A Head Full of Dreams

by Coldplay

Overview

Released swiftly after Ghost Stories -- just a year and a half, all things considered -- A Head Full of Dreams plays like a riposte to that haunted 2014 album. Where Chris Martin spent Ghost Stories in a mournful mood -- his sorrow perhaps derived from his divorce to Gwyneth Paltrow or perhaps not; it's best not to read too much into the tabloid headlines -- the Coldplay leader sees nothing but sunshine and stars on A Head Full of Dreams. Martin gives away the game with his song titles. He's quite literally having "Fun" on an "Amazing Day," living for the weekend and viewing his impending middle age as nothing so much as the "Adventure of a Lifetime." Coldplay match his optimism by tempering their signature soft focus, pushing themselves toward the light and undergirding the newfound positivity via glittering disco beats and a gossamer electronic sheen. Arriving after the deliberately dour Ghost Stories, this infusion of backbeat and glitz does indeed feel welcome and bold, suggesting the band is determined to seize every bit of life headed its way. This carpe diem spirit courses throughout A Head Full of Dreams, turning it into a 21st century equivalent of Steve Winwood's Back in the High Life, a divorce record where every end seems like a fresh new beginning. Appropriately, Coldplay invite more than a few guests to help usher them into this brave new world, the showiest being Beyonce, who overwhelms the band's innate politeness on "Hymn for the Weekend," but Tove Lo eases right into "Fun" and Noel Gallagher amiably allows himself to be swallowed by the gentle wash of guitars and synths. All these cameos suit the overarching theme of A Head Full of Dreams -- how there's a big, bright, beautiful world just waiting to be discovered if you just open your heart and live a little -- and if this message is unabashedly corny, under the stewardship of Chris Martin, Coldplay feel genuine in their embrace of middle age. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	11/08/2024
Label:	Atlantic
UPC:	5054197607448

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Coldplay   Primary Artist
The Chainsmokers   Primary Artist
Emanuel African Methodist Church Band   Various Instruments
Apple Martin   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Moses Martin   Vocals,Tambourine,Vocals (Background)
Marianna Champion   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Annabelle Wallis   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Violet Buckland   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Blue Ivy Carter   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Aubrey Costall   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Ava Champion   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Daniel Grollo   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Elise Eriksen   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Finn Grollo   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Harvey Costall   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Hege Fossum Eriksen   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Idil Hermansen   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Isak Hermansen   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Juno Champion   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Kat Grollo   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Mathilda Grollo   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Max Harvey   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Nico Berryman   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Rafi Harvey   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Rex Champion   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Selma Eriksen   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Sophia Green   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Jonah Buckland   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Chris Martin   Vocals,Keyboards,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar
Tor Erik Hermansen   Keyboards,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Tim Bergling   Keyboards
Kevin Williams   Trombone
Khatia Buniatishvili   Piano
Leon Silva   Saxophone
The Regiment Horns   Brass
Alison Martin   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Tove Lo   Vocals,Featured Artist
Rik Simpson   Vocals (Background),Piano,Keyboards,Percussion
Noel Gallagher   Guitar
Mikkel Storleer Eriksen   Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Guy Berryman   Keyboards,Guitar (Bass)
Brian Eno   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Gwyneth Paltrow   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Daniel Green   Keyboards
Beyonce   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Coleman Barks   Vocals
Will Champion   Drums,Vocals,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Merry Clayton   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Jacob Green   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Barack Obama   Vocals
Sean Erick   Trumpet
Davide Rossi   Strings
Jonny Buckland   Keyboards,Guitar (Electric)

Technical Credits

Mareike Barutzki   Producer
Merlin Watts   Mastering Engineer
Vernon Chaney   Producer
Matt McGinn   Studio Assistant
Will Wetzel   Studio Assistant
Pablo Hernandez   Studio Assistant
Bill Zimmerman   Engineer
Aleks von Korff   Engineer
Chris Allgood   Engineer,Mastering,Assistant Mastering Engineer
Jon Buckland   Composer
Derrick Stockwell   Studio Assistant
Tom Straete Lagergren   Mastering
SeeB   Mastering
Ultramajie   Photography
Jonathan Buckland   Composer
Chris Martin   Arranger,Composer,Musician,Group Member
Jaime Sickora   Mixing,Engineer
Robin Baynton   Mixing,Engineer,Mixing Assistant
Lewis Hopkin   Mastering
John Prestage   Studio Assistant
Roxy Pope   Mixing,Engineer,Mixing Engineer,Mixing Assistant,Studio Assistant
Miguel Lara   Studio Assistant
Nicolas Essig   Studio Assistant
Tor Erik Hermansen   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Programming
Chris Owens   Studio Assistant
Tom Bailey   Mixing,Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Phil Joly   Engineer,Audio Engineer,Studio Assistant
Bill Rahko   Engineer
Tim Bergling   Composer,Programming
Digital Divide   Producer
Christian Green   Studio Assistant
Daniel Green   Producer,Programming,Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Mixing Engineer
Matt Tuggle   Mixing,Engineer,Mixing Engineer,Studio Assistant
Pilar Zeta   Design,Art Direction
Daniela Rivera   Mixing,Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Kyle Stevens   Studio Assistant
Laurence Anslow   Studio Assistant
Jeff Gartenbaum   Studio Assistant
Rik Simpson   Mixing Engineer,Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Programming
Phil Harvey   Photography,Group Member
Emily Lazar   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Mikkel Storleer Eriksen   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Programming
Guy Berryman   Arranger,Composer,Musician,Group Member
Scott Zant   Composer
Coleman Barks   Narrator
Coldplay   Design,Arranger,Art Direction
Will Champion   Arranger,Composer,Musician,Group Member
Phil Tan   Mixing,Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Ryan Walsh   Engineer,Vocal Recording,Studio Assistant
Miles Walker   Engineer
Fiona Cruickshank   Studio Assistant
Olga Fitzroy   Studio Assistant
Marcos Tovar   Composer
Venor Yard   Composer
Ted Jensen   Mastering
Stargate   Arranger,Producer
Jonny Buckland   Arranger,Composer,Musician,Group Member