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The Coral Album: “Coral [2003 Japan Bonus Tracks]”
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Coral [2003 Japan Bonus Tracks] |
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Release Date:2003-05-26
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Type:Unknown
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Genre:Rock, Classic Rock, Indie Rock
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Label:Sony/Epic
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Explicit Lyrics:Yes
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UPC:4547366010657
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Review - :
{$The Coral}'s jocular self-titled debut kicked up quite a flurry of excitement when it washed ashore in the summer of 2002. Many reviewers gave a hearty cry of "Avast Ye Maties" when they discovered the band was from the picturesque seaside village of Hoylake, a deep-water anchorage in the borough of Wirral. Not since {$the Beatles}, or perhaps even {$Echo & the Bunnymen}, has a young band from England's blustery western coast caused this much commotion. Other critics have focused on their ages; at 21, lead singer/guitarist {$James Skelly} was the oldest when this album was recorded, but the rest of these landlubbers were considerably younger, averaging somewhere closer to 19. The fantastic voyage that is {^The Coral}, however, is the real discovery. The album begins with a two-minute {\psych-rock} {\sea shanty}, {&"Spanish Main,"} which bursts forth with a frothy and joyous refrain that sounds inspired by {#Treasure Island} or {@Disney}'s {#Pirates of the Caribbean}, perhaps. Along the way, the boys pick their way through somewhat-discarded flotsam and jetsam genres (mostly from the '60s), including 1964-era {\Merseybeat}, horn-driven {\ska}, fuzzed-out {\acid rock}, and {\Brit-pop} {\psychedelia}. The aforementioned critics have fallen all over themselves trying to distill {$the Coral}'s various influences, name-checking a wide range of West Coast bands -- {$the Doors}, {$Love}, {$the Beach Boys}, {$the Mothers}, {$Quicksilver Messenger Service}, and even {$the Banana Splits} -- and even tossing in a handful of Londoners, like {$Syd Barrett}-era {$Pink Floyd} and {$the Action}. Others have opted to categorize {$the Coral} as sounding closer, at least in spirit, to {$the Beta Band}, {$Shack}, or -- a personal favorite -- "a scouse {$Primal Scream} on a {\skiffle} tip" (former {$Shack} drummer {$Alan Wills}, by the way, is their manager and manages their label, {@Deltasonic}, as well). {&"Shadows Fall"} is where this adventurous tale really finds its sea legs; the Top 30 U.K. single features an eccentric salmagundi of styles and sounds, including {\barbershop quartet} vocals, {$Madness}-style {\pop-ska}, Russian {\Cossack folk}, and a subtle {$Morricone-esque} harmonica. The result is a bit jarring, but there's a fervent originality at work here, despite all of the referencing of the halcyon past. {&"Dreaming of You"} is probably an even better example of what {$the Coral} have to offer, with strong lead vocals and suitably cheeseball organ. {&"Simon Diamond"} is effervescent 1967-style {\British psych-pop} ({$Nirvana} U.K. or {$Kaleidoscope} U.K., take your pick), while the rambunctious {&"Skeleton Key"} blends {$Zappa-esque} guitars, serpentine Middle Eastern melodies, and flavorful horns. In addition to a massive heaping of critical praise, {$the Coral} also managed to connect with an audience who plunked down enough gold doubloons to help this album land in the U.K.'s Top Ten charts. {^The Coral} was subsequently nominated for the Mercury Music Prize. [A Japanese version included bonus tracks.] ~ Bryan Thomas, All Music Guide
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![The Coral Album: “Coral [2003 Japan Bonus Tracks]”](http://www.poprockbands.com/covers_yaC/the-coral/2003_170_170_Coral%2520%255B2003%2520Japan%2520Bonus%2520Tracks%255D.jpg "The Coral Album: “Coral [2003 Japan Bonus Tracks]”")
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