Editor’s Note: The Albumism staff has selected what we believe to be the 100 Most Dynamic Debut Albums Ever Made, representing a varied cross-section of genres, styles and time periods. Click “Next Album” below to explore each album or view the full album index here.
COLDPLAY | Parachutes
Parlophone (2000) | Listen Below
Selected by Andy Healy
Debut albums, by their very nature, are mysterious introductions. With little or no forewarning, they arrive free of expectation and full of promise. Such was the case with Coldplay’s introduction with Parachutes (tentative EP releases aside). Jumping into a new millennium with a degree of openness and optimism, the album introduces a band finding their feet with a mix of indie-rock in the shape of “Shiver” and “ High Speed” (both with hints of inspiration drawn from Jeff Buckley) and meticulously crafted rock pop with “Don’t Panic,” “Trouble” and the song that placed them on the map, the romantic lament of “Yellow.”
One of the great aspects about Parachutes is its varied moods and soundscapes. From the sparseness of “Trouble” and “Parachutes” through to the slow brewing arrangement of “Spies,” you glimpse a band discovering its own sound and gaining confidence with each passing bar. And whilst worldwide success loomed on the horizon, the heart of everything Coldplay was and continues to be found here in this heady mix of evocative melody and lyrical wordplay.
LISTEN: