The Magic Numbers | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Led by Trinidad-born singer/songwriter Romeo Stodart, Londons Magic Numbers blend the melodic experimentation of artists like the Flaming Lips and David Axelrod with the sweet harmonies of 60s pop groups like the Lovin Spoonful and the Mamas & the Papas. Stodart began making music with drummer Sean Gannon almost immediately upon moving to the U.K. from New York City in the early 2000s. They were eventually joined by Romeos sister Michele on bass and Seans sister Angela on percussion and melodica. The group signed with the U.K.-based EMI imprint Heavenly Records in 2004 and released its critically acclaimed self-titled debut the following year. The bands sophomore effort, Those the Brokes, arrived in 2006, followed by the Undecided EP in the summer of 2007. Next, a third full-length album, The Runaway, was released in July 2010, entering the U.K. charts at 46. After a heavy touring schedule in support of the record, which included dates as far afield as Australia, the band took a brief respite, and bassist Michele Stodart used the break to release a country-inspired solo album in 2012. Inspired by the stripped-back nature of The Runaway, the outfit regrouped for an acoustic tour in 2013. A fourth album, Alias, recorded at the bands home studio, was released in 2014. Four years later, the group delivered the loud, lively Outsiders. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 6 Title: The Magic Numbers Released: 2005-06-08 Tracks: 12 Duration: 1:04:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Mornings Eleven (05:34) 2 Forever Lost (04:11) 3 The Mule (05:11) 4 Long Legs (03:22) 5 Love Me Like You (04:50) 6 Which Way to Happy (04:27) 7 I See You, You See Me (05:59) 8 Don’t Give Up the Fight (02:59) 9 This Love (05:40) 10 Wheels on Fire (04:03) 11 Love’s a Game (04:48) 12 Try / Hymn for Her (13:32) |
| The Magic Numbers : Allmusic album Review : Every three years or so, the British music press touts another band as the Next Big Thing, or at least the antidote to the trend the press kick-started a couple years back. Some of these bands -- whether theyre Suede, the Strokes, or Franz Ferdinand -- are quite good, even excellent, and sometimes theyre merely average; it all depends on what trend the bands supposed to bring to end and what fad theyre supposed to kick-start, since the quality of the music almost always takes a back seat to the demands of fashion. This kind of hyped-up transience is one of the great things about pop music -- not only is it supposed to exist in the moment, sometimes great pop music only sounds great within its given moment, whether its Whigfield or Crazy Frog -- but that doesnt mean that the trends are always fun, and one of the more inexplicable British-driven fads of the 2000s is the Magic Numbers, whose eponymous debut album was hailed as an instant classic in many quarters upon its early-summer release in the U.K. in 2005. Comprised of two sets of brothers and sisters, the quartet sings soft, gentle sunshine pop with vaguely rootsy underpinnings. Because of this slightly folky bent and clear reverence for 60s pop, they were positioned as the return of the real as compared to the new wave of new wave, which encompassed anyone from Interpol to Franz, and even the neo-garage rock revival of the beginning of the decade -- after all, by the summer of 2005, it was clear that the White Stripes were too arty and obstinate to qualify as a roots band. While The Magic Numbers is as dippy as any number of harmony-laden folk-rock groups that arrived in the wake of the Mamas & the Papas, their cutsey navel-gazing is most decidedly a product of its time. So are the simpering schoolboy vocals of lead singer Romeo Stodart, whose thin, squeaky earnest mewling makes Coldplays Chris Martin sound macho and distracts from whatever pleasures that can be gleaned from the harmonies of his sister Michele and their colleague Angela Gannon. Romeo Stodarts voice and his mopey lovelorn lyrics are clear outgrowths of late-90s indie pop, picking up on the tweeness of Belle & Sebastian but discarding their clever literary bent, not to mention their songcraft, in favor of simple-minded confessionals spiked by the occasional naughty word ("Im a no-good used-up bruised-up f*cked-up boy," he unconvincingly croons), alternating between singalong happy tunes and slow, sleepy crawls. Its all pleasant enough on the surface and since it self-consciously recalls classic rock -- not only in sound but in titles that recall songs of the past ("Wheels on Fire" is a riff on Bob Dylan & the Bands "This Wheels on Fire," "Hymn for Her" is close to the Pretenders "Hymn to Her" and it also shares a name with an Ides of March song, but thats probably not a deliberate move) -- some listeners will be inclined to give them a pass, since its kind of familiar in feel while sounding different than a lot of guitar-based rock and pop in 2005. Yet if The Magic Numbers is judged against the standards of second-tier 60s folk-pop -- forget the Beatles and Beach Boys or even the Mamas & the Papas or Donovan or Lovin Spoonful, but against legions of soundalikes like Rose Garden -- the groups music is not as well written or melodic or as interesting, nor does it hold up well to late-90s indie pop from Belle & Sebastian to Elliott Smith, and it lacks the conviction of freak folk, since their aw-shucks, lovey-dovey pose feels contrived. Nevetheless, the quartet is much easier to listen to than Devendra Banhart -- sunny tunes and smooth surfaces do indeed help -- and they have a certain veneer of mature, classy respectability that means this can appeal to everyone from baby boomers to echo boomers. It all glides by easily enough on its surface, but dig a little deeper and The Magic Numbers reveals itself to be not just a crashing bore, but an irritating one since it not only lacks one song with an undeniable, memorable hook, but the self-satsified vibe of the band combined with Stodarts reedy whine makes the Magic Numbers feel not just less real than the groups theyre allegedly an antidote to, but more disingenuous as well. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 6 Title: Those the Brokes Released: 2006-11-06 Tracks: 11 Duration: 1:01:13 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 This Is a Song (05:21) 2 You Never Had It (02:58) 3 Take a Chance (03:32) 4 Boy (04:01) 5 Undecided (06:37) 6 Slow Down (The Way It Goes) (06:56) 7 Keep It in the Pocket (04:22) 8 Take Me or Leave Me (04:41) 9 Let Somebody In (03:33) 10 Runnin Out (05:01) 11 Goodnight (14:07) |
| Those the Brokes : Allmusic album Review : What does the Next Big Thing do in the age of the Internet, when their debut is praised beyond reason upon its release, but by the time they release their second album a year later, theyve already faded from memory, replaced by a new sensation that truly did have some buzz on the internet? Thats the question facing the Magic Numbers and their 2006 sophomore set, Those the Brokes, an album released just a shade later than a year after their eponymous debut, but for all the attention paid to it, it might as well have been released half a decade later. The debut was praised for being a sweet revival of the sun-kissed sounds of such breezy folk-pop bands as the Mamas & the Papas, a breath of fresh air, something that sounded like nothing else out there. The problem with being celebrated for being out of fashion is that when the fashions move on and you dont, youre left behind wondering why everybody has changed -- and thats whats happened with the Magic Numbers. Times have changed but they havent, at least not enough for restless listeners on the prowl for something new, which Those the Brokes doesnt offer enough of to satisfy those listeners. Not that the Magic Numbers have served up an identical album here -- in fact, Those the Brokes is a looser, livelier album than its predecessor, significantly less cloying and precious than the debut. Which isnt to say that Romeo Stodart, his sister, and their friends have suddenly grown a pair: this is still sweet and gentle, lacking the sly wit and sinew that keeps Belle & Sebastian from descending into an icky twee abyss. But the Magic Numbers do try to stretch out like Belle here, trimming away the folk, amping up the pop hooks, and even drifting into white soul on numbers like "Undeclared." All of this is a welcome development and makes Those the Brokes a richer listen, even if it is a bit more ragged. It never quite sustains the mood the way the debut did, but taken as individual songs, this is often more appealing, although it takes a bit of time and effort for these distinctions to sink in, since they are subtle. And since the things that keep the Magic Numbers from a wider audience havent changed -- Romeos voice is still thin and reedy, theyre still the wimpiest band in eons -- theyre left struggling, potentially losing a chunk of their audience when theyre actually turning into a better, more interesting band. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 6 Title: Live at Kentish Town Forum 10th February 2007 Released: 2007 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:43:32 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 This Is a Song (Just for You) (05:14) 2 You Never Had It (03:02) 3 Forever Lost (04:22) 4 Loves a Game (04:41) 5 I See You, You See Me (06:04) 6 Take a Chance (03:55) 7 The Mule (04:45) 8 Runnin Out (05:25) 9 Slow Down (The Way It Goes) / Running Up That Hill (10:24) 10 Undecided (05:47) 1 [untitled] (06:51) 2 Anima Sola (04:59) 3 Love Me Like You (05:11) 4 [untitled] (02:22) 5 Hymn for Her (06:48) 6 Take Me or Leave Me (04:46) 7 Mornings Eleven (05:35) 8 Oh, You Might as Well Live in My Head Now! (The Jump Rope Song) (05:36) 9 The Beard (07:45) |
 | Album: 4 of 6 Title: The Runaway Released: 2010-07-26 Tracks: 4 Duration: 00:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Hurt So Good (?) 2 Why Did You Call? (?) 3 Restless River (?) 4 Dreams of a Revelation (?) |
| The Runaway : Allmusic album Review : While the sun-soaked, Mamas and the Papas-inspired leanings of their self-titled debut was a much-needed antidote to the plethora of ramshackle indie bands that dominated the mid-noughties, the two brother/sister pairings of the Magic Numbers failed to further their dreamy folk-pop sound ensured that follow-up Those the Brokes came and went without much fanfare just two years later. In danger of becoming a one-trick pony, the Stodarts and Gannons have wisely changed direction for third LP The Runaway. The uplifting West Coast harmonies and obvious 60s and 70s influences of their debut are still very much apparent, but this time around, theyre surrounded by a more elegant orchestral production, aided by Valgeir Sigurdsson (Björk) and the late Robert Kirby (Nick Drake), who passed away shortly after recording. The atmospheric, Neil Young-influenced opening track "The Pulse," a gorgeous slice of brooding chamber-folk with a stirring but heart-wrenching chorus, sets the tone from the offset. The soaring hymnal qualities of the early Fleetwood Mac-esque "Hurt so Good," whose languid guitars and echoing percussion evokes the sound of waves lapping against the shore, the Michele-sung "Why Did You Call?" a convincing stab at downbeat chilled-out funk, and the chiming "Once I Had" an enchanting fusion of the Bangles-ish new wave melodies and slide guitar rockabilly, continue to indicate that Runaway is unlikely to yield any radio-friendly pop singles in the shape of "Forever Lost" or "Love Me Like You." Indeed, only the infectious jangly guitar pop of "A Start with No Ending" screams potential hit. But although its experimental nature is unlikely to reverse their chart fortunes, its undeniably their most accomplished effort to date. Whether its the melancholic Baroque folk of "Restless River," the string-soaked bluesy soul of "The Song That No One Knows," or the blissful lounge pop of "Dreams of a Revelation," Runaway never fails to charm. The critics who prematurely wrote them off as a California sunshine pop pastiche may just have to eat their words. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 6 Title: Alias Released: 2014-08-11 Tracks: 11 Duration: 50:58 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Wake Up (06:07) 2 You K(no)w (05:54) 3 Out on the Streets (03:50) 4 Shot in the Dark (04:45) 5 Roy Orbison (04:08) 6 Thought I Wasnt Ready (03:02) 7 E.N.D. (03:49) 8 Accidental Song (04:32) 9 Better Than Him (04:10) 10 Enough (05:51) 11 Black Rose (04:49) |
| Alias : Allmusic album Review : Four years after delivering Runaway, Britains the Magic Numbers return with their fourth studio album, 2014s Alias. After taking some time off, during which vocalist Michele Stodart released the country-infused solo effort Wide-Eyed Crossing and her brother, singer/songwriter Romeo Stodart (who once again handles production duties here), became a father, the Stodart siblings and Magic Numbers bandmates, siblings Sean and Angela Gannon, reconvened in their London home studio. Bringing all their newfound life experiences to bear here, and with a purported 30 songs to pick from, the Magic Numbers ultimately boiled everything down to 11 of the groups most solidly engaging cuts to date. Picking up on the introspective orchestral vibe of 2010s Runaway, the Magic Numbers found a balance between their early sunshine indie pop sensibilities and more expansive experimental inclinations. The most infectious cuts come midway through, with tracks like the rambling, roots rock-infused "Shot in the Dark" and the romantic 70s symphonic disco-sounding "E.N.D." working as perfect examples of Alias artistic sensibility. Similarly, we get the aptly named echo chamber-laden "Roy Orbison," with its sweeping, yearning melody (and string arrangement via Gina Harcourt) that perfectly brings to mind the iconic 60s songwriters sound. And if Orbison is the inspiration for some of Alias more vintage-sounding moments, then "Thought I Wasnt Ready" takes equal inspiration from the Brill Building songs of artists like Carole King and Ellie Greenwich. Of course, not all of the album has a solely vintage vibe, and cuts like the enigmatic and moody "You K(no)w," the propulsive "Out on the Streets," and the yearning 90s shoegaze-influenced "Accidental Song" are reflective songs that, as with all of Alias, rate with the best of the Magic Numbers previous work. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 6 Title: Outsiders Released: 2018-05-11 Tracks: 10 Duration: 41:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Shotgun Wedding (03:35) 2 Ride Against the Wind (03:39) 3 Runaways (04:28) 4 Sweet Divide (05:25) 5 Wayward (02:39) 6 The Keeper (02:57) 7 Dreamer (03:35) 8 Power Lines (03:45) 9 Lost Children (04:21) 10 Sing Me a Rebel Song (06:43) |