A Rush of Blood to the Head
Coldplay required a lifetime to make their wonderfully assured debut,Parachutes. But it took  less than two years for the moody British quartet to deliver a masterful follow-up. As a band, Coldplay have advanced to a stage where they outshine nearly every one  of their rivals in terms of imagination and emotional pull.A Rush of Blood  to the Headis a soulful, exhilarating journey, moving from the cathartic  rock of "Politik" to the hushed tones of "Green Eyes" without once breaking its  mesmerizing spell. Singer Chris Martin takes his voice on soaring flights,  reaching places onlyJeff  Buckleypreviously dared to go. And the music is nearly flawless, a  persuasive cross betweenPink  Floydand theVerve.  Even if they haven't come up with another "Yellow," you would be hard-pressed to  care. This is exquisite stuff.--Aidin Vaziri