The Magic Numbers

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Why hasn't there been a thread about their album?! I don't think I've heard a better album this year. There's so many great different parts in each song. The way the lead singer's(Romeo?) and the girls voices work together is simply amazing. "Love me like you" is the most enjoyable pop song I've heard since Digital Love. Ultimately the best thing about this album is that these song genuinly makes you(me) feel good. I can't get rid of this big stupid grin I have when listening to this genius of an album. I declare this to be the best British album since "Up the bracket"!

― Lovelace (Lovelace), Thursday, 2 June 2005 12:11 (twenty years ago)

I heard one track and it sounded a bit too much like the Thrills for me. I wanted to like them because I'm all for chubby hairy people in pop, obv.

― Tom (Groke), Thursday, 2 June 2005 12:16 (twenty years ago)

i only like them because pete fowler does the artwork! stupuid but true!

― doomie x, Thursday, 2 June 2005 12:18 (twenty years ago)

like the thrills? I don't think so. do you remember the name of the song? some of the songs kiiiinda sound like strokes(but not really) but even more pop and with much better vocals.

― Lovelace (Lovelace), Thursday, 2 June 2005 12:26 (twenty years ago)

Whatever the first single is, WBS sent it out for Stylus. Too much strumming.

― Tom (Groke), Thursday, 2 June 2005 12:33 (twenty years ago)

the single does sound like a Thrills/Strokes midpoint - the bassline! they seem sadder, less slappable than the Thrills. still quite meh though.

― pete b. (pete b.), Thursday, 2 June 2005 12:37 (twenty years ago)

but the majority of the album is more toned down....folk pop or whatever people call it.

― Lovelace (Lovelace), Thursday, 2 June 2005 12:41 (twenty years ago)

It's very good. I was ready to hate the whole retro Kings of Leonesque vibe, and didn't especially like the self-titled EP either, but the full album is quite joyous. "Forever lost," "Long legs," "Love me like you": all great.

And there are handclaps galore.

― brittle-lemon, Thursday, 2 June 2005 13:11 (twenty years ago)

and the harmonies!

That's the best bit about them i think.

― jellybean (jellybean), Thursday, 2 June 2005 13:16 (twenty years ago)

Yeah. With this, and the Saint Etienne album, and, um, Imogen Heap's "Hide and seek," harmonies are back, baby!

― brittle-lemon, Thursday, 2 June 2005 13:49 (twenty years ago)

it sounds like del amitri though.

― doomie x, Thursday, 2 June 2005 14:10 (twenty years ago)

No it doesn't. Are you actually paid for being ill informed about music?

― snotty moore, Thursday, 2 June 2005 14:14 (twenty years ago)

ha ha!

― doomie x, Thursday, 2 June 2005 14:17 (twenty years ago)

i got confused. i meant deacon blue. you know it does.

― doomie x, Thursday, 2 June 2005 14:18 (twenty years ago)

does anyone know if there are any bands like this one out there?

― Lovelace (Lovelace), Thursday, 2 June 2005 20:10 (twenty years ago)

They're very, very good. But you can all stop trying to find hip reference points for them -- the first single sounds like John Mayer.

― marc h., Thursday, 2 June 2005 20:30 (twenty years ago)

By "first single" of course I mean "Forever Lost," not "Hymn for Her" or "Anime Sola," the previous seven-inches.

― marc h., Thursday, 2 June 2005 20:31 (twenty years ago)

surely the thrills, kol and the strokes are the unhippest bands one can think of. or do we live in totally different worlds?

― Lovelace (Lovelace), Thursday, 2 June 2005 21:23 (twenty years ago)

This still doesn't have a US date/label, does it?

― On a Strict El Cholo Diet (Bent Over at the Arclight), Thursday, 2 June 2005 21:33 (twenty years ago)

"Forever lost" is available at the US iTunes store, though.

― brittle-lemon, Friday, 3 June 2005 00:58 (twenty years ago)

I know what you mean about hip reference points: they really *don't* sound like The Lovin' Spoonful, Mamas & Papas, Laura Nyro or any of the other bands they're being compared to in the press. If anyone's expecting a Lou Adler-style wall of harmony here you'll be disappointed by the record (as was I). First time saw them live they reminded me a bit of Galaxie 500 (but you have to walk in the room at the right time). The more chuggin' numbers are a little Strokes-y, a little CCR-y even.
But live, they're just fantastic. Best new band I saw last year.

― harvey.w (harvey.w), Friday, 3 June 2005 06:42 (twenty years ago)

does anyone know if there are any bands like this one out there?
-- Lovelace (futilecrime...), June 2nd, 2005.

great days of sail ... they opened up for the magic numbers a few times that i've seen and i chatted with yo of great days of sail and he gave me a song to put up in my mp3 blog which you can download here: www.poptones.co.uk/webcast.htm i reckon yo will have a record contract very shortly with heavenly or someone like that.

― doomie x, Friday, 3 June 2005 07:13 (twenty years ago)

Hal, a new Rough Trade band who toured with the Magic Numbers, are pretty similar, too.

― marc h., Friday, 3 June 2005 11:59 (twenty years ago)

two months pass...

Rock band's fury at TV 'fat' quip

Rock band The Magic Numbers walked out of an appearance on TV show Top of the Pops because they thought the presenter made a joke about their weight.

In rehearsals, Richard Bacon said the band had been put in a "fat melting pot of talent" - and they left in protest at the "derogatory, unfunny remarks".

The group said they felt they had to "make a stand and leave".

But a BBC spokesman said Bacon tried to apologise and was referring to their status, not their appearance.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 15:05 (twenty years ago)

Oops, didn't realise this was already covered in a thread about the Maguc Numbers, who are also fat.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 15:08 (twenty years ago)

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