ere we go again. Wait a couple of years for a Coral album and then, whoop, two come along at once. Well, that is if you live in the good ol' US of A. Nightfreak and Sons of Becker being packaged  as a bonus with the Coral's second album, Magic and Medicine , which was released in the first half of last year in the UK . Well I already reviewed Magic and Medicine. The consensus is that album lacks the exuberance of their self titled first album. Its restraint in both style and pacing making it a disappointment. Sure, it was still a great slice of British retro-tinged psychedelic pop, but by reigning in the weird mixing of different styles it gave away much of the charm of its predecessor.

So when The Coral announced they were going to release a stripped down album, made in one week ,with minimal production, hopes were high for some fun and high jinks. What is odd though is this album sounds like three months were spent in the studio, but only a week was spent in the writing process. The thing really does sound fantastically produced; multilayered, with stereo effects and sound clips over the top,. "You ever heard of a great punk band from the 80's called the Shaven Cocks" gets a laugh from me every time. Problem is, I am pretty sure if the Shaven Cocks were a real band they would have plenty more spunk than the Coral and probably have a lot more to say.

?I Forgot My Name? and ?Migraine? both sound similar, both last 2.45, and both are equally inane. Complain about having a headache, wow that really is the cue for popularity and success. And perhaps that is the point. James Skelly, the bands golden voiced lead singer, wants to shake off the "McDonald's public" that has made them rich and famous -- in the UK at least. But the sad thing is, if the Coral keep up with the disappointing output, the "McDonald's public" will still come back for more, but it's likely to be ?a couple of apple pies please'.

What makes me extra bitter is that its not all bad. In fact, a bad Coral album is probably still better than about 99% of new music, but it's that this album does have one fantastic song, ?Sorrow or the Song?. Such a beautiful, mournful, killer tune, like a De Chirico on a rainy day.  Imagine if Phil Spector had produced The Animals ? Oh wait that sounds awful; but its not.  Then of course, just to even it out we get the completely disposable ?Aunties Operation?; great. In fact the following five songs that constitute the last half of the album are all totally forgettable.  Make mine a Big Mac.