Once in a blue moon, the New York Times prints something delicious. Jon Pareles’ refreshingly nasty review of Coldplay’s new album this weekend will put you in a good mood. The intro:

THERE’S nothing wrong with self-pity. As a spur to songwriting, it’s right up there with lust, anger and greed, and probably better than the remaining deadly sins. There’s nothing wrong, either, with striving for musical grandeur, using every bit of skill and studio illusion to create a sound large enough to get lost in. Male sensitivity, a quality that’s under siege in a pop culture full of unrepentant bullying and machismo, shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand, no matter how risible it can be in practice. And building a sound on the lessons of past bands is virtually unavoidable.

But put them all together and they add up to Coldplay, the most insufferable band of the decade.

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See also Ankle Biting Pundits, which recently bestowed its Buffoon of the Week Award to Chris Martin.