The sound of "City of Blinding Lights" has been compared to U2's 1987 single "Where the Streets Have No Name," prompted by a similar style of guitar playing, as well as to the atmospheric tone of the band's 1984 album "The Unforgettable Fire". The melding of guitar and piano in the introduction was likened by the "Edmonton Journal" to the Coldplay song "Clocks." "Rolling Stone" described the song as "building into a bittersweet lament", while "Uncut" said it was "beautiful but slightly sinister", comparing the quality of the lyrics to the George Harrison song "The Inner Light."