Artist: The Coral
Album: Magic and Medecine
Label: Columbia Records
Rating:
Reviewer: Chad Malone

The Coral is relatively new to America, yet have been around for a few years over in England. They hit our shores with their self-titled album in 2003. In early 2004, they re-released a two-disc set here in America that includes two of their UK albums "Magic & Medicine" and "Nightfreak & The Sons of Becker."

The Coral has an interesting sound of what resembles a Neil Diamond-esk vocal work, a bluesy Beatles-ish music styling, and a Cat Stevens lyrical expression (although I've been argued against on that one.) Granted, The Coral probably isn't everyone's cup of tea. I think if you like the aforementioned artists, along with G-Love, Jack Johnson, or other jazzy UK artists, then you'll dig this band.

My favorite tracks on the two discs would have to be "Leizah," "In The Forest," "Confessions of A.D.D.D.," "Grey Harpoon," and "Bill McCai." Out of the two albums "Magic & Medicine" seems to be the more prominent one. After the release of this CD, it marks all three of The Coral's LPs to be available in America. They do however have countless numbers of singles and EPs out in the UK.

Consumers beware though, these albums are just packaged together under "Magic & Medicine." If you are looking for Nightfreak you won't be finding it anytime soon. But when you do find this, or any of The Coral's stuff, it's incredibly cheap. Cheap enough to pick up even if you're curious. If you don't like it, you can give it to me so that I can have multiple copies for different rooms in my house.