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388 Image
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 4 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: The Coral's surprise release was recorded on a Tascam 388 tape machine and was available on vinyl only at some independent record stores in the UK on 8 May 2026 before a wide release was announced.
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. May 21, 2026
    80
    It’s one of the most immediate and accessible albums The Coral have released to date.
  2. May 21, 2026
    80
    ‘388’ is proof of the band’s enduring creativity and their determination to buck the norms. Informed by Jamaican rocksteady and Ethiopian jazz – in addition to their beloved psych and beat records – it shifts their palette while dialling down on their songwriting prowess.
  3. Record Collector
    May 21, 2026
    80
    It's an utter delight, an album that touches on all those influences [rocksteady, doo wop, soul, ska and 2-Tone] but still sounds like nothing but The Coral. [Jun 2026, p.101]
  4. May 21, 2026
    80
    By reconnecting with their past, The Coral have found the essence of who they are now - and it's pretty magical. [Jul 2026, p.84]