The Coral

Jesus, the bar must have been set lower than I thought for what constitutes the top 1,001 albums of all time

starting to dread hitting my submit button and seeing the random ass band I definitely do not need to hear before I die

It's 2002. Rock is back again baby! Here comes another "The" band ready to ride the hype train with a fresh take on an aging genre. But what comes next is more than unexpected, it's sea shanties. It's polka, reggae, klezmer, and punk. It's not very good. It's The Coral. Their name evokes tropical seas. They are a pirates, sailing from foreign land to foreign land, stealing the unique musical riches of each country, pillaging the local harvest, and shitting it all onto a record. D Postscript: In my ever-increasing musical nationalism I'll point out that these dudes are British, talented, likely white, and possibly tone deaf to the fact they're "borrowing" music from the queen's former colonies

Not even in the best 1001 albums of 2002.

My first 5 from something I've never heard a lick about beforehand. Very enjoyable psych-influenced indie, with a little polka and ska for good measure.

I had heard one song from this, and always liked it. Turns out the rest of the album is even better. I love this! It's an easy listen, fun, melodic, and rocks out. I wasn't expecting this to be so good. A very nice surprise.

The algorithm is in a foul mood. The only explanation for this appearing on the list is for everyone to hear what a horrible album sounds like. It turns out this album WAS bumped off the list on the latest edition, a wrong that I hope this generator corrects as well. Perhaps this band got better with future albums, but I don't intend to test that possibility. There are parts of a lot of songs that sound great, only to suddenly veer off into an annoying direction. I'm going to want those 34 minutes and 32 seconds back before I die. What a snooze.

I was really surprised that there was a band that was prolific, part of the early 2000's rock revival, and enjoyable to listen to that I had never heard of. These guys really felt unique amongst many of their peers, and I see why they made this list, even though either I am just ignorant of they didn't achieve nearly the fame of bands like The White Stripes or The Strokes. My Personal Enjoyment: 4/5 Did it belong on this list: 4.5/5

Nothing great about this album . Not terrible but not memorable in the least

Wow, that was a real piece of shit. Why the fuck is this on the list? Are the Coral like the genreless Ween band of the UK? Good musicians who don’t have any taste. They mashed up tons of my least favorite, annoying experimental genre rock: Gogol Bordello, Ska, Arctic Monkeys and Nick Cave. There’s a couple of moments, moments, where there’s some very Oh Sees inflected guitar effects, maybe they were an influence. Maybe they deserve credit for that? I hated this album. Wish I could give it a Zero. All that after I was excited by the album cover. Yuck.

I had heard one song from this, and always liked it. Turns out the rest of the album is even better. I love this! It's an easy listen, fun, melodic, and rocks out. I wasn't expecting this to be so good. A very nice surprise.

If Syd Barret era Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones had a baby that was raised by the rest of the 60's, you would have this album.

This is a weird album, and I kind of love it. The opening track, "Spanish Main", is definitely my favorite: it's a psychedelic rock sea shanty, and I would listen to a whole album of songs like it. Unfortunately, this album is not that and the rest of it is more of a psychedelic folk rock album. Still, the highlights of this album more than make up for the lowlights and it's well worth checking out for anybody who wants to hear some stuff they've never heard before

Really surprised this is in the list

Wasn't a fan. 1/5 stars.

Lovely record!

Seen the album cover but had never listened to one single song that I could remember. They were not big enough to reach my hone country. Although I lable it indie rock their style of old school rock and country and a hint reagge dub made me instantly love this album. It hooked me on the first song and has gotten better after that. Albums like this are the reason Im doing the 1001 album thing cause we cant know everything and we cant listen to all the music. This is a great example for me of an unknown band to instant playlist material.

Part of what made me love this was maybe the surprise? But it was great and I'm definitely going to listen to it again. And the spotify radio station that played at the end was freaking bitching.

Based on the Wikipedia article, my expectations going in weren't great, but this was a very pleasant surprise. I'm not even sure if I would call the psychedelic, since this is the rare case of psychedelia feeling whimsical rather than just weird (with varying degrees of uncomfortableness). But what really impressed me was the breadth of experimentation and yet, everything sounded organic and accomplished. The only track I was on the fence about was Skeleton Key, but even that one was still OK. A great album with simply good music, in an impressive amount of different shades of rock.

Wow, fell in love during the first couple of songs

Made me want to cry in bed. A+ original and interesting.

Never heard of this band before but love their sound. Cant wait to listen to more of their music!

Cover art: what is this? A high school project? I wouldn't be surprised if I find out this collage was made with scissors and a glue stick. Historically the weird covers have been British, but we'll see. British rock band again and it was another pretty good album. Just as I was getting in to the first track it ended abruptly, which as I checked the run time to confirm something didn't happen I thought 'was that meant to tease me and leave me wanting more?' either way it worked. Throughout the rest of the album I kept trying to place what it reminded me of, and the only specifics I could come up with was that it was an older style rock. Some influences even back to the 60s but with modern instruments and techniques. "goodbye" is an example of what I'm talking about. I don't think there was really a song I wanted to skip, pretty solid overall. Favorite track "I remember when" 4/5

Day 7: The Coral - The Coral. The Coral released an album that somewhat perplexes me. It's somewhat difficult to wrap my finger around what I just heard. It reminds me of circus music. I also feel bard music vibes and musical theatre music vibes at the same time. I can't tell if this album is secretly genius, or just boring and uninteresting. Is this Britpop? It doesn't sound like Britpop. Upon reading the reviews of this album, it does appear that it isn't very well-received. Neither was Kollaps, but that is an awesome album. Well, this album was removed from the list. However, so was Medúlla, and that album is also awesome. It seems like The Coral have a form of artistic vision that is difficult to see. They feel like one of those bands that you either don't get, or make you salivate over the thought of buying the band members' toenail clippings. Whatever, three stars it is. Personal Enjoyment: 3/5. How Much It Belongs Here: 2/5.

Amazing! Dreaming of you is a timeless classic, but "Waiting for the Heartaches" totally got me! 9.5/10

Forward looking retro! Here's an album that builds on the past yet has its own distinct voice. Listened multiple times. LOVE IT.

A solid, enjoyable listen. Part of me feels like it was lacking just a little bit of oomph for it to be truly memorable, but overall, great instrumentals and good vocal work. 'Dreaming of You' was my fave.

The Coral son uno de los mejores grupos del siglo 21. Infalibles, ni un disco flojo o regular. No tienen la fama ni el reconocimiento masivo pero su estilo es innegable. Este debut y Coral island son los mejor recibidos por crítica y público, pero cualquiera es de enorme calidad, sobre todo Sea of mirrors. Spanish main, Dreaming of you... todas son excelentes. Con ecos de Love, The Byrds, Teenage fanclub, Kinks, Small faces, The LA´s... pocos grupos están a la altura: Ladybug transistor, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, Super Furry Animals...

10/10 scouse magic. Pure me. 10/10

Loved it! A great combination of energy similar to other modern rock bands with an old timy sense of creativity. The singer sounds like a proper rock star, and the band always rocks, sometimes reminding me of the specials and then jumping to Arctic Monkeys and then Green Day and then the Doors.

The Coral I loved this album when it came out and although I never totally stuck with them after Magic and Medicine I love the song Lover Undiscovered from the Coral Island album a few years ago, and I really like Bill Ryder-Jones solo stuff. I still really like the kitchen sink approach, all their influences all jammed together. Rather than selectively magpieing what they like, I get the sense they thought this might be their only record so just chucked everything in - Beefheart, Love, 60s psychedelia, Madness, Beatles, sea shanties, the Doors, folk. How you feel about the end result probably depends on how much charm you find in that approach, but do find it very wonkily engaging, never stopping in one place, and all tied together with open mindedness, some great rough hewn musicality and some lovely psychedelic-indie guitar. I like how Spanish Main frames the album as a psychedelic cosmic voyage through all their influences, and while not every song works totally, none of them are boring and some of them are absolutely fantastic. I Remember When’s Doors-eque croon moving into the uptempo is excellent and Shadows Fall’s psychedelic ska is woozily great. Dreaming of You is still superb, the bass and organ are superb together and it's a great melody with lovely harmonies. I love the S&G lifting folky vibe of Simon Diamond, the reverb slide and seaside organ give it a great atmosphere, along with the amusing lyrics. Goodbye is superb, Bill Ryder-Jones late 60s riffing and tremolo parts are lovely and it’s another great melody and set of backing vocals. Even if it doesn’t quite reach the heights of that first half thereafter it’s still a very enjoyable and interesting listen, and I love Skeleton Key and Bad Man’s scouse Beefheart-ness, and Calendars and Clocks ends things in a suitably wide running way. There is a definitely a touch of early 2000s to it but it has held up better than many of their peers in the post Britpop/early 2000s indie scene, not only does it have a pleasing scatterbrain eclecticism it also has a lovely eccentricity to it, which means it still sounds interesting and very loveable 23 years on. It does fade a bit in the back half but it’s still a great album and a mid-high 4. 🪸🪸🪸🪸 Playlist submission: Goodbye

Never heard this - like Gomez and burning spear fronted by a rabbi

The Coral's S/T album was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize the day after it was released, because of course it was. Early 2000s nominees for the Mercury Prize are a notorious but reliable indicator of over-hyped rubbish. An overview of reviews shows that the UK press -- the NME and the Guardian and the BBC and blah blah blah -- all seemed to fall over themselves hyping this album. But here's how I know this record is going to be rubbish -- let's look at the number of different bands/genres that wikipedia says this album sounds like or was based on; neo-psychedelia, folk rock, Eric Burdon of the Animals, Jim Morrison of the Doors, Can, Captain Beefheart's "Trout Mask replica", Kraftwerk, pirates singing on a ship, Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic", Echo & The Bunnymen "Ocean Rain", bad dance music, techno, happy hardcore, traditional Russian music, Nick Cave, Dr Dre, Ennio Morricone soundtracks, Spaghetti western films, reggae, doo wop, Merseybeat, psychedelic sea shanties, punk rock, the Ex, the Nuggets compilations, the Zombies, Frank Zappa, Middle Eastern music, house music, The Teardrop Explodes, Button Moon (a UK kids TV show, I think?), old blues murder ballads, weird Americana, Waring's Pennsylvanians, Beck's "Mutations", Spanish folk, Frank Sinatra, and the Wailers. I mean, what a fucking mess. It's overhyped, unfocussed and derivative pablum that hasn't stood the test of time. But at least it's short.

This is the first one that has popped up that I don't actually own--nor have ever heard before. Weird how a seemingly popular album like that just can be completely missed out on. As for my thoughts...I dunno. It's interesting. But not terribly so. It's...fine? I'm honestly not sure why this is on the list other than it seems England was particularly enamored with this one. Glad I heard it. But I doubt I'll bother ever giving it another listen. It's not bad. Just not all that memorable to me. 2 stars. It's not BAD. But for being one of the 1001, this is just pretty boring.

I like beats like their beats. But it lacks the spark. Even their best song from this album lacks it. I think there are better albums. 2.5/5.

Was previously unfamiliar but much liked

Very cool, loved it!

Excellent hidden gem here. Sounds like it could have been from a movie soundtrack for a weird late 90s or early 2000s movie like Snatch. Very much a 1960s The Animals feel with plenty of well-done instrumentation you may not expect.

Wow what a great fun album. Apparently I came across this band on a compilation album 10 years ago but I have no recollection. So as a first time listener I'm keen to dig into it more. Great boppy mix of styles. Faves: Simon Diamond, Goodbye, Calendars and Clocks

This gets a big nostalgia bump from me - takes me back to the just-out-of-uni era. I'm seeing a lot of negative reviews for it which is a bit dispiriting - I dunno, I obviously can't tease the nostalgia out of my viewpoint, but it feels to me like I'd still really like this if I were hearing it for the first time now? 🤷 It's playful, inventive, genre-hops a bunch, is littered with nautical references - seriously, what's not to like? Fave tracks - "Dreaming of You" has long been a fave - fun to sing at karaoke too! I could list pretty much any of the other tracks, too - I have a lot of affection for this album!

Forward looking retro! Here's an album that builds on the past yet has its own distinct voice. Listened twice already. LOVE IT.

I barely listened to it but the vibes were good

Bloody loved it

great album, their top

Hell yeah

Fun

Aldrig hört förut men det här var en positiv överraskning. Plattan är ju jättebra.

This is pretty good! Giving it a 5 because it's a pleasant surprise.

Where do I start. OK. The Coral are from The Wirral, where I live. As kismet has it on the day I go t this album I actually went for a little walk along the Prom in their home town of Hoylake. It's a town by the sea. Not a seaside town. Most of The Wirral is like that. An urban area (nearly) surrounded by estuaries. It's probably me reading too much into it, but The Coral's music feels like home. Salt soaked, melancholic, a bit weird, borrowing lots of ideas from elsewhere, but very much it's own thing.

Sort of a reverse Elvis Costello here (since this list has loved giving me Elvis Costello albums lately). Whereas Elvis Costello was very much ahead of his time, this is a throwback to a lot of sounds from the 70s. It's very much in the psychedelic rock world, but it also pulls in some really lovely folksy sounds as well as some strong indy rock influences. This is an absolutely lovely album. I'm not sure why Dreaming of You is the only real "hit" from this album, but it deserves far more love.

always liked this band

Cool

Super cool album

A short sweet old favourite. It still holds up.

Brilliant debut

This blew me away. Instant favorite

10/10 everything I could ever want and more perfect rock revival album

4.5, super fun music, really needed it today

Loved it. Weird, quirky, jazz/ska/indie mix. Didnt realise I knew them until -the- song came on.

banging start to end

Sehr spannendes Album - mal erinnert es an die Beatsteaks ("I remember when", eins meiner Lieblingslieder auf diesem Album), dann taucht plötzlich russische Folklore auf (immer noch "I remember when") und überall schwingt 60er/70er Psychedelic mit. Kaum zu glauben, dass das Album erst so "jung" ist, aber mir macht es Lust auf mehr. Definitiv eine Entdeckung, auf die ich selbst nicht gekommen wäre 😊

I bought this when it first came out and knew it would be a classic. How anyone can give this anything other than 5* is beyond me

Outstanding. Can't wait to listen to more of their catalog. Right up my alley.

Dreaming of you is een zalig hitje met nostalgische waarde. De rest van het album is ook erg opzwepend en tof

Wow this was a total new discovery for for me and I loved the album Simon Diamond and Skeleton Key are great but it a really retro sounds with a twist - its a ride for sure listen to the whole thing please

I’d never heard of The Coral before, but every song on this album rocks.

Grew on me after the first listen

Great actually was not expecting this.

Very good, but very short. Possibly the most Scouse thing ever to exist, which is a good thing! A band I loved when this came out, and will always think of fondly

Love it Beatles-esque. Very mod and jangly.

Bwoah

One of my favorite albums in high school.

Rating: 10/10 Best songs: all

No los conocía. Están entretenidos.

Dope Psychedelia. Would probably be a 9/10, but a lot of the early songs squarely place this in a 5.

5/5

I have never heard of this band nor have I heard of any of the bands on the Spotify 'Fans Also Like' section. Alt-rock? But like I'm getting a little Irish punk too? I like their sound. I didn't like Skeleton Key, too heavy for me. I loved Simon Diamond though, very fun.

Always had this down as a bit of a novelty record but I enjoyed it this time round

I should probably like this a lot less than I should. It's doing a lot of things that normally push my buttons, but I can't help but really like it.

Good listening. Upbeat and fun in a bunch of places. Dreaming of You and Waiting for the Heartaches are highlights. 7.5

Really enjoyed it

Really enjoyed this, shame I was too snotty to like them in the early naughties

Really liked this one. It's like The Doors meets Simon and Garfunkel. Plus, since they're British, they have those baked-in Beatles harmonies.

Another album of my youth - I went to see the Coral live too, and Dreaming of you was on my covers band's setlist for years so I'm just so familiar with this one... Like psychedelic indie rock heavily inspired by previous Liverpool groups ....

Well, that was actually a very fun discovery to start the week!

British 2000s rock. Neo-psychedelia and folk rock. Has certain darkness. Understand Doors comparision. Feels quite 70s folk at points, done very well. Loads of bouncy, fun tracks. A bit retro Arctic Monkeys.

There is egg on my face. I assumed this would be radio-rock rubbish. I know and enjoy the single Dreaming Of You and assumed that this would be a classic one-hit album. I'm glad I gave it a chance, The Coral is so much more interesting and adventurous than the hit would lead you to believe! The Doors' influence bleeds through basically every moment of this album, but they're in no way just trying to be a sequel to that band. I enjoyed this a lot

## In-Depth Review of *The Coral* by The Coral The self-titled debut album *The Coral*, released in 2002, is widely regarded as one of the most distinctive and ambitious debuts of the early 2000s. Blending a variety of musical styles, the album is an eclectic mix of psychedelic rock, indie pop, folk, and even hints of ska and sea shanties. Below is an analysis of its lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, followed by a balanced discussion of its strengths and weaknesses. --- ### **Lyrics** The lyrics on *The Coral* are a kaleidoscope of surreal imagery, storytelling, and emotional depth. Tracks like "Simon Diamond" delve into whimsical narratives with a psychedelic edge, while songs such as "Dreaming of You" offer more conventional yet heartfelt romantic themes. The band’s lyrical style often feels like a blend of Lewis Carroll-esque absurdity and poetic introspection. - **Strengths**: The lyrics are imaginative and versatile, ranging from playful to poignant. They evoke vivid imagery and complement the album's eclectic sound. - **Weaknesses**: At times, the abstract nature of the lyrics can feel disjointed or overly cryptic, which may alienate some listeners. --- ### **Music** Musically, *The Coral* is a melting pot of influences. The band draws heavily from 1960s psychedelia (e.g., The Byrds and Love), folk-rock, and post-punk. Tracks like "Skeleton Key" showcase their experimental side with off-kilter rhythms and quirky instrumentation, while "Dreaming of You" leans into catchy indie pop hooks. The use of jangly guitars, organ lines, and layered harmonies creates a rich sonic texture. - **Strengths**: - The diversity of styles keeps the album engaging from start to finish. - Standout tracks like "Spanish Main" and "Goodbye" highlight the band’s ability to craft memorable melodies. - The interplay between Bill Ryder-Jones’ lead guitar and Nick Power’s organ adds depth to the arrangements[3][5]. - **Weaknesses**: - Some tracks feel underdeveloped or overly reliant on their influences rather than forging a unique identity[5]. - The abrupt transitions between styles can occasionally disrupt the album's flow. --- ### **Production** The production on *The Coral* is both polished and raw. Recorded live in many instances, it captures the energy and spontaneity of the band’s performance. Producer Ian Broudie (of Lightning Seeds fame) strikes a balance between clarity and grit, allowing each instrument to shine without losing the organic feel. - **Strengths**: - The live recording approach gives the album an authentic vibrancy. - Effects like reverb and echo are used tastefully to enhance the psychedelic atmosphere[3]. - **Weaknesses**: - Some listeners might find the separation between instruments too pronounced, which can make certain tracks feel less cohesive[3]. --- ### **Themes** Thematically, *The Coral* explores escapism, nostalgia, love, and existential musings. The maritime imagery in "Spanish Main" evokes a sense of adventure and wanderlust, while "Calendars and Clocks" reflects on time and mortality with melancholic beauty. - **Strengths**: - The recurring themes of exploration and introspection tie the album together conceptually. - The whimsical tone adds charm without undermining the more serious moments. - **Weaknesses**: - Some themes are not fully fleshed out across the album’s runtime, leaving certain tracks feeling thematically isolated. --- ### **Influence** *The Coral* was both critically acclaimed upon release and commercially successful in the UK. It earned a Mercury Prize nomination in 2002 and helped pave the way for other British indie bands blending retro influences with modern sensibilities. Their sound has been compared to contemporaries like Super Furry Animals and older acts such as The Kinks. - **Legacy**: - Tracks like "Dreaming of You" remain iconic in indie rock playlists. - The album's fusion of styles influenced later bands seeking to incorporate vintage sounds into contemporary music. - **Limitations**: While influential within niche circles, *The Coral* did not achieve widespread global recognition compared to some of its peers. --- ### **Pros** 1. **Eclectic Soundscape**: The album effortlessly blends genres like psychedelic rock, folk, ska, and indie pop. 2. **Memorable Tracks**: Songs like "Dreaming of You," "Skeleton Key," and "Goodbye" stand out as highlights with enduring appeal. 3. **Inventive Lyrics**: Surreal storytelling adds depth and intrigue to many tracks. 4. **Energetic Performance**: The raw energy captured in live recordings enhances its authenticity. 5. **Cohesive Atmosphere**: Despite its eclecticism, there’s a unifying sense of whimsy throughout. --- ### **Cons** 1. **Inconsistent Flow**: Abrupt shifts in style can make the album feel uneven at times. 2. **Overly Derivative Moments**: Some tracks lean too heavily on their influences without adding enough originality. 3. **Cryptic Lyrics**: While imaginative, some lyrics may be too abstract for casual listeners. 4. **Limited Global Impact**: Despite its critical acclaim in the UK, it didn’t resonate as strongly internationally. --- ### Final Thoughts *The Coral* is an ambitious debut that showcases the band’s creativity and versatility. While it has moments of inconsistency, its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. For fans of eclectic music that blends retro influences with modern flair, this album remains a must-listen classic in early 2000s indie rock.

This album is ALL over the place, and has a few songs with rather abrupt endings. I enjoyed the majority of it though

Awesome psych record I never knew about, going to lookin into the rest of the discography.

First? 3,5 /5 Again? 3,5/5

This was fun!

3.7 Idk what genre this is but its funky. I like Goodbye. Its all over the place lol but not bad! Bad Man is FUNKAY.

Liked

Punk indie rock

really enjoyed this, some great rock tracks, fun quick listen

Stylish

What a surprise. I had not heard of The Coral until the list, but it is a delightful surprise. The album moves between fresh and new to older and familiar. Some tracks sound like they could have been produced in the late 60s and other feel right out of the 90s, and yet they keep it together throughout.

What a surprise. I had not heard of The Coral until the list, but it is a delightful surprise. The album moves between fresh and new to older and familiar. Some tracks sound like they could have been produced in the late 60s and other feel right out of the 90s, and yet they keep it together throughout.

Kind of a fun album