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Magic & Medicine - The Coral
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Metascore
76 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.5 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 11 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Summary: One of the more attention-grabbing British bands to emerge in the last few years--their fun, genre-jumping debut album landed them a Mercury Music Prize nomination--The Coral returns with a more coherent, '60s-influenced sophomore LP.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Under The Radar
    90
    This time around, a more restrained approach means a less exhausting listening experience. [#5, p.99]
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  2. Uncut
    90
    A darker and dramatically more cohesive collection than its predecessor. [Sep 2003, p.108]
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  3. Alternative Press
    60
    Medicine is certainly a cohesive and mature outing, but it isn't nearly as fun as the band's previous shenanigans. [May 2004, p.102]
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See all 18 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. NseE
    10
    ?Magic & Medicine? comprises melodic tunes, and begins with the Beatles-ish ?In the forest?, a short, delightful strumming number, followed by the catchy ?Don?t think you?re the first?. ?Bill McCai? is a bouncy sing-along tune with a sharp twist to the tale. ?Eskimo lament? is a tender ballad with great vocal harmonizing and a superb horn break. Other standouts are ?Secret kiss? and ?Confessions of A.D.D.D? with a great instrumental finale. ?All of our love? would not sound out of place on a Radiohead cd. The bonus cd 'Nightfreak and the Sons of Becker' sounds like it was recorded by an entirely different group. The sound is darker, more experimental, Radiohead-ish (?Song of the corn?, ?Sorrow or the song?, ?Keep me company?) and Super Furry Animal-ish (?Precious eyes?). The standout on this disc is the superb, upbeat ?Grey Harpoon? with its X-Files/Twilight Zone-like sound effects. A splendid slice of Brit pop. … Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. NedF
    9
    Such a contrast from their first one, but in a good way, with James Skelly's wonderful voice echoing through things like "All Of Our Love". Truly marvellous.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. NorthFreedomFighter
    9
    Beautifully crafted and innovative, a definite must have for anyone with any interest in Brit Rock and psychedelica.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 6 User Reviews

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