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The Coral. From left to right: Ian Skelly, Nick Power, Paul Duffy, James Skelly, Bill Ryder-Jones, Lee Southall. (Image source: thelookingglassliverpool.com)
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If there is any band that can revive the 60s, you would have to search very hard to discover The Coral. A former 6-piece (now 5 after Bill Ryder-Jones' departure) psychedelic-folk group, The Coral is one band you need to add to your playlist if you're looking for current music that has an authentic folk sound.
What makes this band a breath of fresh air is that they are not part of the post-punk revival movement that is now waning in the UK. Instead, they have made their own movement that reminisces the sound of 60s folk rock. When listening to their songs such as "Jacqueline" and "Who's Gonna Find Me," you can hear a strong influence of The Byrds speaking through their music. In fact, the best way to describe this group is to just stop and think of The Byrds (they even made an acoustic cover of "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" that sounds extremely close to the original). But imitating this band isn't what The Coral is trying to do.
The Coral brings back elements that are reminiscent of the greatest songs and bands of the 60s. However, this choice of style has caused them to be almost invisible in the music scene within the last 10 years due to the post-punk revival movement that harbored big names like Arctic Monkeys and The Killers. As a result, these and similar artists overshadowed The Coral that the band was given very little attention. However, this does not mean that they should be completely disregarded just because they were not part of this movement. In fact, their stance should be praised because not that many bands are willing to explore their own sound without having to share common qualities with other similar-sounding groups. A good example of this unique sound would be their song "Skeleton Key;" it's a very tricky type of song to pull off since it jumps all over the place and has an erratic time signature. However, it succeeds in sounding pleasant despite it's uneven tempo and rhythm.
Another thing that The Coral should be commended for is their ability to sound better or as good when performing live. As live performers, they come off as raw and dynamic in contrast to sounding soft and controlled on their albums. There is nothing wrong with the latter as these versions are still enjoyable and enough to make you want to go outside and sprawl over green meadows in the countryside. But when you hear these same songs live, they will make you want to jump and dance and even get the shyest person to make eye contact with strangers because these versions are the feel-good types that convince you to believe that everything in the world is alright. Just listen to the studio and live versions of "In the Morning" and you'll hear the difference in dynamics as the guitar replaces the iconic chimes in the song.
From their psychedelic riffs to happy melodies, The Coral is a band that any music lover should look up. Their style serves as a reminder of the greatness of the 60s and that its musical elements are things to know and be nostalgic about. They also show the listener that English alternative does not need to be defined by the most popular, current alternative artists and that the niche always holds one of the most unique artists in the scene. Their status as a hidden gem of English alternative emphasizes their independence from mainstream music and upholds the listener's expectations of the genre to never fail with providing a group that stands out from the rest.
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