Customer Reviews

Magic Numbers

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This disc is nearly perfect. Great songwriting, indelible hooks, awesome vocal arrangements, and just enough je ne sais quoi to keep things from getting too sweet. There are a number of new bands that are wearing their SoCal pop influences on their sleeves, but this is the one you want. Hal, The Thrills, and especially dios (malos) come close, but these guys understand the difference between being influenced by a particular style and mimicry. I listen to this more than any disc released this year and never tire of it. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes great harmonies, and great pop music.

As an aside to "radical hippy"...since when have angst and darkness been a prerequisite to decent songwriting? I suggest you change your "prescription", and give this another listen.

Wow! It's so refreshing to hear this kind of music. It's thoughtful, musically interesting, and playful. There is a throwback kind of sound they have, like the music was hand-made if that makes sense. They play classic rock instruments and what sounds like little or no synthesizers. I got teh feeling I was listening to a band (a very good band) in their garage jamming for the pure joy it gives them. These are songs that mean something to them. They probably wrote them all themselves.

The only downside to the album is that all the joy and frivolity gets mired in a few too many morose songs in the second half.

If you're looking for something different from most everything else out there right now, you probably can do no better than The Magic Numbers.

The Magic Numbers comprises two pairs of brother/sister siblings from the UK with a sound that hearkens back to the sunny, upbeat, melodic sound of the 60s. They remind me of The Mamas and the Papas, The Beach Boys, and more recently, The Thrills.

Their sound is a folk/pop/rock sound with real instruments and richly interwoven harmonies, a real delight to the ear.

`Forever lost' is a typical example; sunny upbeat song with racing jangly guitars, which belies the somber nature of the lyrics which deal with heartbreak.

Other standouts are the equally upbeat `Love me like you', and the excellent mellow guitar ballad 'Love's a game' with excellent harmonies.

Great to find music with great catchy melody, clever lyrics, and little or no gimmicks. An outstanding debut, and another great find from the UK.

Just good chilled out music, that is really good for relaxin on the front porch sippin mash and talking trash. Perfect harmonies underridden by just sweet enough (not sugary pop) guitars and drums. If you are a fan of good rock on the lighter side (not like 80's chicago or the stuff of Delila) then you can really enjoy these magic numbers.

Wow! I've been waiting years for a CD as great as this one from a band as great as this one! Everything works on this album...EVERYTHING! I can't stop listening to it and The Magic Numbers have finally eased the depression that had overtaken me earlier in 2005 when Luna decided to call it quits. THANK YOU! AWESOME ALBUM! (who would have thunk that I would be raving about this album....I heard about them from a video playing in the juniors section at Nordstrom's, HILARIOUS!)

With Beach-Boys-caliber harmonics that are playful, gorgeous, and even slightly wayward, The Magic Numbers have made 2005's best album. Only slightly winning out over Anthony and the Johnsons' "I Am a Bird Now" and maybe the Fiona Apple album we never got to hear, this CD is a gift. When I first heard it, it all kind of ran together, but after repeated listens, I realize that only its consistency made it seem so. No 2 songs are alike in any way, and the music is just beautiful. Its like what The White Stripes would have sounded like in grade school, had they hung out with Weezer all day eating peppermints and listening to "Pet Sounds." Amazing.

I saw The Magic Numbers open for Bright Eyes the other night, and while Bright Eyes was amazing, The Magic Numbers were the highlight of the show. Their self-titled debut album, is, without doubt, my early pick for album of the year.
The Magic Numbers are two pairs of brother and sister, and their music can be described as folk-pop. Every track on the album is terrific; every note and every background vocal is perfect, the exact note you anticipate hearing next while you listen to the album. The melodica is a great touch in the background, particularly during the middle of tracks like "Mornings Eleven."
All in all, an amazing album, one I have no trouble recommending.

This album is tied with "Songs for Silverman" as best pop album of 2005 in my opinion. I know that overrated troupe known as Architecture in Helsinki is getting a lot of attention, but that album is as vapid and frail as this one is full and lush. Romeo Stodard has clearly ingested a lot of Fleetwood Mac, Beatles, Beach Boys, Carole King, and Mamas-and-the-Papas albums over the years, yet his songwriting is still original and fresh. I understand why some wouldn't like it (too derivitive, too precious, fey, etc.). I cannot deny any of these accusations (at times the melodies and hooks sound like songs you heard somewhere but aren't sure where and the lyrics can be a bit easy-to-please), but still, come on! You'd have to have a heart of ice not to love this album. Until The Shins make their next album or Beulah get back together, this is a perfect album for pop lovers.

Brilliant, just brilliant. Thats what I thought after first hearing this album and, many months later, I still feel the same way. A breath of fresh air to the stale charts where everything sounds the same. Sure, its just like any 'best of 60s summer' albums but is that a bad thing? Not in my mind. The Magic Numbers may not be original but what they do they do well. Very well.

I love the lively and fun songs here. This is always great to play to cheer myself up. The lyrics are quite good but it is the melodies and harmonies that make this album stand out. The reason why I didnt give it 5 stars is because, sadly, I feel that the album begins to lull after the halfway mark. Whilst the first part is lively and full of fun and frolics, the latter part seems to drop into mediocrity with only occasional highlights.

This is still a must buy, if only to relieve the 60's whilst hearing something new, especially if you were never around in those days. Catchy tunes that will stick in your head and make you hum, whistle and smile all day. Rush out now to buy yourself a copy.

I described this band to a friend of mine as a mix between Blind Melon, Blues Traveler, and Simon and Garfunkle. The sound is fresh, layered and melodic. Generally, this is not the type of sound/band I get hooked on, but I'm completely spellbound. The music is active and tight with a purpose. If you liked Cake's "Fashion Nugget", Blind Melon's "Blind Melon" or Pavement's "Brighten the Corners" I'd suggest giving it a spin.