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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

The Coral
by The Coral


8.4

based on 18 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 21 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

This debut effort from Liverpool's The Coral is an inventive mix of numerous musical styles.

LABEL:	Columbia / Deltasonic
RELEASE DATE:	04 March 2003
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Indie, Rock

NOTES: Original UK release 29 July 2002.

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

PopMatters

Might be one of the most original albums you'll ever hear.

New Musical Express

The funniest, most refreshing British debut in years.

Mojo

Fantastic! [Aug 2002, p.112]

Spin

Rich in minor-key melancholia, twangy reverb, and retro keyboards. [Apr 2003, p.108]

Stylus Magazine

Part Banana Splits, part The Wicker Man, part genius, The Coral may just have produced the most intriguing, tuneful, humorous and enjoyable debut album of the year, and then some.

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Had the band not approached it with such skill and obvious joy, it might run the risk of sounding indulgent, but The Coral sounds happy to let its old 45s melt together in a glorious puddle.

All Music Guide

The result is a bit jarring, but there's a fervent originality at work here, despite all of the referencing of the halcyon past.

Q Magazine

It's clever, zesty and kaleidoscopic and sometimes... quite brilliant. [Aug 2002, p.121]

Alternative Press

The Coral blow through genres like Top 40 radio does flavors of the week. [Apr 2003, p.74]

Dot Music

A more disparate and yet strangely coherent collection of moods and styles you will not hear this year outside a supremely eclectic compilation.

Austin Chronicle

There are hints of everyone from Pink Floyd to the Animals here, but somehow the Coral feels remarkably now.

Entertainment Weekly

A record that's as hard to ignore as it is to pin down. [14 Mar 2003, p.66]

Uncut

An eclectic, often crazed debut album.... They have all the hallmarks of an excellent, innovative band that won't be undone by their own hype. [Sep 2002, p.105]

Trouser Press

Jaunty, rambunctious, and youthful.

Pitchfork

There's definitely a lot to like throughout this disc; the band has boatloads of talent, and the eclectic spread gels much better than you'd expect.

Rolling Stone

Their selling point is an eclecticism that evades Oasis-style overkill with compact songs that hop all over the place.

Blender

There are enough moments to suggest that, should they ever concentrate on, say, just 10 of their favorite styles, they could be fab. [#14, p.133]

Playlouder

This is no whimsical, fey take on folk music, rather a bold, buoyant frug with the skeletons of The Doors, Teardrop Explodes and other likeminded explorers of the stoned side.

The average user rating for this album is 8.4 (out of 10) based on 21 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Steve H gave it a10:
A great album that gets even better with repeat listening

Sophie M gave it an8:
I like it a lot.

M D. gave it a10:
Perfect! :O

donnie darko gave it a 10:
"Might be one of the most original albums you'll ever hear." "The funniest, most refreshing British debut in years." this is exactly what i want to say, go and buy it now!!

Robert A gave it a 9:
This album is very original and very fun.

Ace Kabob gave it a 0:
This CD is the most singularly amateurish, derivative CD I have ever had the misfortune to purchase. The Coral are a bunch of wankers, as are music journalists who fawn all over them. After you've listened to this disc, you'll undoubtedly ask yourself what CD the critics are raving about, because you'll think, sure as hell, that it couldn't have been the CD you just listened to.

Will L gave it a 10:
Had never heard of this band before, but it was a featured CD in a Boarders Books kiosk in Washington DC, so I had a listen in the store. Heard about three songs and I was hooked. Bought the CD, and I cant take it out of the CD player. You must go out and get this CD, you will love it!!!!!

The Coral by The Coral

The Coral
by The Coral