A Head Full of Dreams
by Coldplay
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Dec 4, 2015
User Score
6.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 461 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 275 out of 461
  2. Mixed: 121 out of 461
  3. Negative: 65 out of 461
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  1. FrancyCiak
    Jun 5, 2022
    10
    For me, this is the best Coldplay album with Ghost Stories!!! This album is so underrated...
  2. Whyhelder
    Sep 24, 2020
    7
    Their least good album. I feel like they just made it for touring. They made it thinking of the tour - u can feel it in the whole album. It’s great though bc it’s the complete opposite from their previous one (darkness and sadness X happiness and colorness).
  3. NolanLundgaard
    Mar 27, 2020
    8
    A Head Full of Dreams by Coldplay: 7.07

    A Head Full of Dreams: 1 :) Birds: 1 :) Hymn For the Weekend: 1 Everglow: 1 Adventure of a Lifetime: 1 :) Fun (feat. Tove Lo): 1 :) Kaleidoscope: 0.5 Army of One: 0.5 (AoO=1, T=0) Amazing Day: 1 Colour Spectrum: 0.5 Up & Up: 0.75 9.25/11 ~ .841 -> 7.07 Coldplay’s A Head Full of Dreams is a really good album. About ⅔ of its songs    A Head Full of Dreams by Coldplay: 7.07

    A Head Full of Dreams: 1 :)
    Birds: 1 :)
    Hymn For the Weekend: 1
    Everglow: 1
    Adventure of a Lifetime: 1 :)
    Fun (feat. Tove Lo): 1 :)
    Kaleidoscope: 0.5
    Army of One: 0.5 (AoO=1, T=0)
    Amazing Day: 1
    Colour Spectrum: 0.5
    Up & Up: 0.75

    9.25/11 ~ .841 -> 7.07

    Coldplay’s A Head Full of Dreams is a really good album. About ⅔ of its songs are outstanding (A Head Full of Dreams, Adventure of a Lifetime, etc.) but it also has some weird instrumental ones. I guess it’s pretty cool that they were included, but at the same time they kinda distract from the good stuff. Plus, the surprise track they included at the end of Army of One (which I really liked) was absolutely horrible and seemed like no effort was out into the making of it, lowering the score that Army of One would have gotten. Besides that, I don’t have any complaints. A Head Full of Dreams is a great album, and makes me excited for the new Coldplay stuff that’s coming out next month! Highlights: A Head Full of Dreams, Birds, Hymn For the Weekend, Everglow, Adventure of a Lifetime, Fun (feat. Tove Lo), and Amazing Day.    … Expand
  4. Arnego
    Sep 14, 2019
    10
    Coldplay and I is I is I is I a masterpiece lot of to the get go on a trip to down the and я ну ну раноше раньше было все равно в час и
  5. MathButera
    May 28, 2019
    10
    The best album of them... they just inspiring me to be better person and love everything.
  6. sambuu
    Nov 12, 2018
    10
    First time i'm listen to head full of dreams, i'm thought it's just a waste album.But after few times listens whole album i changed my mind.Birds and Fun are my most favorite songs from head full of dreams.
  7. MahdiBzs
    Sep 26, 2018
    10
    I Don'T Like Pop Rock Music But This Album Was The Best Pop Rock Album I Heard. It 'S Good For Coldplay To Go Past ,Anyway It Was A Good Album.
  8. cold_akhil
    Aug 12, 2018
    10
    Coldplay has always been producing magical music. Don't ignore these beautiful tracks, listen once and you'll love to listen them all again and again.
  9. MacsMusic
    May 9, 2018
    7
    AHFOD is an attractive, highly-enjoyable album. This is mostly due to the consistently interesting, original modern melodic pop-rock music, which works very well throughout the album. The music on this album is warm, interesting, engaging, and very pleasant for the most part. The music works very well with the vocals and the optimistic, warm lyrics. "Head," "Hymn," "Adventure," "Army" andAHFOD is an attractive, highly-enjoyable album. This is mostly due to the consistently interesting, original modern melodic pop-rock music, which works very well throughout the album. The music on this album is warm, interesting, engaging, and very pleasant for the most part. The music works very well with the vocals and the optimistic, warm lyrics. "Head," "Hymn," "Adventure," "Army" and "UpandUp" all sound great in their own ways. "Everglow" has great piano-pop infused music, and "Birds" has a warm, pleasant energy to it.

    Lyrically, this album is nearly as impressive, and occasionally bad. "Hymn" has pretty terrible lyrics, along with (to a lesser extent) "Fun," and the second half as "Army." Still, the lyrics are rarely downright offensive or hard to listen to. Lastly, the vocals on this album are solid, and blend very well with the music and lyrics.

    AHFOD us an engaging, vibrant, warm, occasionally magical album in terms of music. It is not terrible lyrically, but it's not very interesting or original. All in all, I really do enjoy this album.    … Expand
  10. SumairB
    Jan 27, 2018
    8
    Going into this album, I had some expectations: it should be a bit livelier, more colourful and more visceral than their previous record, Ghost Stories (although the album's cover art pretty much gave me an answer beforehand), but I didn't want it to have the electronic excesses of Mylo Xyloto (it's a great album, but if they make a sequel, it won't be anywhere near as good as MX. ColdplayGoing into this album, I had some expectations: it should be a bit livelier, more colourful and more visceral than their previous record, Ghost Stories (although the album's cover art pretty much gave me an answer beforehand), but I didn't want it to have the electronic excesses of Mylo Xyloto (it's a great album, but if they make a sequel, it won't be anywhere near as good as MX. Coldplay took a risk and made a very experimental pop album, and it worked; that doesn't guarantee that a follow-up will).
    I was pleased by the production on a lot of these songs, and how organic they sound. You can tell that they've been made by real instruments, not by pressing a bunch of buttons on a computer. The album kicks off with an uplifting title track that was made for the arena; no wonder Coldplay opens all of their live shows with it. "Birds" has a lovely guitar melody, and is a pretty tune that bursts with colour on the chorus. "Hymn for the Weekend" brings a lot of energy, Chris Martin and Beyonce sound good together, but for me it falls a little flat due to the sub-par lyrics, and the whole song feeling like it's trying a bit too hard to make you want to dance.
    Things get very melancholic on "Everglow", a lovely piano ballad in which Martin sings about a constant source of light and positivity in his life. It's a poignant moment that you just want to soak up. "Adventure of a Lifetime" and "Fun" follow, two vibrant tracks with forgettable lyrics. The former, also the lead single, fizzes with energy and has nice guitar work while the latter, featuring Tove Lo, is a slightly slower pop tune about... well, having fun. They're decent tracks, but they feel more like B-sides from Mylo Xyloto, especially "Fun".
    The subdued pseudo-interlude (regular interludes don't last 2 minutes) "Kaleidoscope" has something very alluring about it; I can't quite put my finger on it. There's something about a dramatic reading of an introspective poem over a soaring piano melody that I like so much. Barack Obama sings "Amazing Grace" on this one, too! "Army of One" explodes with synth, powerful vocals which get chopped up in some parts, and booming percussion. I love it. The hidden track here sounds like it was placed there by mistake (it sounds completely different from the main track), but it just about works. It's a suitable comedown from the dizzying heights of "Army of One".
    Coldplay grab the 'gratitude' dial and turn it all the way up on "Amazing Day", a very pretty guitar-led tune which features the perfect concert sing-along moment in the bridge. Martin really delivers with his vocal performance here. The interlude "Colour Spectrum" is a calm medley of some of the previous tracks, although if you're going to have an interlude when there's only one track left, you need to be sure you're setting up one hell of a finale. That is exactly what "Up&Up" is. Coldplay save the best for last with a dramatic rock ballad, with lyrics on hope and optimism, a triumphant guitar solo from Jonny Buckland and a second one from guest Noel Gallagher. When Martin says it's "the song that they've been waiting to write for fifteen years", I don't doubt it. The eerie "believe in love" coda at the end does a wonderful job of bringing the album to a close.    … Expand
  11. 100tifiko
    Dec 31, 2017
    8
    No pienso comparar los discos anteriores con este, ya que ni hace falta, son muy diferentes, pero eso no quita que el sello de calidad Coldplay sigue estando y hace de este album muy disfrutable.
  12. alejandro970
    Dec 24, 2017
    8
    Maybe has not all the magic of A rush of blood..., but songs like Hymn for a weekend gives it a kaleidoscopic touch thatr makes it enjoyable. Fans will appreciate.
  13. MasterOfMusic
    Oct 22, 2017
    10
    Good sounds, good lyrics, good rhythm, this album is one of the most brilliant. How always Coldplay does a good job and give us good quality. It qualification should be 100.
  14. savioeu
    Oct 4, 2017
    7
    They're probably the rock band that the pop fans like the most and this album it's going to increase this status, specially with the likes of Beyoncé and Tove Lo being guest artists. Some happiness is always good, even if the album has some depressive moments.
  15. Stefffan
    Aug 8, 2017
    10
    Sure, this isn't "old Coldplay" but is certanly great. They are following modern music, which is normal thing, but you can feel that "Coldplay feeling" in every song. Deserves much better reviews and score.
  16. musicreviews7
    Aug 4, 2017
    7
    Not one of Coldplays most glorious releases, still far better then most of the music that is produced nowadays. It's like they've adapted the mainstream sound of pop but there's still that lovely feeling of warmth and intimacy like always in Coldplays music.
  17. HyanHythalo
    Jul 26, 2017
    10
    It seems to be exactly what it is. Many people say that an artist's album cover can describe exactly the songs it contains in it, this is the case of a full head of dreams, colorful, cheerful, and brings a message, like all Coldplay albums. It's scary to a point, when you're accustomed to the band's old-sounding, but with time you'll go to accepting this phase of Coldplay and so enjoy yourIt seems to be exactly what it is. Many people say that an artist's album cover can describe exactly the songs it contains in it, this is the case of a full head of dreams, colorful, cheerful, and brings a message, like all Coldplay albums. It's scary to a point, when you're accustomed to the band's old-sounding, but with time you'll go to accepting this phase of Coldplay and so enjoy your new jobs. 10/10… Expand
  18. KenanLV426
    Jul 2, 2017
    10
    A fresh, bright and colorful album by the world`s best band that brings back the Mylo Xyloto vibes. Very very underrated! Every track can be listened to on and on and on...
  19. ATOTHEJ
    Jun 19, 2017
    10
    I love this album so much. It is much better than Ghost Stories (in my opinion) and is right up there with Mylo Xyloto and Viva La Vida and Death and all his friends. Obviously it is hard to mix the new with the old, but I think Coldplay has really shown that by the end of the careers they will be remembered as one of the greatest live performance acts of this generation, bar none. I haveI love this album so much. It is much better than Ghost Stories (in my opinion) and is right up there with Mylo Xyloto and Viva La Vida and Death and all his friends. Obviously it is hard to mix the new with the old, but I think Coldplay has really shown that by the end of the careers they will be remembered as one of the greatest live performance acts of this generation, bar none. I have loved Coldplay since I was a child and with each new album release, it is more astounding each and every time (minus Ghost Stories, which was good but I think the weakest of all of their albums.)… Expand
  20. SomePersona
    Feb 8, 2017
    8
    This album is just so breezy and likable. It's a little painful to listen to with headphones (there's SO MUCH BASS), but listening to it openly (e.g. in the car) is a real joy. There always seems to be a period where a band evolves into a different genre, usually becoming more poppy. This happened to Rush, it happened to Queen, and now it's happening to Coldplay. It's just a period; theThis album is just so breezy and likable. It's a little painful to listen to with headphones (there's SO MUCH BASS), but listening to it openly (e.g. in the car) is a real joy. There always seems to be a period where a band evolves into a different genre, usually becoming more poppy. This happened to Rush, it happened to Queen, and now it's happening to Coldplay. It's just a period; the band will stay like this for a while and then go back to its roots. Rush went back to its roots in the nineties, twenty hundreds, and twenty tens (e.g. Clockwork Angels), and Queen would have gone back to its roots had Freddie Mercury not died. Coldplay's going to escape this pop period; they'll just be here for a while. While they're here, though, there's a lot to enjoy.… Expand
  21. Ricko
    Nov 20, 2016
    8
    After 7 albums, Coldplay deserve to be pleased with themselves, having produced 3 great pop rock albums in "Parachutes", "A Rush Of Blood To The Head" and "Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends". What Coldplay should be less pleased about is that the most recent of their truly great albums was released in 2008, almost a decade (and three albums) ago. After the downbeat but likeableAfter 7 albums, Coldplay deserve to be pleased with themselves, having produced 3 great pop rock albums in "Parachutes", "A Rush Of Blood To The Head" and "Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends". What Coldplay should be less pleased about is that the most recent of their truly great albums was released in 2008, almost a decade (and three albums) ago. After the downbeat but likeable "Ghost Stories", "A Head Full Of Dreams" goes back into Mylo Xyloto territory in terms of tone and texture, pop songs laced with production techniques and studio trickery to make them sound current and contemporary. The problem with this approach (and this can already be seen in Coldplay's back catalogue) is that this month's current sound, whatever it may be at the time, dates incredibly quickly. Coldplay's early material was timeless indie rock gradually progressing to stadium rock. The band's early singles still sound good to those of us who picked them up when they were released. Everything they've done post 2008 has followed a pattern of initially swamping the airwaves and then quickly disappearing, rarely to be heard of again. How often do you hear anything from Mylo Xyloto these days, a mere 5 years after it was released, in comparison to the likes of "Clocks" or "In My Place". I wouldn't go as far as to say they are now exclusively producing disposable pop but their music is beginning to take on many of that genres characteristics. The point here I guess is that rating "A Head Full Of Dreams" now, while it's still relatively fresh, could be a different prospect in a couple of years time. Reviewing it today I have to score it reasonably highly. It doesn't achieve the heights Coldplay hit in the first half of their career but it comfortably sits with what they've produced in the latter half. It's got 11 tracks with track 8 containing 2 songs. 2 of these are interlude type songs that add very little so what we're dealing with is essentially a 10 song album. Half of these tracks are excellently written and produced and while some may dismiss them as ear candy, there is no denying that the tracks are enjoyable. The rest of the material alternates between being average and good. Highlights for me include "Fun" with it's outro lifted from "Viva La Vida" and "Army of One/X Marks the Spot". I can see the Coldplay fans who got on board at the start with "Parachutes" struggling to really develop a love for this one and perhaps the Coldplay train is now beginning to run out of steam. Having said that, this is still an enjoyable album and one that I'm glad I bought.… Expand
  22. Ckallvinn
    Jul 8, 2016
    10
    Definitely the best album that Coldplay has ever produced. I listened to this album when it came out without really knowing much about Coldplay except their hit singles, and it became one of the best albums of 2015 and of the 21st century as a whole. The album has easily enough ups and downs to make it interesting, and the tracks each have enough diversity from one another that you don'tDefinitely the best album that Coldplay has ever produced. I listened to this album when it came out without really knowing much about Coldplay except their hit singles, and it became one of the best albums of 2015 and of the 21st century as a whole. The album has easily enough ups and downs to make it interesting, and the tracks each have enough diversity from one another that you don't get bored. All in all, A Head Full of Dreams is definitely the number one album for Coldplay.… Expand
  23. FirebreatherID
    May 22, 2016
    10
    Such an amazing album this album contains great songs like fun, Up&Up, hymn for the weeknd.
    But come on guys we want the old coldplay.
    Best songs: up&up, birds, fun, marks the spot and Army of one
  24. sebastianglz
    Apr 27, 2016
    7
    'A Head Full of Dreams' may be lowest Coldplay album musically talking, but it show us they can do any genre. The lyrics and the emotions are well played, but making it more electro-based makes this album worthless than the others.
  25. ellytheverypro
    Apr 24, 2016
    7
    the best guitar solo that coldplay have ever done (perhaps the ONLY solo) was done by another artist (Noel Gallagher). hooray.

    they have gone full pop and mainstream - however the songs were quite catchy. wouldnt mind listening to this during a long boring car trip
  26. zackdunaway
    Mar 5, 2016
    10
    This album is lyrically genius. Like any album, it takes a while to grow on you. These songs are truly addicting. Best songs are definitely "Fun" "A Head Full of Dreams" and "Up&Up". The album's theme really does match the sound. Pop, colorful, fun.
  27. whooosaah
    Mar 2, 2016
    8
    Another colorful album from Coldplay. They already trying to make colorful album like Mylo Xyloto, and the result was less than compelling. When they release AHFOD, i've got a bad feeling about it. But, i was wrong. Indeed, it's not the best from Coldplay, but it's way better than Mylo Xyloto (in my opinion). The songs are ear-catching, only Kaleidoscope, Birds, and Amazing Day that aAnother colorful album from Coldplay. They already trying to make colorful album like Mylo Xyloto, and the result was less than compelling. When they release AHFOD, i've got a bad feeling about it. But, i was wrong. Indeed, it's not the best from Coldplay, but it's way better than Mylo Xyloto (in my opinion). The songs are ear-catching, only Kaleidoscope, Birds, and Amazing Day that a little bit annoying to me. But overall, it's nice to see that finally Coldplay success to make a great colorful album. This is just my opinion, what's yours?… Expand
  28. jonvlahiotis
    Feb 6, 2016
    10
    This new album by Coldplay is **** amazing. All the songs are catchy, fun and really inspiring. These critic review are so **** stupid; this deserves a way higher score. All the songs in this album are amazing and I will never get tired of it. This music is not only a new and exciting but it also still sounds like the Coldplay we have listened to and loved forever.
  29. GabrielRabelo
    Feb 5, 2016
    10
    Esse álbum fica no meu top 10 de melhores álbuns de 2015, porém, não é o melhor do Coldplay, achei meio que pequena a participação da Tove Lo em "Fun", os vocais da Beyoncé super combinaram com a música em "Hymn For The Weekend", achei a melodia das faixas ótimas, amei a arte do CD, mas eu só não dou um 10 por causa das, digamos, "poucas músicas", quando acabou a 11ª e última música euEsse álbum fica no meu top 10 de melhores álbuns de 2015, porém, não é o melhor do Coldplay, achei meio que pequena a participação da Tove Lo em "Fun", os vocais da Beyoncé super combinaram com a música em "Hymn For The Weekend", achei a melodia das faixas ótimas, amei a arte do CD, mas eu só não dou um 10 por causa das, digamos, "poucas músicas", quando acabou a 11ª e última música eu fiquei tipo, "tá, mas cadê o resto", não sei se a ordem das músicas estavam boas ou se "Up&Up" é uma boa música para encerrar o álbum, mas apesar dos apesares, gostei da maioria, por isso, um 9.… Expand
  30. Kelsier
    Jan 16, 2016
    10
    Loved the album a lot and it is according to me 2015's best release. Can't believe critics rated it so low.
    After a few listening s, it grows on you. I say don't go on what critics say and give the album a chance. Tracks like - Hymn for a weekend, A head full of dreams are amazing.
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Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Most Discussed Album of 2015
14
#14 Most Shared Album of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 27
  3. Negative: 2 out of 27
  1. DIY Magazine
    Dec 16, 2015
    40
    Instead of its wide-eyed optimism rubbing off onto others, this album has the effect of canned laughter bouncing off the walls. It’s a hundred nutritional yoghurts being mushed into bland liquid nothingness.
    Read full review
  2. Drowned In Sound
    Dec 14, 2015
    30
    The head feels weighed down with unresolved torment, the smile forced and awkward, the colours garish and messily-applied.
    Read full review
  3. Clash Music
    Dec 11, 2015
    40
    It’s clear that Coldplay retain their thirst, their passion for making music--it’s merely a shame that it results in such polite noises.
    Read full review
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