| Magic and Medicine | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 28 July 2003 | |||
| Recorded | October 2002 – April 2003 | |||
| Studio | Elevator, Liverpool | |||
| Genre | Pop rock, psychedelic pop | |||
| Length | 41:10 | |||
| Label | Deltasonic | |||
| Producer | Ian Broudie, the Coral (co.) | |||
| The Coral chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Magic and Medicine | ||||
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Magic and Medicine is the second studio album by English rock band the Coral. It was released on 28 July 2003, through Deltasonic. 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 frontman Ian Broudie, 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 and psychedelic pop release, Magic and Medicine was compared to the work of the Animals, with frontman James Skelly's vocals recalling that band's frontman Eric Burdon.
"Don't Think You're the First" served as the lead single 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 Festivals. "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, 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 was later certified gold in the UK, while "Pass It On" was certified silver. 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.