X-mas Gift Sibling Dilemna.

Your sis has obviously matured. She has grown to like a more mild music and that should not be looked upon as a negative. All those "soulless" artists that you mentioned sure have a hell of a lot more musical talent (excepting the awesome Blondie) than those recommended.
A great example of what is good about artist maturation is Sting's career. The moment I first heard his songs with the Police, I jettisoned any need to listen to the misogynistic "cock rock" that I had formerly devoted my listening time to. And as Sting has matured, his work has become much more sophisticated. So much that I had to play catchup to his work, because his few solo albums seemed to be beyond me in depth and concept. I was still stuck in what I was used to hearing in the early eighties. But as I matured, my tastes became more widespread and open minded. This has obviously happened with your sister. But have no fear, such a thing doesn't always have to happen to everybody. So you can rock on without worry of evolution if you choose.

er, if that's what being 'sophisticated' entails, i want none of it

She seems to be a real fan of lots of groove-oriented works, so I can't imagine her responding to Coldplay. Anything from the Basement Jaxx or Moby to, gawd, the Dave Matthews Band would be more suitable.

His work has become as indefensibly dull as dishwater, each album eclipsing its predecessor in its avoidance of adventurousness.

Snarky comments about my appreciation for the almighty majesty of Killing Joke are being summarily ignored, as this query isn't about me...you heartless, fire-dishonoring jackyls. I'm fully aware of how, once again, middle-of-the-road the list of discs I cited was, hence my need for suggestions from you lot. Don't waste your time giving me jibes about how Coldplay doesn't honor the fire (as, quite assuredly, they do not). I'm aware of it.

"Disavowing a punk aesthetic, or any other aesthetic which fetishizes hardness, is not a step backward in my view."

Of course it isn't, but there's a difference betwen evoling (i.e. broadening one's tastes and horizons, maturing to the level of appreciating styles of music that do not, as you say, 'fetishize hardness') and merely settling for bland 'comfort food' music (Anita Baker et al.)

"Maybe some jazz?"

Good call, Sundar, although my knowledge of jazz is pretty limited. I have thrown in a copy of TIME OUT by the Dave Brubeck Quartet, which is admittedly the most tired cliche of a jazz album ever, but what do you want from me?

Good call on the Stan Getz/Joao Gilberto suggestion, Sean!!!!

Regarding Justin Timberlake, I'm relatively certain her pop-loving nine year old son has already brought that into the equation.

Anyway, keep the suggestions coming. Thanks and merry x-mas!

As to older sis Alex : this is what a friend of mine used to call a visit from the taste reposession officer ...

If she wants soulful, can't she be persuaded by some kind of R'n'B? Say Jill Scott, Kelis, even the new Common album?

Good grief, that's the most pompous post I think I've ever read in my life.

"I have yet to hear any other successful pop musician to incorporate such a wide ranging and disparate amount of styles into his own unique sound."

What about, oh I don't know, Peter Gabriel, Tom Waits, David Bowie, Frank Zappa, Brian Eno, David Byrne, Elvis Costello, John Lydon, Nick Cave, Lou Reed, XTC and...oh....about nineteen dozen other artists a thousand times more intersting than fuckin' solo Sting.