Cute Young Things

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The sweetness that comes out in Coldplay's songs is at the root of both its appeal and its limitations. The sugary pickup lines ("In a haze, a stormy haze/I'll be around, I'll be loving you always") and delicate music might appeal to fans of old-fashioned pop balladry but not to many edgier listeners. Of course, Coldplay isn't particularly edgy. Berryman studied to be an engineer, like his father, before rock claimed him. Martin is reported to have a fondness for cricket and to drink rarely.

This month Coldplay began its first U.S. tour, a step that is often a rite of passage for British bands with big ambitions. Coldplay's U.S. sales figures are nothing to write home about so far, and chances are, the band members are playing venues considerably smaller than the ones they're used to. But the experience may be just what Coldplay needs to develop from British darlings to world-class rockers. The band's charm is undeniable; its hooks are hard to shake. Who says first records by bands smack out of college have to be lyrically complex or push the envelope musically? In this teen-pop age, a collection of perfectly good rock songs that actually sells is cause for joy. And joy, in the end, is what cute bands are supposed to deliver.