''Magic and Medicine'' is the second studio album by English
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
band
the Coral
The Coral are an English rock band, formed in 1996 in Hoylake on the Wirral Peninsula, Merseyside. The band emerged during the early 2000s. Their 2002 debut album ''The Coral'', from which came the single " Dreaming of You", was nominated for ...
. It was released on 28 July 2003, through
Deltasonic
Deltasonic is a British record label based in Liverpool, England. Previously joint ventured with Sony Music, it is now totally independent. It was formed by Alan Wills, the former drummer with Liverpool bands Shack and Top, and associated with ...
. Within three months of releasing their
self-titled debut studio album, the band began recording material for their next album in October 2002. Sessions were produced by
the Lightning Seeds
The Lightning Seeds (also known as Lightning Seeds) are an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1989 by Ian Broudie (vocals, guitar, producer), formerly of the bands Big in Japan, Care, and Original Mirrors. Originally a studio-based s ...
frontman
Ian Broudie
Ian Zachary Broudie (born 4 August 1958) is an English musician and singer-songwriter from Liverpool. After emerging from the post-punk scene in Liverpool in the late 1970s as a member of Big in Japan, Broudie went on to produce albums (somet ...
, with co-production from the Coral; recording continued in-between tours of the United States and Europe, finishing in April 2003. Described as a
pop rock
Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, earl ...
and
psychedelic pop
Psychedelic pop (or acid pop) is pop music that contains musical characteristics associated with psychedelic music. Developing in the late 1960s, elements included " trippy" features such as fuzz guitars, tape manipulation, backwards recording, ...
release, ''Magic and Medicine'' was compared to the work of
the Animals
The Animals (also billed as Eric Burdon and the Animals) are an English rock band, formed in Newcastle upon Tyne in the early 1960s. The band moved to London upon finding fame in 1964. The Animals were known for their gritty, bluesy sound and ...
, with frontman
James Skelly
James Alexander Skelly (born August 1980) is an English musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. Best known as the frontman of The Coral, he embarked on a solo career when the band went on indefinite hiatus in 2012. The band regrouped in ...
's vocals recalling that band's frontman
Eric Burdon
Eric Victor Burdon (born 11 May 1941) is an English singer. He was previously the lead vocalist of R&B and rock band the Animals and funk band War. He is regarded as one of the British Invasion's most distinctive singers with his deep, powe ...
.
"Don't Think You're the First" served as the
lead single
A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date.
Release s ...
from ''Magic and Medicine'', released on 3 March 2003. The Coral toured the following month, and then performed at the Midsummer Night's Scream and
Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival (formally Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts and known colloquially as Glasto) is a five-day festival of contemporary performing arts that takes place in Pilton, Somerset, England. In addition to contemp ...
s. "Pass It On" was released as the second single on 14 July 2003, which was followed by further festivals appearances, at
International de Benicassim and
V Festival, and a supporting slot for
Blur on their European tour. The album's third and fourth singles, "Secret Kiss" and "Bill McCai", were released on 6 October 2003 and 24 November 2003, respectively; the latter coincided with a UK tour in the same month.
''Magic and Medicine'' received generally favourable reviews from
music critics
Music journalism (or music criticism) is media criticism and reporting about music topics, including popular music, classical music, and traditional music. Journalists began writing about music in the eighteenth century, providing commentary on w ...
, with some finding it an improvement over the Coral's debut album. It topped the charts in both Scotland and the UK, while also charting in Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, and Sweden. The album would later be certified gold in the UK. All four of the album's singles reached the top 30 in both Scotland and the UK, with "Pass It On" reaching the highest at number five in both territories.
Background and production
The Coral released their
self-titled debut studio album in July 2002, through
Deltasonic
Deltasonic is a British record label based in Liverpool, England. Previously joint ventured with Sony Music, it is now totally independent. It was formed by Alan Wills, the former drummer with Liverpool bands Shack and Top, and associated with ...
; it charted at number five in the United Kingdom, where it was subsequently certified gold.
Its two singles – "
Goodbye
Goodbye, Good bye, or Good-bye is a parting phrase and may refer to:
Film
* ''Goodbye'' (1918 film), a British drama directed by Maurice Elvey
* ''Goodbye'' (1995 film) (''Tot Ziens!''), a Dutch film directed by Heddy Honigmann
* ''Goodbye'' ...
" and "
Dreaming of You" – became top 30 hits in both the UK and Scotland, with the latter reaching number 13 in the UK.
[ The album was promoted with three tours of the UK, including a co-headlining one with ]the Music
The Music are an English alternative rock band, formed in Kippax, Leeds in 1999. Comprising Robert Harvey (vocals, guitar), Adam Nutter (lead guitar), Stuart Coleman (bass) and Phil Jordan (drums), the band came to prominence with the releas ...
, as well as performances at the Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight ( ) is a county in the English Channel, off the coast of Hampshire, from which it is separated by the Solent. It is the largest and second-most populous island of England. Referred to as 'The Island' by residents, the Isle of ...
and V Festivals. Following a period at home, the band opted to make an album relating to "where we lived; the dark side of small town life. Street parties, silver tea-sets, secret suicides". By October 2002, they were recording material for it; Ian Broudie
Ian Zachary Broudie (born 4 August 1958) is an English musician and singer-songwriter from Liverpool. After emerging from the post-punk scene in Liverpool in the late 1970s as a member of Big in Japan, Broudie went on to produce albums (somet ...
of the Lightning Seeds
The Lightning Seeds (also known as Lightning Seeds) are an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1989 by Ian Broudie (vocals, guitar, producer), formerly of the bands Big in Japan, Care, and Original Mirrors. Originally a studio-based s ...
as the main producer, with co-production from the band, and Jon Gray acting as engineer. Seven backing tracks were made over the course of five days at Elevator Studios in Liverpool.[
After this, the Coral went on a tour of the UK, before returning to the studio later in the month.][ In early 2003, the band supported ]Supergrass
Supergrass are an English rock band formed in 1993 in Oxford. For the majority of the band's tenure, the line-up consisted of brothers Gaz (lead vocals, guitar) and Rob Coombes (keyboards), Mick Quinn (bass, backing vocals) and Danny Goffey ( ...
on their tour of the United States, which featured appearances on ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien
''Late Night with Conan O'Brien'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien. NBC aired 2,725 episodes from September 13, 1993, to February 20, 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and music ...
'' and ''Last Call with Carson Daly
''Last Call with Carson Daly'' is an American late-night television series that was broadcast by NBC from 2002 to 2019. Hosted by former MTV personality Carson Daly, the series was initially formatted as a late-night talk show in line with ''Th ...
'', and then went to Europe. Following the conclusion of tour, the band held further recording sessions, having recorded up to 35 songs by this point. The Coral were due to embark on a tour of the UK in February 2003; however, guitarist Lee Southall suffered from tendonitis
Tendinopathy, a type of tendon disorder that results in pain, swelling, and impaired function. The pain is typically worse with movement. It most commonly occurs around the shoulder (rotator cuff tendinitis, biceps tendinitis), elbow (tennis elb ...
. As a result of this, Broudie played rhythm guitar on "Pass It On". Deltasonic co-founder Alan Wills remarked that the band did not record any single-sounding songs, prompting them to record two songs from earlier in their career, "Bill McCai" and "Pass It On".[ The album was finished by April 2003; it was mastered by Gary Butler at RST Onestop in Prescot, Merseyside.]
Composition and lyrics
Musically, the sound of ''Magic and Medicine'' has been described as pop rock
Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, earl ...
,[ and ]psychedelic pop
Psychedelic pop (or acid pop) is pop music that contains musical characteristics associated with psychedelic music. Developing in the late 1960s, elements included " trippy" features such as fuzz guitars, tape manipulation, backwards recording, ...
, compared to the work of the Animals
The Animals (also billed as Eric Burdon and the Animals) are an English rock band, formed in Newcastle upon Tyne in the early 1960s. The band moved to London upon finding fame in 1964. The Animals were known for their gritty, bluesy sound and ...
, with frontman James Skelly
James Alexander Skelly (born August 1980) is an English musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. Best known as the frontman of The Coral, he embarked on a solo career when the band went on indefinite hiatus in 2012. The band regrouped in ...
's vocals recalling the Animals frontman Eric Burdon
Eric Victor Burdon (born 11 May 1941) is an English singer. He was previously the lead vocalist of R&B and rock band the Animals and funk band War. He is regarded as one of the British Invasion's most distinctive singers with his deep, powe ...
. Keyboardist Nick Power said they wanted the album to be more "organic .. witha strong acoustic vibe", in contrast to the "really spontaneous" self-titled album. Skelly wrote over half of the album, with the reminder co-written with Power or guitarist Bill Ryder-Jones
William Edward Ryder-Jones (born 10 August 1983) is an English singer-songwriter, musician, music producer and composer from West Kirby, Merseyside. He co-founded the band The Coral, together with James Skelly, Lee Southall, Paul Duffy, and Ian ...
; "Eskimo Lament" was written solely by Power. Additional musicians appeared on the recordings: Louis Baccino with a flute on "Don't Think You're the First
''Magic and Medicine'' is the second studio album by English rock band the Coral
The Coral are an English rock band, formed in 1996 in Hoylake on the Wirral Peninsula, Merseyside. The band emerged during the early 2000s. Their 2002 debut al ...
"; Megan Childs of Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci were a psychedelic folk and alternative rock band which formed in Carmarthen, Wales, in 1991. The group performed music in both Welsh and English, and they had eight Top 75 singles on the UK Singles Chart during their car ...
with a violin on "Milkwood Blues"; Martin Smith, Simon James and Andy Frizell with brass on "Eskimo Lament" and "Confessions of A.D.D.D."; Ollie Brindley with double bass on "All of Our Love"; and Andy Brindley with a harmonica on "All of Our Love".[
The opening track, "In the Forest", begins with Power's organ, setting a darker mood for the rest of the album.][ Skelly said the chorus lyrics were adapted from a ]Woody Guthrie
Woodrow Wilson Guthrie (; July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967) was an American singer-songwriter, one of the most significant figures in American folk music. His work focused on themes of American socialism and anti-fascism. He has inspired ...
track; bassist Paul Duffy said his part was influenced by the work of the Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American Rock music, rock band that formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian Wilson, Brian, Dennis Wilson, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and frie ...
. "Don't Think You're the First" begins similar to songs by the Doors
The Doors were an American Rock music, rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most controversial and influential ro ...
, with a key change
In music, modulation is the change from one tonality ( tonic, or tonal center) to another. This may or may not be accompanied by a change in key signature (a key change). Modulations articulate or create the structure or form of many pieces, a ...
during the middle section, accompanied by a melodica
The melodica is a handheld free-reed instrument similar to a pump organ or harmonica. It features a musical keyboard on top, and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. The keyboard usual ...
, before leading into dub reggae
Dub is an electronic musical style that grew out of reggae in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It is commonly considered a subgenre of reggae, though it has developed to extend beyond that style.Dub: soundscapes and shattered songs in Jamaican re ...
.[ The title was inspired from an occasion where Skelly played what he thought was a new chord shape. While Duffy said it influenced by a song by ]Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. Cole's music career began after he dropped out of school at the age of 15, and continued f ...
, the rest of the band said the music was a homage to the sound of Joe Meek
Robert George "Joe" Meek (5 April 1929 – 3 February 1967) was an English record producer, sound engineer and songwriter who pioneered space age and experimental pop music. He also assisted in the development of recording practices like over ...
, with guitarist Lee Southall using part of his instrument to make Meek-like percussion. "Liezah" is an acoustic song, with a melody evoking Belle and Sebastian
Belle and Sebastian are a Scottish indie pop band formed in Glasgow in 1996. Led by Stuart Murdoch, the band has released eleven albums. They are often compared with acts such as The Smiths and Nick Drake. The name "Belle and Sebastian" come ...
, that talks about a character that was influenced by ''The Sun Also Rises
''The Sun Also Rises'' is a 1926 novel by American writer Ernest Hemingway, his first, that portrays American and British expatriates who travel from Paris to the Festival of San Fermín in Pamplona to watch the running of the bulls and the bu ...
'' (1926) by Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway (July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961) was an American novelist, short-story writer, and journalist. His economical and understated style—which he termed the iceberg theory—had a strong influence on 20th-century fic ...
. Power and Skelly wrote it while they were travelling to Birmingham. shortly after Ryder-Jones showed Skelly how to play a Simon & Garfunkel
Simon & Garfunkel were an American folk rock duo consisting of the singer-songwriter Paul Simon and the singer Art Garfunkel. They were one of the best-selling music groups of the 1960s, and their biggest hits—including the electric remix of " ...
track on guitar.[ The band compared the ]Moby Grape
Moby Grape is an American rock band founded in 1966, known for having all five members contribute to singing and songwriting, and who collectively merged elements of folk music, blues, country, and jazz with rock and psychedelic music. They were ...
-indebted "Talkin' Gypsy Market Blues" to work of Cheech & Chong
Cheech & Chong are a comedy duo consisting of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong. The duo found commercial and cultural success in the 1970s and 1980s with their stand-up routines, studio recordings, and feature films, which were based on the hippie a ...
and "Motorpsycho Nitemare
"Motorpsycho Nitemare", also known as "Motorpsycho Nightmare", is a song written by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan that was released in 1964 on his fourth studio album '' Another Side of Bob Dylan''.
It is a comical narrative song that is ...
" (1964) by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...
. Skelly wrote it after he bought a pair of boots from a gypsy
The Romani (also spelled Romany or Rromani , ), colloquially known as the Roma, are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, traditionally nomadic itinerants. They live in Europe and Anatolia, and have diaspora populations located worldwide, with sign ...
market while holidaying with his girlfriend in Portugal. "Secret Kiss" is a slower song with an organ part in the vein of the Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek
Raymond Daniel Manzarek Jr. (né Manczarek; February 12, 1939 – May 20, 2013) was an American keyboardist. He is best known as a member of the Doors, co-founding the band with singer and lyricist Jim Morrison in 1965.
Manzarek was induct ...
, and a clipping
Clipping may refer to:
Words
* Clipping (morphology), the formation of a new word by shortening it, e.g. "ad" from "advertisement"
* Clipping (phonetics), shortening the articulation of a speech sound, usually a vowel
* Clipping (publications) ...
guitar riff styled after Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd are an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic music, psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philo ...
. It came about after listening to the Chordettes
The Chordettes were an American female vocal quartet, specializing in traditional pop music. They are best known for their 1950s hit songs " Mr. Sandman" and "Lollipop".
Career
The group organized in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, in 1946. The origin ...
, Love
Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest Interpersonal relationship, interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure. An example of this range of ...
and ballroom
A ballroom or ballhall is a large room inside a building, the primary purpose of which is holding large formal parties called balls. Traditionally, most balls were held in private residences; many mansions and palaces, especially historic man ...
music, with one of the lyrics being directly take from "Soft Sands" (1957) by the Chordettes.
"Milkwood Blues", which includes jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...
breakdowns and ends with a violin, discusses being in a small town while tripping on acid.[ It features Wills reading from '']Under Milk Wood
''Under Milk Wood'' is a 1954 radio drama by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, commissioned by the BBC and later adapted for the stage. A film version, ''Under Milk Wood'' directed by Andrew Sinclair, was released in 1972, and another adaptation of ...
'' (1954) by Thomas. "Bill McCai" is an upbeat folk rock
Folk rock is a hybrid music genre that combines the elements of folk and rock music, which arose in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom in the mid-1960s. In the U.S., folk rock emerged from the folk music revival. Performers suc ...
song about a sad middle-aged man who dies by its conclusion.[ The track, which pre-dated their debut album, was initially passed on when Ian Skelly thought it sounded closer to Travis.] "Eskimo Lament" features gentle piano, plucked guitarwork and a trumpet; Power said he wanted it to have a "funeral procession feel", attempting to emulate "I'm Only Sleeping
"I'm Only Sleeping" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1966 studio album '' Revolver''. In the United States and Canada, it was one of the three tracks that Capitol Records cut from the album and instead included on '' Ye ...
" (1966) by the Beatles
The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...
and " Rockin' Chair" (1969) by the Band.[ With the ballad "Careless Hands", which sees James Skelly's voice recall ]Lee Mavers
Lee Anthony Mavers (born 2 August 1962) is an English musician. Mavers was the songwriter, singer and rhythm guitarist in The La's and is best known for the song "There She Goes (The La's song), There She Goes" from October 1988.
Mavers was orig ...
of the La's
The La's were an English rock band from Liverpool, originally active from 1983 until 1992. Fronted by singer, songwriter and guitarist Lee Mavers, the group are best known for their hit single " There She Goes". The band was formed by Mike Badge ...
, Skelly wanted to compose a track that "Jonny Mathis
John Royce Mathis (born September 30, 1935) is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standard (music), standard music, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving Mu ...
could sing".[ "Pass It On" is an acoustic song that sees Skelly discussing his mortality, with a melody reminiscent of ]Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained worldwide fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John Lennon. One ...
.[ He had written the song when he was 17 year-old while on a train visiting Power. Power said "All of Our Love" recalled " I Won't Hurt You" (1966) by ]the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band
The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band (WCPAEB) was an American psychedelic rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965. The group created music that possessed an eerie, and at times sinister atmosphere, and contained material that was ...
. The closing track, "Confessions of A.D.D.D.", is a love song
A love song is a song about romantic love, falling in love, heartbreak after a breakup, and the feelings that these experiences bring. A comprehensive list of even the best known performers and composers of love songs would be a large order. ...
, akin to the works of the Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band formed in Cardiff in 1993. For the duration of their professional career, the band consisted of Gruff Rhys (lead vocals, guitar), Huw Bunford (lead guitar, vocals), Guto Pryce (bass guitar), Cian Ciaran ...
.[ It is a homage to Arthur Lee of Love, and ends with a three minute extended jam section.] The "A.D.D.D." part of the title, which stands for A Damp Dog Day, was spoken by Deltasonic co-founder Joe Fearon; Power theorised that it related to the film ''Dog Day Afternoon
''Dog Day Afternoon'' is a 1975 American biographical crime drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and produced by Martin Bregman and Martin Elfand. The film stars Al Pacino, John Cazale, James Broderick, and Charles Durning. The screenplay is wri ...
'' (1975). Skelly said the lyrics were inspired from a book he owned about pirates.
Release
"Don't Think You're the First" was released as the lead single
A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date.
Release s ...
from ''Magic and Medicine'' on 3 March 2003. Two versions were released on CD in the UK: the first with "Witchcraft", "See-Through Bergerac", and the music video for "Don't Think You're the First", while the second featured "Tiger Lily" and "Teenage Machine Age". The "Don't Think You're the First" video was filmed in a forest close to where the members lived. The Coral's February 2003 UK trek was rescheduled for April and May 2003, with support from the Basement. In June 2003, the band headlined A Midsummer Night's Scream festival in their hometown, and then performed at that year's Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival (formally Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts and known colloquially as Glasto) is a five-day festival of contemporary performing arts that takes place in Pilton, Somerset, England. In addition to contemp ...
. "Pass It On" was released as a single on 14 July 2003. The CD version included "Run Run" and an acoustic version of "Shadows Falls"; the DVD version featured the videos for "Pass It On", an acoustic version of "Calendars and Clocks", "Heartaches and Pancakes", and ''The Curry File Documentary''. For the "Pass It On" music video, the band were in the middle of touring with Supergrass when they stopped off at a ghost town
Ghost Town(s) or Ghosttown may refer to:
* Ghost town, a town that has been abandoned
Film and television
* Ghost Town (1936 film), ''Ghost Town'' (1936 film), an American Western film by Harry L. Fraser
* Ghost Town (1956 film), ''Ghost Town'' ...
near Randsburg, California
Randsburg (formerly Rand Camp) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kern County, California, United States. Randsburg is located south of Ridgecrest, at an elevation of . The population was 69 in the 2010 census, down from 77 in the 2000 censu ...
. They contacted Wills, who promptly booked director James Slater, flying him out the following day. Part of the video was filmed inside a shack owned by Jenny Olsen, who can be seen in it dancing around ram skulls.
Originally scheduled for release on 21 July 2003 under the name ''Matrix Farm'', ''Magic and Medicine'' was eventually released a week later on 28 July 2003.[ The Japanese edition included "When Good Times Go Bad" and "Boys at the Window" as extra tracks. In August 2003, the band appeared at the International de Benicassim and V Festivals. Following this, they toured across Europe supporting Blur. "Secret Kiss" was released as a single on 6 October 2003. Two versions were released on CD in the UK: the first with "Who's That Knockin'", "See My Love", and the music video for "Secret Kiss", while the second included "God Knows" and "Not the Girl". The "Secret Kiss" video was filmed in alleyways and local social clubs; the band said it starred "belly dancers, ballroom dancers, monks gowns and an Alsatian", which they considered it to be akin to the ]Rolling Thunder Revue
The Rolling Thunder Revue was a 1975–1976 concert tour by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan with numerous musicians and collaborators. The purpose of the tour was to allow Dylan, who had now become a major recording artist and concert perfor ...
, "but in a retirement town". "Bill McCai" was released as a single on 24 November 2003. Two versions were released on CD in the UK: the first with "Boy at the Window", "Nosferatu", and the music video for "Bill McCai", while the second featured "When the Good Times Go Bad" and "From a Leaf to a Tree". The "Bill McCai" music video was filmed in Amsterdam the previous month. ''Magic and Medicine'' was released in the US on 10 February 2004 as a two-CD release, packaged with the ''Nightfreak and the Sons of Becker
''Nightfreak and the Sons of Becker'' is a Mini-LP, mini album and third studio album by English Rock music, rock band the Coral, released on 26 January 2004 by Deltasonic. The Coral began writing the record less than a month after releasing the ...
'' (2004) mini album
A mini-LP or mini-album is a short vinyl record album or LP, usually retailing at a lower price than an album that would be considered full-length. It is distinct from an EP due to containing more tracks and a slightly longer running length. A ...
.
Reception
''Magic and Medicine'' was met with generally favourable from music critics
Music journalism (or music criticism) is media criticism and reporting about music topics, including popular music, classical music, and traditional music. Journalists began writing about music in the eighteenth century, providing commentary on w ...
. At Metacritic
Metacritic is a website that review aggregator, aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted arithmetic mean, weighted average). M ...
, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average
In ordinary language, an average is a single number taken as representative of a list of numbers, usually the sum of the numbers divided by how many numbers are in the list (the arithmetic mean). For example, the average of the numbers 2, 3, 4, 7, ...
score of 76, based on 18 reviews.[
In a review for '']Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cul ...
'', Greg Kot
Greg Kot (born March 3, 1957) is an American music journalist and author. From 1990 until 2020, Kot was the rock music critic at the ''Chicago Tribune'', where he covered popular music and reported on music-related social, political and busines ...
wrote that it lacked "the self-titled debut's exhilarating peaks," though found ''Magic and Medicine'' to be "more consistent."[ '']NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
'' Ted Kessler said it was " t quite" a landmark album, " is still, nevertheless, a quite dazzling album."[ ]AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
reviewer Tim DiGravina wrote that the Coral "rein in their influences and just stick with the program of creating rocking tunes." He added that the "songwriting, playing, and production are so subtle," ''Magic and Medicine'' comes across as a "mature, solid throwback."[ '']Blender
A blender (sometimes called a mixer or liquidiser in British English) is a kitchen appliance, kitchen and laboratory appliance used to mix, crush, purée or emulsion, emulsify food and other substances. A stationary blender consists of a blender ...
'' writer Dorian Lynskey said it was "more mature, more focused and a little less fun" than their debut.[
In a review for '']Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'', Jenny Eliscu
Jenny Eliscu is a radio host for Sirius XM and a contributing editor for ''Rolling Stone'' magazine. She also had a recurring presence on the TV program ''I'm from Rolling Stone'' and has been on other music programs, including ''Behind the Music' ...
wrote that with a number of the "flower-power rockers" the Coral imitate, they "seem to have run out of material after they recorded their debut." She added that ''Magic and Medicine'' "is little more than mimicry and affectation", taking from "the playbooks of true Sixties weirdos", such as Love and the Seeds
The Seeds were an American psychedelic garage rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965, best known for their highest charting single " Pushin' Too Hard". The band's classic line-up featured frontman Sky Saxon, guitarist Jan Savag ...
.[ '']Pitchfork
A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves.
The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to th ...
'' contributor Neil Robertson noted the "frenetic freakout leanings" of their debut had been removed "in favor of a more humble approach", with more emphasis on the song writing, " all sounds far less interesting."[ David Peschek of '']The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' referred to the album as "an ultimately frustrating piece of work", while "more often than not this music feels like a tasteful collection of lovely sounds rather than songs."[
''Magic and Medicine'' topped the chart in the UK and Scotland.][ It also reached number four in Ireland,][ number 20 in Norway,][ number 39 in the Wallonia region of Belgium,][ number 43 in New Zealand,][ number 60 in Sweden,][ number 64 in France,][ number 69 in Japan,][ and number 99 in Germany.][ "Don't Think You're the First" reached number ten in the UK, and number 11 in Scotland.][ "Pass It On" reached number five in the UK and Scotland.][ "Secret Kiss" reached number 25 in the UK, and number 28 in Scotland.][ "Bill McCai" reached number 23 in the UK, and number 28 in Scotland.][
''Magic and Medicine'' appeared at number 78 on the 2003 UK year-end chart.][ The album was certified gold by the ]British Phonographic Industry
British Phonographic Industry (BPI) is the British recorded music industry's Trade association. It runs the BRIT Awards, the Classic BRIT Awards, National Album Day, is home to the Mercury Prize, and co-owns the Official Charts Company with th ...
(BPI).[ ]Playlouder
Playlouder was a digital music and media company. providing news, reviews, and other music-related content. It also claimed to be the world's first music service provider— an Internet service provider bundling access to music content along with ...
ranked it at number five on their list of the 20 worst albums of the year.
Track listing
All songs written by James Skelly
James Alexander Skelly (born August 1980) is an English musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. Best known as the frontman of The Coral, he embarked on a solo career when the band went on indefinite hiatus in 2012. The band regrouped in ...
, except where noted.[
]
Personnel
Personnel per booklet.
The Coral
* James Skelly – vocals, guitar
* Nick Power – piano, organ, backing vocals
* Lee Southall – guitar, backing vocals
* Bill Ryder-Jones
William Edward Ryder-Jones (born 10 August 1983) is an English singer-songwriter, musician, music producer and composer from West Kirby, Merseyside. He co-founded the band The Coral, together with James Skelly, Lee Southall, Paul Duffy, and Ian ...
– guitar
* Paul Duffy – bass guitar, backing vocals
* Ian Skelly – drums
Additional musicians
* Louis Baccino – flute (track 2)
* Megan Childs – violin (track 6)
* Martin Smith – brass (tracks 8 and 12)
* Simon James – brass (tracks 8 and 12)
* Andy Frizell – brass (tracks 8 and 12)
* Ollie Brindley – double bass (track 11)
* Andy Brindley – harmonica (track 11)
Production
* Ian Broudie
Ian Zachary Broudie (born 4 August 1958) is an English musician and singer-songwriter from Liverpool. After emerging from the post-punk scene in Liverpool in the late 1970s as a member of Big in Japan, Broudie went on to produce albums (somet ...
– producer
* The Coral
The Coral are an English rock band, formed in 1996 in Hoylake on the Wirral Peninsula, Merseyside. The band emerged during the early 2000s. Their 2002 debut album ''The Coral'', from which came the single " Dreaming of You", was nominated for ...
– co-producer
* Jon Gray – engineer
* Gary Butler – mastering
Design
* Ian Skelly – sleeve illustrations
* Kevin Power – photography
* Ray Tang – photography
* Lyndsey Smith-Das – photography
* Arthur Janssen – photography
* Jonathan Worth – photography
* Juno – design, layout
* Scott Jonas – machine illustration
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
References
Citations
Sources
*
External links
''Magic and Medicine''
at YouTube
YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...
(streamed copy where licensed)
*
{{Authority control
The Coral albums
2003 albums
Deltasonic albums
Albums produced by Ian Broudie
Albums recorded at Elevator Studios