There is an ethical edge to a record company pushing a band on the strength of their age. Much is made of their ages (21, 22). Should we really take that into account and make patronising allowances or compare them against their contemporaries whatever their ages. I'd go for the latter, only referencing ages if I want to marvel at their precocious abilities. I was less than enamoured of the last two singles, whereas everone else seemed to love them. This is a band with a lot of ability but the feel of having sought to fill a niche in a calculating manner. They have been pushed as 'full of wide-eyed wonder' and 'free of cynicism' where I could hear a devised song rather than an outburst of feeling. There were strict instructions, unusual for a group at this level, not to review this before 28th June, suggesting careful management pushes. Nevertheless, Coldplay are going to be big because they DO have what Radio One's evening audience wants. That said, this album stands head and shoulders above the singles (which it contains). From a single I want a short, perfect slice of music that leaps into my CD every day for a week.

Parachutes is a more fulfilling piece of work because it has time to establish its merits. I need to do a volte face here and own up - this has really grown on me. I also did the taste test - tried it on a Travis fan and they liked it a lot. There are changes of pace here, much of it less anthemic and more gentle, suiting the lyrical style. 'When I counted up my demons I saw there was one for every day'.

The album opens with Don't Panic - 'Always sinking like stones, all that we've fought for' - with limply beautiful guitar lines. We move on to Shiver's catchy riff; no more inspired than when it was a single but with the pressure off it it becomes a fine album track. Chris Martin's vocals can be quite affecting when it cracks. His piano work also produces some of the strongest work on the record. This is the voice of a hundred thousand bedsits and radio play will break it through.

'A spider web with me in the middle, I twist and turn'. 'I want to live where the sun comes out'. I tuned into the gentle hope and misery as hooks latched into my ears, leaving me with a headful of new tunes. Hard as it is to admit, I like Coldplay. You'll know already if you like them as they're going to be hard to avoid.

Parachutes is released on 10th July on EMI Records. They have a new single, Yellow, out now as well. www.coldplay.com

Ross McGibbon