These new songs – all debuted live in recent months but not yet released in studio versions – suggest Coldplay's forthcoming album may be more gritty, fun, strange and (yes) danceable than any so far: a Zooropa to the Unforgettable Fire of 2008's Viva la Vida. "Hurts Like Heaven" opened their Lollapalooza set with a word rush that occasionally recalled LCD Soundsystem's "All My Friends," plus some outstanding guitar asides. Broadcast on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, "Charlie Brown" (not the Coasters' 1959 hit, alas) triangulates Springsteen, U2 and Arcade Fire in a hood-rat oratorio that roars even if Chris Martin's delivery feels too genteel. "Us Against the World" (debuted at the Rock am Ring festival in Germany) is an anthemic ballad with sweet harmony vocals from drummer/secret weapon Will Champion. Most interesting may be "Princess of China," with a dubby drum track so huge, it apparently blew out all the bootleggers' mics in Nuremberg.

Listen to "Princess of China":

Related
• Coldplay's "Us Against the World": Three and a Half Stars
• Coldplay's "Hurts Like Heaven": Three and a Half Stars
• Coldplay's "Charlie Brown": Two and a Half Stars
• Photos: Coldplay and More at Lollapalooza 2011
• Photos: Coldplay's Live Spectacle
• Video: Coldplay Performs 'Charlie Brown' on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'
• Video: Coldplay's 'Every Teardrop is a Waterfall'

“Youth Knows No Pain”

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”