Let's set a few things off the bat. I like the blokes who make up Coldplay. They seem sincere and genuinely surprised at their trajectory at super-stardom and are doing the best they can to retain their humility.

In fact Buckland, Berryman, Champion Martin et. al. have a standing invitation to drop by our place in Ottawa and hang out with us anytime - it's kid-friendly and Kiran has liked 'Yellow' since she was 2.

Their support of is a responsible use of fame. Their music is generally optimistic.

Now is being nice and not full of yourself a prerequisite to making good music or art?

Does the fact that Miles Davis was a complete shit detract from the fact that he defined Jazz for a period spanning generations? Does looking at a Picasso nude remind me of his misogyny? Does Bono's arrogance bug me?

Well, sort of to the first 2, no the the last (since Bono's public speaking ability is truly appaling - as evidenced by his performance at the liberal crowning of Paul Martin). In short, I think their attitude will win karmic points even if this album doesn't live up to its promise.

So it's an interesting 'if'.

It's selling well. I picked an old-fashioned CD on the first day, giving some credibility to this review. So let's put this album in the context of the early careers of other bands I mostly like.

I'll start with Radiohead. By their third album, OK Computer, they had gone as far into mainstream AltRock mastery as you can go. I know it's a little unfair, they're different people making the music, but here it is, X Y is no OK Computer.

But that's allright - I liked 'Rush of blood...

' better than 'The Bends' - there is only so much Thom Yorke you can listen to before being seriously bummed with the world. It's like reading too much Noam Chomskey, you know the world is fundamentally unfair, you're a little more filled with thoughts or ideas afterwards, somewhat confused but getting seriously depressed and talking like Marvin, the paranoid android. Who needs that?

And you can't look to Travis for depth, I tried. Bah.

So I like Coldplay's slightly melancholic but fundamentally optimistic blend of worldview and repeatedly listenable hooks.

There's some insecurity and 'where's it all going to end?' vibe, but that's cool. This is a journey - are they going to keep growing artistically or burn out?

We'll find out.

Ignoring all the press about the birthing pains of the album, the title track Square One sets a crisp sonic landscape up. The lyrics are trying to be meaningful and deep and Chris' (vocal) sincerity makes them work to a point.

There's a nice drum track followed by progressive guitars and "From the top of the first page...

" has got me hooked. It's like a counterpoint of Radiohead's 'Airbag' on OK Computer, an epic song about something almost nonsensical. So the songs generally work on a musical level.

'What if?' is a Lennon Imagine equivalent. White Shadows puts me in mind of U2's 'Boy' days.

Which brings me to comparison #2. I think Coldplay are miles ahead musically of where U2 was at their equivalent stages of development. (I never got the sense that U2 were really all that good musically until maybe Rattle and Hum).

U2 really got my attention with the atmospheric Unforgettable Fire, and I think that X Y is more of an atmospheric album without trying to do as much as Unforgettable Fire. Lyrically, I think that life experience will lead to better songs (I'd love to see an album dedicated to exposing the injustices of the world while giving hope - Peter Gabriel's 'So' and 'The Passion' {an absolute masterpeice} come to mind as good examples). It's cool that Brian Eno appears on 'Low' - he should produce their next album.

Bono always sang like he meant it, like someone's life depended on it, and that as much as anything sustained that band through their musical and personal development. Chris' vocals should be able to do as much for Coldplay.