Tier is essential listening, A Tier is personal recommendations, B Tier is good for the fans, and C and D Tiers are for the mediocrity that is their most recent output. As for the band’s next steps, I’d be interested in seeing them try to make an album more influenced by dream pop or a very light shoegaze. It’s a sound that is definitely on the popularity upswing, and knowing Coldplay’s current clout and past excellence, they may be able to get a comeback out of it, both critically and commercially. 

But even if not, their legacy is set in stone as a juggernaut of not just modern guitar pop, but 2000s and early 2010s music in general. We’re talking about a band with fans in the tens of millions at least, and an influence nearly unrivaled in their style and era. We’re talking classic songs that will be sung for generations, both in bedrooms and stadiums. Finally, we’re talking about a band with a unique place in the hearts of many, myself included, and that’s always something a band can be proud of.