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The Coral - The Coral
Metascore
81 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 18 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
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  1. New Musical Express (NME)
    90
    The funniest, most refreshing British debut in years.
  2. PopMatters
    90
    Might be one of the most original albums you'll ever hear.
  3. Mojo
    90
    Fantastic! [Aug 2002, p.112]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Spin
    83
    Rich in minor-key melancholia, twangy reverb, and retro keyboards. [Apr 2003, p.108]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. Stylus Magazine
    82
    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.
  6. All Music Guide
    80
    The result is a bit jarring, but there's a fervent originality at work here, despite all of the referencing of the halcyon past.
  7. Q Magazine
    80
    It's clever, zesty and kaleidoscopic and sometimes... quite brilliant. [Aug 2002, p.121]
    All this publication's reviews
  8. Alternative Press
    80
    The Coral blow through genres like Top 40 radio does flavors of the week. [Apr 2003, p.74]
    All this publication's reviews
  9. Dot Music
    80
    A more disparate and yet strangely coherent collection of moods and styles you will not hear this year outside a supremely eclectic compilation.
  10. The A.V. Club
    80
    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.
  11. Austin Chronicle
    78
    There are hints of everyone from Pink Floyd to the Animals here, but somehow the Coral feels remarkably now.
  12. Entertainment Weekly
    75
    A record that's as hard to ignore as it is to pin down. [14 Mar 2003, p.66]
    All this publication's reviews
  13. Uncut
    70
    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]
    All this publication's reviews
  14. Trouser Press
    70
    Jaunty, rambunctious, and youthful.
  15. Pitchfork
    68
    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.
  16. Playlouder
    60
    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.
  17. Blender
    60
    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]
    All this publication's reviews
  18. Rolling Stone
    60
    Their selling point is an eclecticism that evades Oasis-style overkill with compact songs that hop all over the place.
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