Music of the Spheres
by Coldplay
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Oct 15, 2021
User Score
6.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 221 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 118 out of 221
  2. Mixed: 41 out of 221
  3. Negative: 62 out of 221
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  1. maribuckland_
    Jul 22, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Obviously not Coldplay's best album. But the album takes you to other universes. Humankind and Coloratura are the best songs to me on this album. The collab "My Universe" with BTS was perfect! I listen from beginning to the end without skipping any tracks.… Expand
  2. Bill01172
    Oct 18, 2022
    0
    Embarrassingly bad. Pop tunes with the exception of coloratura. To the dismay of their pears and fans they still sold out.
  3. Fabiancsc
    Jan 19, 2023
    6
    A musically and lyrically acceptable album. Which makes it generic and boring. We cannot deny that there are salvageable songs. But it leaves a tasteless, since much more was expected from this great band.
  4. ThimGui
    Nov 17, 2022
    10
    This album is a pure masterpiece, the more I listen to it, the more magnificent it is. It really takes you to another universe where you just feel good and peaceful and you don't want to go out anymore. Coldplay keeps getting creative, with sounds I've never heard before in anything they've done. Coloratura, Human Heart ❤️, Biutyful, Infinity Sign and Let somebody Go are pure beauty thatThis album is a pure masterpiece, the more I listen to it, the more magnificent it is. It really takes you to another universe where you just feel good and peaceful and you don't want to go out anymore. Coldplay keeps getting creative, with sounds I've never heard before in anything they've done. Coloratura, Human Heart ❤️, Biutyful, Infinity Sign and Let somebody Go are pure beauty that deserves much more recognition, Coloratura is really an incredible 10 minute sound and also perfect that takes you back to old Coldplay a bit, for me it's is one of Coldplay's best songs, if not the best. Then we have the famous "People of The Pride" a hard rock sound, it feels good and I'm happy to hear from Coldplay. Especially since the sound was a demo on the album viva la vida de bases. Another nod to old Coldplay. Hearing it live is even more amazing. Then we have the more pop anthem, my universe, higher power, humankind sounds. Which are downright cool. And the whole universe behind the album is so amazing and inspiring, the music videos, visualizers, the languages ​​created, the planets, the weirdos, the transitions, the design, the world tour... I know this album has reviews mixed, many are just haters who judge at first sight, just because they made a sound with BTS, but if you really dive into the album it's really a master piece. Coldplay's best album since viva la vida.… Expand
  5. someonewhocares
    Jul 12, 2022
    2
    Coldplay have recently proved to fans that they have done what they're known for, and are just going to recycle the same songs over and over until fans tell them that they need to grow a pair. Music of the Spheres lacks in the unique flow of the typical production of most Coldplay songs, and again provides a weak concept that just falls flat by the fourth track. Glad there are shortColdplay have recently proved to fans that they have done what they're known for, and are just going to recycle the same songs over and over until fans tell them that they need to grow a pair. Music of the Spheres lacks in the unique flow of the typical production of most Coldplay songs, and again provides a weak concept that just falls flat by the fourth track. Glad there are short interludes though.… Expand
  6. moosicdude
    Jul 1, 2022
    2
    whole album is **** repetitive, and bad at the same time.
    literally, the album itself manage to be more boring than Coldplay's other works, not only that, this album feels like a dog pile of trash compared to Coldplay's other album, which proof how far they've been from their original sound.
    the only good thing about this album is coloratura, the rest is mediocre and dog **** overall:    whole album is **** repetitive, and bad at the same time.
    literally, the album itself manage to be more boring than Coldplay's other works, not only that, this album feels like a dog pile of trash compared to Coldplay's other album, which proof how far they've been from their original sound.
    the only good thing about this album is coloratura, the rest is mediocre and dog ****

    overall:
    best song is coloratura (definitely), the rest is awful

    CANCER    … Expand
  7. dcg-vr
    Apr 17, 2022
    3
    As a longtime Coldplay fan, MOTS is incredibly disappointing. Kaleidoscope EP and Everyday Life have demonstrated that Coldplay still possesses creative and original songwriting capacities, but MOTS is a massive stepback and arguably their worst work in the catalog.

    Let's go over the highlights first. "Humankind" is a solid and catchy track combining Coldplay's trademark joyful outfit    As a longtime Coldplay fan, MOTS is incredibly disappointing. Kaleidoscope EP and Everyday Life have demonstrated that Coldplay still possesses creative and original songwriting capacities, but MOTS is a massive stepback and arguably their worst work in the catalog.

    Let's go over the highlights first. "Humankind" is a solid and catchy track combining Coldplay's trademark joyful outfit in Mylo Xyloto with their newfound pop direction. This is the kind of pop I am expecting more from Coldplay. "Human Heart", the collaboration with We are King and Jacob Collier, is one of the rare gem surprise of the album. The angelic acapella singing is touching and awe-inspiring with a sense of authenticity and rawness that Coldplay has always been known for. The more rock-driven "People of the Pride" is not exactly original with cliche garage rock riffs and melodies reminiscent of Muse, but the instrumental mixing and Chris Martin letting loose of himself a bit more is memorable and captivating. Last but definitely not least, how can I describe "Coloratura"? This is definitely one of Coldplay's best works, if not the best. This 10-minute prog-rock epic is particularly suitable for the space odyssey theme that MOTS is targeting. From the beautiful piano melody and vocals to the soul-stirring guitar solo and harp to the graceful symphonic sounds, "Coloratura" easily tops the whole album and stands out as better than every other track combined. "Coloratura" is going to be a classic that stands the test of time, regardless of how Coldplay's legacy turns out to be.

    How about the rest? "Higher Power" is terribly overproduced with outdated electropop elements though the overall melody is decent and catchy. High-profile collaboration with Selena Gomez "Let Somebody Go" is among a long list of unmemorable pop ballads that have been churned out over and over again in the modern music industry. "Biutyful" has great potentials, but the chipmunk sound effects is repulsive and unnecessary (for the record, I like the same use of effect in "Cry Cry Cry"). The massive hit collaboration with BTS "My Universe" hits even a newer low with very generic pop-derivative melodies that have oversaturated the radio airplay for an entire decade. Even BTS songs like "Butter" sound a lot more unique than this. Finally, the interludes mostly add nothing to the record, leaving only enough space for 8 full songs, a fairly low amount of materials for an album.

    I have given this album a couple of listens and become more forgiving to MOTS than my first listen, yet it is impossible for me to say this is a good album. I have rated every Coldplay record at least a 5 because they all have several tracks that I would revisit time and time again, but it seems like the only song from MOTS that I will listen a year later is "Coloratura". Hence, MOTS will be my first negative rating of a Coldplay album, but I still look forward to what the band has to offer next. Surely, it cannot be worst than this, can it?

    Highlights: Coloratura (masterpiece !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), Humankind, Human Heart, People of the Pride (latter 3 are decent considering the album, but overall only somewhat above average for Coldplay's entire catalog)    … Expand
  8. amarcc
    Feb 16, 2022
    3
    ЭТО. ОЧЕНЬ. ПЛОХО. отвратительный альбом, просто ужасный. Не, со звуком все норм, вокалят все хорошо и тд. Претензии к музыкальной состовляющей, а не технической. Это просто ужасная гипер попса, и непонятно что на этом альбоме сделал Макс Мартин, он же всегда умел в годную попсу. После шедеврального Everyday Life, да и не самых плохих своих попсовых альбомов моя любимая группа выдала вотЭТО. ОЧЕНЬ. ПЛОХО. отвратительный альбом, просто ужасный. Не, со звуком все норм, вокалят все хорошо и тд. Претензии к музыкальной состовляющей, а не технической. Это просто ужасная гипер попса, и непонятно что на этом альбоме сделал Макс Мартин, он же всегда умел в годную попсу. После шедеврального Everyday Life, да и не самых плохих своих попсовых альбомов моя любимая группа выдала вот ЭТО. 3/10 только за приятный вокал Криса Мартина, хорошее сведение и в принципе это всё что можно назвать неплохим на этом альбоме, даже обложка кошмар… Expand
  9. MidnightBrewer
    Feb 7, 2022
    0
    Not very good imo, too poppy, to bad lyrics, boooooooooooo you turned sucky
  10. MusicWhizz
    Oct 15, 2021
    0
    Coldplay revert back to their pop loving money making selves in a selfless attempt to earn a payday and stay relevant. Avoid
  11. gustavothehuman
    Dec 31, 2021
    10
    Beautiful. Lyrics could be a bit better but everything else is so greatly executed that it warrants a 10. Love these guys.
  12. Dustyn
    Dec 24, 2021
    8
    Not Coldplay's best album of all time, but it's definitely worth enjoying. My favorite song from the album has to be "Humankind," as I am a big fan of the synth-pop feel that Coldplay adopted in this album. If you're a fan of Coldplay's contemporary pop feel, you will love this album the same way you loved "A Head Full of Dreams."
  13. ElCrispy
    Dec 6, 2021
    4
    Music of the Spheres, while ambitious, lacks any real emotional appeal. While the band’s single “Higher Power” proved catchy and somewhat inspiring with its futuristic sounds; it felt clichéd and forced, their collaboration with BTS also proved surprisingly successful, yet the remainder of the album lacked any real essence and engagement for listeners.
  14. frankschepers24
    Oct 15, 2021
    10
    An album that has songs like People Of The Pride, Coloratura, Infinity Sign, Humankind and Human Heart cant be anything less than an 8.

    In my opinion pure perfection!!
  15. Xylotheus
    Nov 26, 2021
    10
    Excellent album with awesome lyrics. Some of the tracks are good enough to be within their best ones. It's funny to see people saying bad things about the album just because it's different from their previous works. Changing is important to keep your work fresh, and music shouldn't be divided. All music is music, and this music is beautiful. Well done, Coldplay.
  16. LiviaQuintela
    Nov 26, 2021
    10
    A pure masterpiece of pop. Coloratura and People of the pride reminds me the old songs but also giving a new fresh vibe,
  17. Normax42
    Nov 26, 2021
    10
    AMAZING album! Coloratura is a masterpiece. One of the best releases this year.
  18. RafaeIVebtura
    Nov 26, 2021
    10
    Music of the spheres is now my favorite thing from coldplay, they're always giving good music
  19. RafaeIVentura
    Nov 26, 2021
    10
    This is perfect and easily one of the best albuns of the year. The songs are all so good and has a amazing vibe.
    I don't know if it's their best but it works for Coldplay right now... can't wait for listen this live.
  20. Sunflowerbluexy
    Nov 26, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. best album I've ever heard in my life. totally well built, and it's beautiful how one track fits into the other. it's a real work of art… Expand
  21. alleafaR
    Nov 26, 2021
    10
    It’s a very different style for a Coldplay album, but for me it’s amazing. I loved the storyline and concept, the transitions and the style of the album. They are very brave for trying so new things, and for me, it worked very well.
  22. dannymira
    Nov 25, 2021
    4
    it's a shame that Coldplay went back to over-elaborated pop song when "Everyday Life" was a breath of fresh air leaving me hoping for the future's band. This album just simply doesn't have that magic that was present in first ones or the previous one
  23. Ricko
    Nov 21, 2021
    7
    It's not terrible but its certainly the weakest entry in their back catalog. After the genuinely interesting "Everyday Life", "Music of the Spheres" consists of a couple of well formed tracks aimed for maximum streaming numbers padded out by unsubstantial ambience. Too often, it sounds like what it is, a group of mega wealthy white men half heartedly messing around in the studio to passIt's not terrible but its certainly the weakest entry in their back catalog. After the genuinely interesting "Everyday Life", "Music of the Spheres" consists of a couple of well formed tracks aimed for maximum streaming numbers padded out by unsubstantial ambience. Too often, it sounds like what it is, a group of mega wealthy white men half heartedly messing around in the studio to pass the time. The biggest complain is that it frequently sounds lifeless. It's as if they had an EP worth of decent material and decided to build around those songs but found they only had crepe paper to build with. There are some good moments to be fair but they are buried in amongst the fluff.… Expand
  24. Gummer
    Nov 15, 2021
    0
    This cold, dead, sell-out, shell of an album, makes me happy i don't have a son that i can take my anger out on.
  25. joe_m6
    Nov 11, 2021
    1
    Selena Gomez is the only reason I listened in the first place, and their collab was the only one I remembered after. 1/10, one point for the collab happening (would be 2 but the song itself is clunky and reminiscent of their collab with Tove Lo yet somehow worse)
  26. Collywobble
    Nov 9, 2021
    3
    Four old men are sitting on stools, wearing baseball caps back to front.

    Chris: Hey homies, whaddup, I is thinking of changing my name to Harry Zayn Timberlake, hear me now. Guy: Big up, boss! Jonny: Sweet boss! The other one: Wicked boss! Chris: Now, bout the new album, I is writ some bangin new toons, trouble is there is only enough for fifteen minutes. Ideas? Jonny: I    Four old men are sitting on stools, wearing baseball caps back to front.

    Chris: Hey homies, whaddup, I is thinking of changing my name to Harry Zayn Timberlake, hear me now.

    Guy: Big up, boss!

    Jonny: Sweet boss!

    The other one: Wicked boss!

    Chris: Now, bout the new album, I is writ some bangin new toons, trouble is there is only enough for fifteen minutes. Ideas?

    Jonny: I could do a twenty minute guitar solo, only someone’s stolen all the strings off my axes.

    Chris: Ohhhh……..have they? No worries Jonny, I is got a machine that can do guitar solos.

    Guy: Can we do backing vocals this time, boss.

    Chris: No need Guy, I is got a machine that can make it sound like there is five of me.

    The other one: Can I play drums, boss?

    Chris: Machine.

    Guy: We could bag it out with some electronic ambient stuff, boss?

    Chris: For real! Maybe BMW can use them in an ad, I could do with another Beamer.

    Guy: Make sure it’s green though, boss.

    Chris: I is already got a green one Guy, I is finkin pure white?

    Jonny: Yeah boss, like your soul. Maybe we could bag it out into a double, boss. What you fink?

    Chris: No Jonny, we is already done that. Don’t wanna get predictable like.

    Guy: Is we goin ‘tronic like Radiohead then, boss?

    Chris: Official! This is our ‘KID A’

    Jonny: So that’s thirty minutes sorted, what we gonna do for the other fifteen?

    Chris: Well brovers, I is writ this massive toon , that got tossed from La La Land. I just need to streeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetch it out a bit.

    The other one: What can I do, boss?

    Chris: A cuppa would be nice.

    The other one: We is out of condor milk, boss.

    Chris: Panda? Jonny: I didn’t know you could milk a panda, boss. Chris: Jonny, yous can milk anything, yous just needs to know how, innit. Ok, I’ll nip down the shops. Crew, jump up and down on that mat over there, I need to fire up the jet.    … Expand
  27. Persp
    Nov 7, 2021
    2
    In Music of the Spheres, I liked the concept of traveling around different planets and listening to a song from each one of them, and when the album was first teased, I was very excited. However, Coldplay executed it horribly.

    The very first issue that the album has is the overall formulaic and poppy sound direction. Coldplay had always been considered a rock band all throughout their    In Music of the Spheres, I liked the concept of traveling around different planets and listening to a song from each one of them, and when the album was first teased, I was very excited. However, Coldplay executed it horribly.

    The very first issue that the album has is the overall formulaic and poppy sound direction. Coldplay had always been considered a rock band all throughout their lifetime. However, you won't be able to hear it for most of the album. Many songs such as My Universe and Higher Power had a very pop oriented sound direction in which I'm not sure they played any instruments at all. This is quite a shame, since it feels like Coldplay is trying to sell out to the young, mainstream audience like they did with their albums since Mylo Xyloto in 2011. Speaking of those songs, most of the songs had literal emojis for their names, which showed you how lazy Coldplay was while making the album.
    In addition, a few of those songs are just pure computer generated instrumental ballads that bring nothing new to the table whatsoever, allowing for my ears to fall asleep while listening to them. Finally, with Biutyful, it sounded like as if Jeff Bezos sent Elmo into space and he has nothing to do up there accept slowly suffocate while singing stranded in space.

    Second, besides the pop oriented elements throughout the album, the album is also very disjointed.
    From Biutyful sounding like Alvin and Chipmunks, from the Muse inspired People of the Pride, to the ELO and Pink Floyd inspired Coloratura, the overall fact that the genres are so disconnected from each other have something in common with the Tasmanian Devil. They just run around all over the place, causing terror, destruction, and chaos wherever they go. Speaking of People of the Pride, it is a terrible politically forced song, with Chris Martin trying terribly to replicate the sound of Muse. His voice just sounds like a dying cow throughout the entire song since he isn't used to the hard rock sound that Muse had. On the flip side, I thought Coloratura was one of the best songs Coldplay ever made. This is because the band perfectly replicated the progressive rock sound that was used by Pink Floyd and ELO that was rampant in the 70s. I honestly wished they made more progressive rock sounding music in the album than including BTS or Selena Gomez.

    I could've rated this a 0/10 if I wanted to, but because of Coloratura, I'll give it a 2/10.    … Expand
  28. Fhilip_3_4_5
    Nov 5, 2021
    7
    Primero el Album tiene una tematica dle espacio pero hablando de coldplay la banda tuvo una transformacion a pop en esta decada tiene buenas canciones como People of the pride o overtura la verdad le daria 5 o 6 si solo se uvieran dejado llevarar por la colaboracion de BTS aparte de las colaboraciones las composiciones individuales de la banda suenan bien y muy adictivo ya que tenemosPrimero el Album tiene una tematica dle espacio pero hablando de coldplay la banda tuvo una transformacion a pop en esta decada tiene buenas canciones como People of the pride o overtura la verdad le daria 5 o 6 si solo se uvieran dejado llevarar por la colaboracion de BTS aparte de las colaboraciones las composiciones individuales de la banda suenan bien y muy adictivo ya que tenemos musica para bailar o para inspeccionar el paisaje aunque sea un album con poca canciones es muy buena para pasar la tarde… Expand
  29. diegomartinez
    Nov 5, 2021
    5
    Este álbum representa un bajón notable de creatividad comparado con su álbum "Everyday Life" del 2019, aunque le habría puesto una nota más baja de no haber sido por "Coloratura".
  30. Mobina1
    Nov 5, 2021
    7
    Not that bad. At least skits are relaxing. It sounds like a milky album btw
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Awards & Rankings

22
#22 Most Discussed Album of 2021

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
55

Mixed or average reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 18
  3. Negative: 1 out of 18
  1. Under The Radar
    Oct 29, 2021
    30
    It’s a concept album that fundamentally refuses to engage with its own premise. Instead, the band doubles down on lyrical clichés about love and arena-friendly electropop. ... Frontman Chris Martin was never known as a brilliant songwriter, but his lyrics were never this vapid either.
    Read full review
  2. Uncut
    Oct 21, 2021
    60
    Despite Chris Martin's underdeveloped lyrics – "Be an anthem for your times" at least explains his motivation – there's something reassuring in their ham-fisted urge to bring people together. ... Glam-stomper "People Of The Pride" or well-meaning power ballad "Let Somebody Go," and instrumentals harking back to earlier Eno adventures offer pleasant reprieves. [Dec 2021, p.25]
  3. PopMatters
    Oct 20, 2021
    40
    The significant flaw of Music of the Spheres is that it spends a lot of effort telling us that humans have this capacity for love and goodness, sometimes in overly saccharine terms, without getting us to feel it.
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