The CORAL - The Coral

[UKreviewer]

Dunno how it happened. Perhaps thanks to a glitch in time-space continuum, The Coral's brilliant debut album arrives with us in mid 2002, fresh from the British beat boom of 1964. En route they've navigated their way via Country Joe & The Fish, Leadbelly, Motown, The Doors, Russian Cossack music, The (early) Specials, The Action, Hawaiian instrumentals, WWF, Scouse luminaries The Stairs and Shack and, most probably Captain Birdseye. It's so nautically inclined you can almost smell the fishing nets. And all the work of six straggly youths from Liverpool, England - where else? - the eldest of whom, leather lunged singer James Skelly, weighsin at a wizened 21.
In The Coral's company, the usual critical shorthand isn't so much made redundant as turned into hieroglyphics. Take 'Goodbye'. Stomping rhythm'n'blues for two minutes, then suddenly the guitars flip into gonzo-punk overload and then whoooosh, it's turned into that dream sequence bit in Wayne's World 2 where Wayne meets Jim Morrison in the desert, before wriggling to a triumphant conclusion in four minutes flat.
Tunes so joyous you thought they only existed on dusty 45s in ancient pub jukeboxes appear regularly through the mist.
'Dreaming Of You' is two minutes 19 seconds of yearning pop confusion to rival both The Teardrop Explodes' 'When I Dream' and Madness' 'My Girl' (told you it was weird); 'Skeleton Key' is a deranged Zappa tribute that morphs into a gotic mariachi shuffle and finally sublime, slippery Grace Jones disco, and 'Shadows Fall', as you know, features the first ever marriage of ragtime, Egyptian reggae and barbershop on record.
But The Coral display not the slightest trace of worthiness, just an insane joy at being able to make an album that sounds timeless. Only the Super Furries and Gorky's would show such disrespect for the rulebook, but even they, you suspect, would draw the line at skiffle-driven Gregorian sea shanties.
As the final 'Calanders & Clocks' suggests, The Coral have ventured into rock's pre-history in their quest for fresh musical plunder, and the outcome is the funniest, most refreshing debut in years, possibly on record.
Easily the best album of the 21st Century.
10/10

[St Matthew]

I hope that was a joke. That band is marginal at best. They're alright, but nothing to cream your boot-cut jeans over. How come all the British press worship a different band that's apparently gonna save rock'n'roll every other week?? Just curious. At least you have the Manic Street Preachers, though.

[UKreviewer]

Its true about there being a next best thing tag placed on a different band every week over here. I can't argue for a second with that. Take Fisherspooner for example. What a load of crap they were. But The Coral are truly superb. To fully apprieciate how amazing they are you must have the album and watch them live. And to think, there all still under 21.
There are very few excellent British groups around at the moment. But then, it's because of the trash pop like Brittney, Justin, and Avril Lavine that we have thrown at us by the US, that we tend to worship the very average. When a British group makes it in the States, you know that its because they have real talent, like Coldplay.
And the Manics WERE great, now marginal at best.

Heres a short list of some new Brit bands you may wanna check out, if you haven't already:
1) The Coral
2) The Libertines
3) The Music
4) Electric Soft Parade
5) The Bandits

Oh yeah, and from the bottom of my heart, thank you for The Polyphonic Spree. They are stunning!!!

[samanafay]

I have read a few reviews that hail The Coral as being so wonderful and 60's psychadelia la la la, something that I thought that normally I would totally dig. i have only listened to The Skeleton Keys EP but they are so regular.

[Katie]

I'm gonna agree with UK on this one.

What I give The Coral credit for is having their own sound right now. I can name a slew of British Invasion influences they've added to their style, but they're certainly not a rip-off of any current band.

I had to get used to the album and listen to it a few times, but it really grew on me. I'm realy glad 97X is playing them on the radio. None of the Minneapolis stations are.

And thank God for Q magazine for doing a write-up on them months ago before the album starting making headway over here.

[The Sheck]

Originally posted by Katie
I'm realy glad 97X is playing them on the radio. None of the Minneapolis stations are.


I think Radio K might be, but FM stations around here probably never will...

What's up Katie? Haven't seen you in a while.

[Katie]

Originally posted by The Sheck


I think Radio K might be, but FM stations around here probably never will...

What's up Katie? Haven't seen you in a while.

I haven't listened to Radio K in ages. I can't get used to the AM sound quality, or lack thereof. I did hear Soundtrack of Our Lives on Drive 105, however. Thought that was interesting.

Been busy with a new job lately, but slowly managing to sneak in some messages on the boards...going to any good shows in the area, Sheck? I'm going to Ladytron on Saturday at First Ave. And was incredibly pissed that the Paul Weller show was cancelled - I had good seats and everything!

[The Sheck]

Originally posted by Katie


I did hear Soundtrack of Our Lives on Drive 105, however. Thought that was interesting.

Have you noticed as well that 105 tends to play stuff that is played on WOXY like four-six months after WOXY but still claim it as "new music"? I mean, that Frou Frou song is almost a year old for goodness sake, but in Mpls. it's new music. One of many examples...

going to any good shows in the area, Sheck? I'm going to Ladytron on Saturday at First Ave. And was incredibly pissed that the Paul Weller show was cancelled - I had good seats and everything!

Surprisingly, I have not made it out to much for two months or so. March will be swell, though, what with Coldplay, Idlewild, Gingersol and Ike Reilly hitting town in a nine day span. Pearl Jam tix set me back a bit too so I've been saving my cash for the good stuff I guess.;)

[Katie]

Originally posted by The Sheck


Surprisingly, I have not made it out to much for two months or so. March will be swell, though, what with Coldplay, Idlewild, Gingersol and Ike Reilly hitting town in a nine day span. Pearl Jam tix set me back a bit too so I've been saving my cash for the good stuff I guess.;)

Hey! I'm going to Coldplay! :) I managed to score the advance tickets through Coldplay's website. I'm totally psyched that The Music is opening. I'm going to try to see Idlewild, too. I'm hoping that the Fine Line will be open or at least move the show in time for The Polyphonic Spree in April. Don't wanna miss that one. Too bad the club had to catch fire...

There's a slew of stuff coming up - thank God most of them are cheap tickets. Gotta love the spring live-music scene in Minneapolis...

I really haven't listened to 105 that much - just what pops up on the alarm in the morning. I was going to shoot myself if I heard the Wallflowers one more time. You really have to weed through some stuff to hear good songs on that station too now.

[The Sheck]

Originally posted by Katie
Hey! I'm going to Coldplay! :) I managed to score the advance tickets through Coldplay's website.

Me, too. I think I'm 7th row right of center on the floor. Have you got your tix yet?

I'm going to try to see Idlewild, too. I'm hoping that the Fine Line will be open or at least move the show in time for The Polyphonic Spree in April. Don't wanna miss that one. Too bad the club had to catch fire...

I've seen Idlewild twice and they're really great live. They blew the roof off the Cedar Cultural Centre two years ago. The Entry should be a-rockin'. The Fine Line is supposed to re-open at the end of the month I heard. What's with the nightclub fires all of a sudden? RI, Chicago, here? One would think that shooting off fireworks indoors would have been something learned in childhood.

There's a slew of stuff coming up - thank God most of them are cheap tickets. Gotta love the spring live-music scene in Minneapolis...

No doubt! I think we have cheaper tix than most places in the US. My nine-day concert fiesta will cost me around $65 when it's over including Ticketbastard fees.

I really haven't listened to 105 that much - just what pops up on the alarm in the morning. I was going to shoot myself if I heard the Wallflowers one more time. You really have to weed through some stuff to hear good songs on that station too now.

My gf has 105 on a lot in the car. I don't listen to it any other time. I just plug in the mp3 player and off I go. WOXY should start franchising to despondent musical cities, or set up transmitters so we can get the reception in our cars.

[Katie]

Originally posted by The Sheck


Me, too. I think I'm 7th row right of center on the floor. Have you got your tix yet?



I haven't got my tickets yet - they told me 2-3 weeks before the show. Have you gotten yours?

I think I have like 11th row in the bottom-level seating (not on the floor) - somewhere in the realm of where I was for Peter Gabriel. Center section of the left side, I think.

The show they did at First Ave. last year was amazing, so I'm looking forward to this one...

[The Sheck]

Haven't received mine yet, should be arriving this week I would think or the early part of next. Yeah, the show at 1st Ave last year was the best club one of 2002 I thought.

[UKreviewer]

It aint no rumour cockney rebel my friend. There new album is due out very soon, and the first single from that album, Dont Think Your The First, was released this Monday. If this single signals the quality of the album, I say we're in for another corker.

[arctic fox]

jesus. coral is plain ungood.

the backing music sounds like an oompa band. and the vocals...

sounds like a 37 year old crooner in atlantic city at 5am.
if you like that sort of thing.

[The Sheck]

Originally posted by cockney rebel
I have no idea where the review I did for The Coral album went??

Better leap on - or ignore - this bandwagon quickly, rumour has it the band already have a second album scheduled for May release!

Woops...sorry, yo. 'Dreaming Of You' is a great song. I've heard mixed reviews on the rest of the album. If their new record comes out in May, we won't have to worry about it hitting the States until December or January at least. (*cough* Idlewild *cough*)

[samanafay]

i agree that Dreaming Of You is super fun. but the rest of the cd isn't all that fun. or good.

[UKreviewer]

The album is filled from start to finish with quality, but obviously it doesn't seem to be as appealing to the US audience as it does to us over here in the UK. We're going wild for it, and for one reason only, because it is absolute brilliance. Maybe the mixes of so many non mainstream influences puts many of you listeners off. But if you we're one of those fans who enjoyed the amazing single, Dreaming Of You, then there next album will definatly be more for you. There new single, Dont Think Your The First, reached No.6 in our charts, which for a non Pop act is practically unheard of. It is filled with simple music and lyrics which add to its beauty. If you wanna listen to it, send me a private message and I will email the track to you. That goes for any UK acts that you are interested in, as I have pretty much every one.

[Trevour]

I found The Coral album to be better than average. Doesn't blow me away, but it's still a great disc. To me it's like listening to The Yardbirds meet the Super Furries. So that's cool. My only complaint? Too many tempo changes. Cut back a little! :cool: But overall, a strong record. I'll give it 7/10.

[kickinitlive]

i love it. and i love the nautical stuff.

a big thank you to Cockney Rebel for sayin something about it. the album just makes me frickin happy. i love the interweaving of motown into it. this album seriously is a revelation...

9/10. 10 is reserved for something mind AND life altering, not just the one. but the mind gets it a 9