We have recently played hot and cold with Coldplay.  After initially being nonplussed by most of the songs off of their impending new album, Ghost Stories, we have since felt a global Coldplay warming (this performance helped the most).   We melted more last night when they performed on SNL and brought two new songs to life.  This, combined with Magic having now been beat into our brains (it now sounds more simplistically-genius than strictly-insipid), leaves us feeling more encouraged about Coldplay’s new offerings.  Time will tell the ultimate placing of these songs and album in their discography.

Check out below the band on SNL performing the languid and spare Magic, followed by the more kinetic and anthemic A Sky Full of Stars (which the band co-wrote with Avicii).

On May 18th, the night before Ghost Stories’ release, the band will have a hour special on NBC called Coldplay: Ghost Stories.