Singles Collection

AMG Review of Singles Collection

James Christopher Monger
All Music Guide

U.K.-based, vaguely psychedelic and always atmospheric indie rock outfit the Coral hit the bulls eye on their Mercury nominated, full-length 2002 eponymous debut (they even got press across the pond), and through four more albums, all of which were at the very least decent, they earned themselves a respectable place in post-Brit-pop infamy. The Coral, like the Kaiser Chiefs, have always been more of a singles band, which makes the appropriately titled Singles Collection such a treat. The jangly '60s-inspired pop nuggets that graced the group's debut ("Dreaming of You," "Goodbye") still pack the most punch, but by cherry-picking tracks from later releases like Magic and Medicine ("Don't Think You're the First"), Invisible Invasion ("In the Morning"), and Roots & Echoes ("Put the Sun Back"), as well as including a whole second disc of (admittedly hit or miss) singles and live tracks, they've managed to craft their most enjoyable release yet.