Search - The Coral :: Magic and Medicine

I'm sold!

Cary S. Whitt | Columbus,Ohio USA | 10/19/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Admittedly, I was about half and half on the first Coral record. But I must say with Magic and Medicine, I am a born again believer! This is an amazing second record.Each track is complex yet simple in it's delivery. The songs mold wonderful melodies and unique arrangement effortlessly. The whole cd sometimes is a bit spooky, sometimes a bit fun, but always entertaining and catchy. There is a feeling of something really really great going on un-noticed here. Not sure if this is scheduled for a domestic release or not, but if not, well worth importing in your collection.To describe this is pretty hard, but I like to think of The LA's or The Stone Roses playing a more blues based rock. Needless to say if you like Brit-rock or brit-pop, you'll love this."

Not Bad but not equal to expectations

balefireelegy | Binghamton, NY | 12/29/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"To be fair The bands second release should be thought of as an independant effort rather than the sucessor to their first album. The music here is enjoyable and the band is good at creating an atmosphere to the songs that is the strong point of their efforts (for me). Yet in terms of the lyrics that accompany the songs is the main problem I have with this effort. Their lyrics are just so awkward sounding, often having heavy end rhyme which is just as unenjoyable in song as in poetry. It often makes the songs sound simple and heavy end rhyme tends to draw attention to the end of the line. Maybe this is the feel the band intended to create kinda of like a childhood sinister sing song. Yet lyrics that follow,
"DOn't think you're the first
in the whole universe
to follow your heart
or gaze at the stars"... etc.tend to put me off. So cliche's and rhyming couplets aside, this isn't a bad CD, just for me I can't enjoy it as fully as I could if the lyrics were perhaps a little less along the lines of middle school poetry.and the first song with I..... you ... What is that!"

A Magiacal Mystery Tour of Love,hate, joy, and pain,TIMELESS

frost-byte | 01/29/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Coral reinvigorate much of what has been forgotten by past masters of British/American Music in recent years...Early Pink Floyd, The very, very early Please Please Me and late White Album Beatles Period, attach it to some west coast American Surrealism from the early 1970s aka The Doors and a light breezy cocktail of harmonies aka the Beach Boys. This is mixed with a tinge of an eighties Madness sound along with The Specials given some spice by slight 90s experimentation aka Radiohead. What occurs is that old sounds of organs and Morrisonesque lyrics and tunes are brought back to life sounding new and refreshing e.g. ALL OF OUR LOVE and IN THE FOREST whilst George Harrison's more interesting tunes and melodies find their way onto PASS IT ON and CARELESS HANDS. Meanwhile BILL MAKAI and LIZAH are Paul McCartney/Simon and Garfunkal tunes with the lyrical cynicism of Lennon. Of all the tunes DON'T THINK YOUR THE FIRST brings all the elements of their sound together in a simple tuneful melody that is too easy to come up with. It is not justifiable to state that this band is a bunch of imitators because their delicate and innovative tunes and talent as musicians gives them a unique quality which puts them as potential contenders to be placed in the Hall of Fame in which the aforementioned sit. Nightfreaks, already available over here recorded in one week shows the rate at which they are progressing, but to get easy access get this first. If they continue as they are they will make a masterpiece. This isn't it...therefore the four stars... but it's getting there .As long as they don't rise to high from the underground they should shall age like a fine wine.Thier lyrics are quickly improving and their good tunes will never go out of fashion . In short the Coral are bringing the mysticism back into popular music. Don't expect to like all of it after one listen. Replay it several times and you'll get my drift:-) Happy Listening!!"