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The Black Magic Show
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The Black Magic Show Image
Metascore
55

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 17 Ratings

  • Summary: The 1980s-alt-rock-influenced, Diego Garcia-led band returns with a second album.

Top Track

Uh Oh Hello
If I talk to you Will you stick around? I like the way you look I like the way you touch If you were my friend Do you think we could pretend? That... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 10
  3. Negative: 2 out of 10
  1. Alternative Press
    80
    Epic and memorable. [Jun 2006, p.188]
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  2. Urb
    70
    The result is a sound of un-epic mopeyness, more surface than interior and arguably more truthful because of it. [Apr 2006, p.84]
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  3. Amazon.com
    70
    Garcia and company wear their '80s influences proudly throughout, yet bring enough fresh ideas to the mix to avoid being mere slaves to precious retro-fashion.
  4. Under The Radar
    50
    And though the desire to not repeat themselves is admirable, one longs for precisely what made the first record such a rare breed. [#13, p.85]
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  5. Blender
    40
    What's the point of a cheesy goth-pop record that isn't any fun? [May 2006, p.105]
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  6. Prefix Magazine
    40
    The guitar work is straight out of the Velvet Underground/Television songbook, and the production begs for comparisons to the Strokes or Interpol. That's not to say being compared to these folks is bad, it's just that those comparisons don't reveal how unimaginative The Black Magic Show really is.
  7. Stylus Magazine
    25
    A dull, droning bit of mainstream rock.

See all 10 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 11
  3. Negative: 3 out of 11
  1. LorettaJ
    Apr 22, 2006
    10
    Amazing, simply amazing
  2. ms
    Apr 21, 2006
    9
    This is a welcomed darker step up from their debut. An excellent collection of moody alternative music that, although it never breaks any new This is a welcomed darker step up from their debut. An excellent collection of moody alternative music that, although it never breaks any new ground, is totally comfortable standing on the ground it is already on. I applaud the darkness of Diego Garcia's delivery, his elegant yet depressed sounding vocals meld in wonderfully with the atmospheric guitars and backing vocals.… Expand
  4. justinN
    Nov 22, 2006
    8
    If you're a fan of Elefant, BUY NOW!!! If you are just getting into them, sample a few tracks, then buy. This album isn't new If you're a fan of Elefant, BUY NOW!!! If you are just getting into them, sample a few tracks, then buy. This album isn't new ground for them, but it puts you into a simular state of mind as "Sunlight Makes Me Paranoid." I'd prefer to hear experimentation w/o loosing their original sound, but there's always next album.… Collapse
  5. MattD.
    Apr 18, 2006
    5
    This CD is uncomfortably caught in between catchy rock and moodier alternative.
  6. sandys
    Jun 29, 2006
    5
    got into the first album on flight back from tenerife and was elated at performance. Have to say if it was this pretty lacklustre album, I got into the first album on flight back from tenerife and was elated at performance. Have to say if it was this pretty lacklustre album, I may have got of the flight.… Expand
  7. BrianC.
    Apr 19, 2006
    4
    What a horrible letdown. is it even the same group?
  8. TOMMOC
    Apr 21, 2006
    2
    Such a dissapointment. 'Sunlight Makes Me Paranoid' put them at the forefront of the Post-Punk revival while this album appears to Such a dissapointment. 'Sunlight Makes Me Paranoid' put them at the forefront of the Post-Punk revival while this album appears to expose them as mainstream sell outs. The difference between the two albums parallels the difference between Hot Hot Heats' 'Make Up the Breakdown' and 'Elevator'.… Expand

See all 11 User Reviews

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