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The Magic Numbers (Those The Brokes)
Released: July 17, 200713 Tracks - 60:06
Label: EMI Records Ltd
5.0 out of 10
Standout Tracks: "This Is A Song", "Take A Chance", "Let Somebody In"
Hailing from London, The Magic Numbers is the brainchild of Romeo Stodart and consists of two pairs of brothers and sisters. After their critically acclaimed debut self-titled album, the quartet comes back with the release of their sophomore effort. In Those The Brokes, The Magic Numbers continue to expand on their signature combination of woman-man vocalists and their upbeat, free-spirited love songs. Let's see if their newest batch of love songs are worth the same attention as their first dosage.
~Justin Hawkins
Joe: 3.5
The Magic Numbers are happy, and they have over an hour of evidence. Their melodies pop and bounce effortlessly as three of their four members take turns at the mic, each laying down their tales of love. They’re having fun, and I have to say that feeling is almost contagious. But maybe they’re too happy. Those the Brokes is bouncy beyond belief; it’s like skipping on a sunny day in an open field AND various woodland creatures are gathered around you with smiles on their faces – it’s just too much. This album is lightweight almost to the point of absurdity. Plus, The Magic Numbers have no diversity whatsoever. Even slow songs tend to sound exactly like their faster-tempo counterparts.
The first few minutes of Those the Brokes may put a smile on your face, but a full hour of nonstop joyousness might turn it upside-down. By the time you hit the 40-minute mark, The Magic Numbers’ tunes grow tiresome, even annoying (see: “Take Me or Leave Me”). And when some tracks last as long as six minutes, the frustration can really begin to set it after four minutes of happy. Basically, if you already have your anti-depressants, keep a good 15-foot radius from this album – you just don’t need it.
Justin: 6.5
Admittedly, the Magic Numbers’ newest release, Those The Brokes, is not for everybody. Spanning over an hour with many tracks carrying on for over 6 minutes, impatient listeners will find themselves waiting for songs to end so they can get to the next track. And trust me, not many of us will be patient enough to truly take in this album. The only accessible songs are near the beginning of the album: the opener “This Is A Song” intricately mixes guitars and sounds to make a track anybody will come back to; the first single “Take A Chance” is a constant fury of upbeat verses careening itself into the next chorus; and “Carl’s Song," a bit more of an indie infused track though open to casual listeners nonetheless.
However, after all these songs and after the 35 minute mark, Those The Brokes truly turns into a masterpiece. Songs like “Most of the Time”, “Let Somebody In” and “Goodnight” all are the Magic Numbers at their best, perfectly threading feminine and masculine voices with gentle harmonious guitar to create some of the best slower-tempo tracks in the market. Yet unfortunately, this half of the album is far from accessible and will not be understood by most listeners (in a way similar to early Modest Mouse). These songs will not immediately catch you and grab you, but only after a couple plays, it’s so easy to fall in love with tracks like “Take Me or Leave Me” and “Let Somebody In”. For me, the latter half of this album is what makes this sophomore effort so special, and personally I just prefer to start listening in the middle of the album instead of sitting through an entire hour of music. Sure, this album is long and not very appealing at first glance besides a couple songs, but in the long run, it is the songs that most overlook that are worthwhile.
And as to Joe’s insistence that these songs are too “happy”, please tell me how “Let Somebody In” or “All I See” is happy… two of the saddest songs I have ever heard.
Latest page update: made by joe_pinsker
, Jul 19 2007, 3:19 PM EDT
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | |
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| joe_pinsker | well well well justin | 7 | Jul 21 2007, 4:45 PM EDT by joe_pinsker | |
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Thread started: Jul 19 2007, 3:21 PM EDT
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i see you've taken a shot at me in your review. i thought we were supposed to add those afterthoughts in as comments. but if you want a scuffle, you've got one. put up your dukes, old boy.
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