Somehow one of the most successful bands of the past 2 decades, but so slept on?
I think Coldplay are completely taken for granted in our musical landscape. A majority of their discography is genuinely so good, some of it downright amazing, but they're so often overlooked as just simple and safe, grandiose hitmakers. While i agree, Coldplay's music has never been really challenging, with a few exceptions namely in Everyday Life, i don't think that takes away from the music. Personally, the thing that i enjoy most about any music is melody, and Coldplay always delivers on that front, while i would have loved for Chris Martin to be a better lyricist, i really don't think he does that bad of a job, with a few misses here and there lol.
When i hear a friend of mine say they HATE coldplay, whether it be for how overplayed or safe and radio-friendly they are, i know they haven't actually given them an honest try.