When the Coral emerged in 2002, they were critically lauded – especially in the UK, where a young band with knowledge of the Captain Beefheart catalog was deeply appreciated. But as the years have gone on, the Coral has become increasingly reserved in their musical ways, and perhaps begun to sound a bit too much like days of old.
Though the band’s eponymous debut was stuffed with summer of love references, it still maintained a sort of authentic dignity – a modern cutting edge, if you will. This album – Roots & Echos – has lost a bit of that edge, and revels too much in another generation’s motivations.
There are songs that line the album in silver, however: “In the Rain” emerges from the sixties fest sounding as if it belongs in the more recent here and now, and “She’s Got a Reason” pipes up with a bit of pysch-rock to break up the peaceful revelry of our parents.