The Scientist

by

Coldplay

Edit

The Scientist was an excellent choice as a single release from Coldplay's 'A Rush Of Blood To The Head'. Who hasn't had a relationship where logic and reason fought with sentiment and heart?

Lead singer Chris Martin declares a singular truth in "Nobody said it was easy. No one ever said it would be this hard..."

The Single/EP version is the edit -- a radio cut that loses the piano intro (and sadly is the poorer for it.) Still, it's a fabulous song and worth owning the CD for all by itself.

However, you won't want to miss out on hearing the two added (heretofore unreleased) B-Sides, 1.36 and I Ran Away. The former is a hotter, more rocking piece than you'd usually hear from Coldplay, owing its roots to Ash frontman Tim Wheeler who provides additional guitar for this piece. But the final number (I Ran Away) is the stand-out song on this CD. According to Chris Martin, this one nearly made it on "Rush of Blood". It's recognizably Coldplay while taking their sound in a slightly different direction that's appealing enough you have to follow. It's one of those songs that gets in your head. Lamenting how fear drove him from a love open to him, he declares, "Everyone I know says I'm a fool to let you be. Everyone I know says it's a stupid thing to do." We can't help but relate. Great guitar too. Jon Buckland is definitely the next David Gilmour.

(A side: 3 stars; B sides: 4 stars)

This is the second single from "Rush of Blood to the Head". "The Scientist" is the A side, a mid-tempo piano-driven ballad. As a song, it doesn't do all that much for me, I thought it to be one of the lesser tracks on the album. (Check out the incredible video, though...)

The B sides are far more interesting. "1:36" (which actually lasts 2:02) is one of the hardest rocking tracks ever from Coldplay, and Coldplay has performed it regularly at gigs. It starts off with a heavy guitar riff which continues throughout the song. I found it instantly recognizable, but it took me a while to place it: it is the EXACT same riff as the title track of AC/DC's "Ballbreaker", check it out!

"I ran away" is also a mid-tempo song (guitar-driven, though), and in my opinion a much better song than "The Scientist". In all, Coldplay has released better singles, but "1:36" is the curiosity that will make Coldplay fans seek out this single.