Post by jp on May 16, 2021 21:39:01 GMT
Yeah, I know. Who the fuck starts a new thread in the music section in 2021, let alone one about The Coral.
I gave Coral Island a token listen on release day and thought it pleasant enough but nothing of note. Fairly bland if anything. Something about it kept pulling me back to it though. Initially a few songs that I would listen to individually and then the whole album. Soon it became an obsession, I ordered the vinyl and now have basically listened to nothing but The Coral for the past week.
So ladies and gentlemen I present to you, JP's The Coral RANKED
10, Distance Inbetween (2016)
Never thought much of this one and still don't. Doesn't feel too much like The Coral and I'm glad they didn't stick with this psych sound on the 2 albums that have followed. I saw them live on this tour and really enjoyed them to be fair but there's not alot about this album that gets me coming back. 6/10
9, The Curse of Love (2014)
I'd forgotten this album even existed before taking this journey. It's pretty good but lacks a big tune or two that most of their other albums have. Nice to hear some of Bill's guitar again. 7/10
8, The Invisible Invasion (2005)
Maybe the point where I initially started to lose a bit of interest in The Coral after adoring the first two albums. Has some big singles but overall the start of a slight decline. Lacks the hooks or weirdness of their best work. 7/10
7, Move Through the Dawn (2018)
This really surprised me after the disappointment of Distance Inbetween as I instantly loved it. Full of great pop tunes and for me marked their return to form. I get the feeling lots of people never checked this out (possibly to do with the terrible artwork too). It's definitely worth giving a go. 8/10
6, Butterly House (2010)
Another I didn't remember too much about and probably came out around the time I was least interested in the band. I'd scored this a 3 on RYM back then but have really enjoyed this one this week so have upped it a whole fucking star. Solid album this. 8/10
5, Coral Island (2020)
Obviously smack bang in the middle of an obsession with this so it is scoring pretty highly. I'll see how it holds up as time goes by but for now I'm sticking it here. 8/10
4,Roots and Echoes (2007)
Always loved this album and for me it was the album that best represented their straight up 60s influenced pop songs. Put the Sun Back is still one of my favourite tunes of theirs and this album is one I look back on very fondly. 8.5/10
3, Magic and Medicine (2003)
I remember at the time feeling this was a bit of a letdown compared to the debut but it ended up really growing on me. Some wonderful tunes on this and still holds up really well today. 8.5/10
2, Nightfreak and the Sons of Becker (2004)
Back in 2004 my ears were probably still too poncerock obsessed to fully appreciate this. It was 2005 onwards where I became a pretentious indie prick after discovering Sonic Youth and Pavement. I remember being non plussed by this at the time and even sold my cd copy on eBay. Listened to this for the first time in 10 years the other day and absolutely loved it. Some of the guitar parts are great and Migraine is one of the greatest songs ever. A huge surprise and if you haven't listened to it in years either I definitely recommend you do the same. It's also got me wondering what other albums from the 00s I've not listened to in ages would I appreciate more now. Will give that one a think. 8.5/10
1, The Coral (2002)
Still an absolute classic. I picked this up on vinyl a couple of months back and it sounds great. I vividly remember making my Dad drive me to Woolworths on release day to buy this on cd and loved it instantly. Saw them live loads round this time and while they were often hit and miss they were always an exciting band to see. This album and reading interviews with the band from around this time really helped expand my music taste too. I can credit them with introducing me to Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart and Lee Perry which for 16/17 year old JP was incredible. I sometimes feel this album doesn't quite get the credit it deserves due to how their career went after this. Now they are one of those bands who appear halfway down on the bill at any old crap festival and have taken some dodgy support slots. Maybe if they'd split up in 2003 this would be talked of as one of the greatest albums of all time. I fucking love it anyway. 9.5/10
I gave Coral Island a token listen on release day and thought it pleasant enough but nothing of note. Fairly bland if anything. Something about it kept pulling me back to it though. Initially a few songs that I would listen to individually and then the whole album. Soon it became an obsession, I ordered the vinyl and now have basically listened to nothing but The Coral for the past week.
It has sent me on a journey of revisiting their back catalogue. Something I was long overdue to do really as it is only the debut I would ever spent time with in recent years other than giving anything new they put out a couple of courtesy listens. This reevalution has led to some changes in opinion on certain albums. Overall though it has been immense fun and reminded me what a fucking solid band The Coral are really.
Anyway, I don't really expect any replies to this but if you would like to discuss The Coral with me, PLEASE DO!
So ladies and gentlemen I present to you, JP's The Coral RANKED
10, Distance Inbetween (2016)
Never thought much of this one and still don't. Doesn't feel too much like The Coral and I'm glad they didn't stick with this psych sound on the 2 albums that have followed. I saw them live on this tour and really enjoyed them to be fair but there's not alot about this album that gets me coming back. 6/10
9, The Curse of Love (2014)
I'd forgotten this album even existed before taking this journey. It's pretty good but lacks a big tune or two that most of their other albums have. Nice to hear some of Bill's guitar again. 7/10
8, The Invisible Invasion (2005)
Maybe the point where I initially started to lose a bit of interest in The Coral after adoring the first two albums. Has some big singles but overall the start of a slight decline. Lacks the hooks or weirdness of their best work. 7/10
7, Move Through the Dawn (2018)
This really surprised me after the disappointment of Distance Inbetween as I instantly loved it. Full of great pop tunes and for me marked their return to form. I get the feeling lots of people never checked this out (possibly to do with the terrible artwork too). It's definitely worth giving a go. 8/10
6, Butterly House (2010)
Another I didn't remember too much about and probably came out around the time I was least interested in the band. I'd scored this a 3 on RYM back then but have really enjoyed this one this week so have upped it a whole fucking star. Solid album this. 8/10
5, Coral Island (2020)
Obviously smack bang in the middle of an obsession with this so it is scoring pretty highly. I'll see how it holds up as time goes by but for now I'm sticking it here. 8/10
4,Roots and Echoes (2007)
Always loved this album and for me it was the album that best represented their straight up 60s influenced pop songs. Put the Sun Back is still one of my favourite tunes of theirs and this album is one I look back on very fondly. 8.5/10
3, Magic and Medicine (2003)
I remember at the time feeling this was a bit of a letdown compared to the debut but it ended up really growing on me. Some wonderful tunes on this and still holds up really well today. 8.5/10
2, Nightfreak and the Sons of Becker (2004)
Back in 2004 my ears were probably still too poncerock obsessed to fully appreciate this. It was 2005 onwards where I became a pretentious indie prick after discovering Sonic Youth and Pavement. I remember being non plussed by this at the time and even sold my cd copy on eBay. Listened to this for the first time in 10 years the other day and absolutely loved it. Some of the guitar parts are great and Migraine is one of the greatest songs ever. A huge surprise and if you haven't listened to it in years either I definitely recommend you do the same. It's also got me wondering what other albums from the 00s I've not listened to in ages would I appreciate more now. Will give that one a think. 8.5/10
1, The Coral (2002)
Still an absolute classic. I picked this up on vinyl a couple of months back and it sounds great. I vividly remember making my Dad drive me to Woolworths on release day to buy this on cd and loved it instantly. Saw them live loads round this time and while they were often hit and miss they were always an exciting band to see. This album and reading interviews with the band from around this time really helped expand my music taste too. I can credit them with introducing me to Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart and Lee Perry which for 16/17 year old JP was incredible. I sometimes feel this album doesn't quite get the credit it deserves due to how their career went after this. Now they are one of those bands who appear halfway down on the bill at any old crap festival and have taken some dodgy support slots. Maybe if they'd split up in 2003 this would be talked of as one of the greatest albums of all time. I fucking love it anyway. 9.5/10
