The Magic Numbers [ENHANCED] [IMPORT]

The Magic Numbers

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 5, 2005)
• Original Release Date: July 5, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced, Import
• Label: Emd Int'l
• ASIN: B0009IQLUG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #266,350 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In an age of vigorously-marketed rag-trade clothes horses, Trinidad/New York/London collective the Magic Numbers are an anomaly; a word-of-mouth phenomenon whose affable live shows have been compared to happy clappy religious experiences and whose music--an unfashionable blend of soft country pop with Fifties and Sixties inflections--is evidently more important to them than the intercession of style gurus and hairdressers. The "kids" are converted and the band's self-titled debut album may prove to be the most surprising success story of the year. Comprising two pairs of siblings, the Stodarts (singer and songwriter Romeo; the girth of a bear, the hair and beard of a friendly fairy-tale giant and the voice of a mouse; sister Michelle on bass, keyboards, vocals) and the Gannons (the equally hirsute Sean on drums; sister Angela on vocals, melodica and percussion) the familial ties shine through in the wholesome, harmonious nature of it all, from the skiffle of "Long Legs" and the upbeat Undertones-flavoured pop of "Love Me Like You" to the melting, dreamy teen frustration dialogues of "Love's a Game" and "I See You, You See Me". The Magic Numbers offer conclusive proof that math isn't boring. --Kevin Maidment

Product Description

This is the self-titled debut album from UK based outfit The Magic Numbers. Inspired by the likes of sixties singer/songwriters and harmony outfits like Mamas And The Papas, the album sees the band perfect their mix of dreamy indie pop. The UK top twenty --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magic Indeed, November 30, 2005

By	William Miller (Ocala, Florida) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Magic Numbers (Audio CD)

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.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Magic Music, March 27, 2006

By	Bruce Aguilar (Hollywood, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Magic Numbers (Audio CD)

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.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magic Debut!, August 20, 2005

By	Nse Ette (Lagos, Nigeria) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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.