The Magic Numbers
by The Magic Numbers
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 77 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 53 out of 77
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 77
  3. Negative: 10 out of 77

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  1. Hannah
    Nov 10, 2005
    10
    This is an album that comes from a talented group of people. Those who boo it have obviously no idea where real talent comes from, infact i dare to whether they have ever listened to a single note of talent? this is a great cd from a great band!
  2. RTFirefly
    Oct 4, 2005
    6
    A bit disapponting. Expected so much more. Even gets boring after a few listens.
  3. sarahb
    Jan 10, 2006
    10
    brilliant! great sounding tracks with good rythym and harmonies.
  4. brenh
    Oct 15, 2005
    9
    awesome harmonies, excellent song writing, this album blew me away. video killed the radio star unfortunately
  5. Will
    Oct 28, 2005
    4
    Boring, boring, boring. Just the kind of thing I'd expect Mojo and Q to praise highly.
  6. Rol
    Oct 9, 2005
    9
    Excellent, well-written, well-sung, unpretentious( and maybe this is why people are having a go at it) collection of songs most people will enjoy. Close analysis of music is pointless it either moves you or not, and I'm confident it will move more people than it will turn off.
  7. TomD
    Jul 20, 2005
    4
    Pretty arrangements and quite nice harmonies don't immediately equate to songs that have any depth. I doubt this album will last longer than the summer it has been 'designed' for.
  8. MattJ
    Sep 1, 2005
    9
    This is a great record, "ahh this song reminds me of the summer of 2005" is what we will all be saying for years to come, a true summer pop classic, to be enjoyed because its enjoyable!, the reason it isnt a 10, is because im afraid its getting overplayed and is possibly going to be a great album ruined yet again
  9. CaptainFishy
    Sep 5, 2005
    9
    Gotta say......after catching this band during the 2005 summer festival season.......I aquired the album.....and it is quite simply a masterpiece for its time.
  10. BuckRodgers
    Jan 9, 2006
    10
    All the bullshit about the Mama's and the Papas is ridiculous.
  11. BrettN
    Jul 14, 2006
    7
    Easy to listen to but is that something to get so excited about some nice songs just not enough of them. Mornings Eleven, Forever Lost, This Love, Love's A Game
  12. JavJ
    Nov 5, 2005
    0
    tripe, absoloute tripe, and.. who let them out of the zoo
  13. TheFirethief
    Dec 10, 2005
    8
    I give this album an 8.9. If you're an unashamed pop enthusiast, you'll get a lot of mileage out of this album. 13 songs, no duds.Great hooks, very polished harmonies with beautiful bass lines. A few bets: if you liked the Strokes first hit album, you'll like this more...if you ever liked Lloyd Cole, you'll hear hookier echos...a bit like Oasis meets Marshall Crenshaw I give this album an 8.9. If you're an unashamed pop enthusiast, you'll get a lot of mileage out of this album. 13 songs, no duds.Great hooks, very polished harmonies with beautiful bass lines. A few bets: if you liked the Strokes first hit album, you'll like this more...if you ever liked Lloyd Cole, you'll hear hookier echos...a bit like Oasis meets Marshall Crenshaw - or, Dr. Dog on Earl Grey with cream. I'm a harsh critic who was tempted to give this a 9. It deserves a higher average.… Expand
  14. PodunkieBabbager
    Oct 6, 2005
    9
    I like the album. It's good solid pop music, with just a few songs that are too precious and delicate, even for me. But the rest of the album is full of great hooks, melodies, and harmonies. It's not supposed to be the second coming of the 60s, it's just a good pop album. Some of you should stop reading music journalism so much. It's the first step towards becoming a I like the album. It's good solid pop music, with just a few songs that are too precious and delicate, even for me. But the rest of the album is full of great hooks, melodies, and harmonies. It's not supposed to be the second coming of the 60s, it's just a good pop album. Some of you should stop reading music journalism so much. It's the first step towards becoming a curmudgeonly music snob.… Expand
  15. ChadS
    Oct 9, 2005
    8
    I love how "Mornings Eleven" seems to be on the verge of sounding like "Unchained Moment" for a split second during the bridge. It's a nice introduction to this promising band, who sounds, to my ears, like The Harvest Ministers. The only time they sorta sound like Deacon Blue is on "Love me Like You", in which some of the female background vocals recalls "Real Gone Kid"(and maybe the I love how "Mornings Eleven" seems to be on the verge of sounding like "Unchained Moment" for a split second during the bridge. It's a nice introduction to this promising band, who sounds, to my ears, like The Harvest Ministers. The only time they sorta sound like Deacon Blue is on "Love me Like You", in which some of the female background vocals recalls "Real Gone Kid"(and maybe the female soloing on "I See You, You See Me is similar to "Twist and Shout"). How the song returns to its chorus after the bridge is pretty enthralling. The Magic Numbers might be a little overrated, but not too much. We need a band that's sorta Prefab Sproutish.… Expand
  16. HarryH
    Jun 19, 2005
    5
    Although this record contains a handful of decent songs, it is so inoffensively pleasant that is leaves precious little impact, even after repeated listens.
  17. CJ
    Jul 21, 2005
    9
    Simply beautiful! An album that you find beautifuller each time that you listen it again and again...
  18. tomt
    Jul 6, 2005
    9
    Beautiful summer record, filled with some moving vocal harmonies, some great hooks and a chilled west-coast appeal.
  19. [Anonymous]
    Aug 2, 2005
    10
    An absolutely sublime sounding debut album. A trully mature first offering from a group I expect to hear more from in the future.
  20. robh
    Aug 28, 2005
    10
    A fantastic sounding band with tonnes of talent. The harmonies work perfect together to give an uplifting experience!!!
  21. arsos
    Aug 29, 2005
    9
    tocan bien chiditoy estoy de acuerdo con lo que dice Jason, y como bien lo señala sus influencias de la decada de los seseta para mi son muy buenas
  22. TomP
    Aug 4, 2005
    2
    Dreadfully dreadfully dreadfully dull, lifeless, bland and standard.
  23. jasone
    Aug 5, 2005
    10
    This is some of the best music I've probably ever heard. Complex songs that sound really simple and beautiful, and although they obviously draw influences from sixties music they sound unlike anyone else I've ever heard.
  24. SpookSpook
    Sep 4, 2005
    1
    Very annoying.
  25. GeronimoH
    May 25, 2006
    10
    This is the best album released in 2005, its highly original, cannot be compared to anything else. Its Highly original and refreshing, especially to release this kind of sound where everybody goes arctic monkey or coldplay shit....sweet sweet voice, great melodies, emotional, funny, and the best thing is the songs sound cheerfull where the lyrics are pretty depressing....now thats This is the best album released in 2005, its highly original, cannot be compared to anything else. Its Highly original and refreshing, especially to release this kind of sound where everybody goes arctic monkey or coldplay shit....sweet sweet voice, great melodies, emotional, funny, and the best thing is the songs sound cheerfull where the lyrics are pretty depressing....now thats humour...gotta listen and listen again...… Expand
  26. tim
    May 10, 2007
    5
    Their average. I get this band confused with all the other B&S ripoffs of that era.
  27. RoseD
    Oct 25, 2005
    10
    Just fantastic
  28. NelsonD
    Oct 26, 2005
    2
    After listening through the album, I just couldnt believe that this band was regarded the next big thing. What with its too simple melodies with simple lyrics (who could be interchanged between songs and there wouldnt be a difrence since many times the music doesnt connect with what theyre saying) this album shows how behind the critics are in actually understanding what good indie music After listening through the album, I just couldnt believe that this band was regarded the next big thing. What with its too simple melodies with simple lyrics (who could be interchanged between songs and there wouldnt be a difrence since many times the music doesnt connect with what theyre saying) this album shows how behind the critics are in actually understanding what good indie music is. Though this albums isnt completly bad (there are a few shining moments throught a few tracks like The Mule, Long Legs, Love Me Like You and Hymn to Her) but if one really looks deep into this record they will find a boring album with NO hooks at all and long boring songs wich could have been easily cut two minutes less with no ill effect. The folk-country/Birds-like songcraft isnt enough to help this album as even when compared to the typical 60's folk band, this album fails to capture attention and evoke sentiments from the singers and musicians. On the surfuce, yeah, it sounds like a poppy record wich you could put on your car stereo and hum along, but once you try to imerse yourself in it, all you find are guitar lines going nowhere while Romeo Stodart nasal whines on simple adolescen love songs, which have been done better before. Simply put, these songs dont push anything foward, but instead of taking us back to 80's New Wave (Killers and Interpol come to mind), this band takes us back to Mammas and Pappas 60's folk rock. Basicly, The Magic Numbers is a simple radio-friendly singer/songwritter album with long boring songs wich evoke memories of greater folk indie twee bands ( Belle and Sebastian, Elliot Smith ect.) and thus bring comparison and non worthy praise.… Expand
  29. TobyKeith
    Oct 26, 2005
    0
    My hairy pigs I keep in the barn out back could write better music that these talentless fatties. Pick up a copy of my 'Honkytonk University' LP instead -TK
  30. Keith
    Oct 28, 2005
    9
    the best music to come out of 2005
  31. bastiaanh
    Oct 29, 2005
    8
    An album I bought after listening to it for 30 amazing seconds, and appeared to keep up to this energy level for the next 30 minutes!
  32. BenJ
    Jun 17, 2005
    3
    I have this feeling of paranoia here, because having played the album quite a few times I must confess I don't get it! It all sounds so flimsy and 'twee' to me - the songs are pretty bland, and frequently so cheesy it makes me feel embarrassed to be playing it. Horrible, whimsical, gentle rock and roll for sappy music critics to get excited about - boring!
  33. mattd
    Jun 17, 2005
    10
    tremendous sound one of the best albums i have heard in years truely delightful.
  34. RicN
    Jun 18, 2005
    10
    Perfect summer music. Surprised that they have made the best track (Hymn To Her) a secret track at the end...
  35. SamMc
    Jun 27, 2005
    9
    This Album is perfect for the summer, actualy its just perfect. It is well and truly a beautiful album one of the best ive heared in a while.
  36. BW
    Jul 12, 2005
    6
    Good but overrated. It's a bit bland to be honest though the start of the album promises so much more. It's 13 tracks (including the hidden one) that are very similar in theme, and the lack of musical variation grates after a few listens.
  37. LizW
    Jul 19, 2005
    10
    By far the best album this year!!!! It is one of the few albums Ican listen to over and over again.
  38. adeelk
    Jul 26, 2005
    10
    Breathtaking album. Great pop tunes and then the duet "I see you, you see me" is just beautiful. I love the Magic Numbers!
  39. lucaf
    Jul 27, 2005
    6
    ah, when it comes to the magic numbers, the reviews bring new meaning to the word "overrating". Nice, they sound nice but their music is so "flat" i could sleep on it. Yes, harmonies but it's all deja écouté, already heard. But who are the magic numbers mum and dad? No i was really anxoius to hear such a stunning record and what do i have? nothing special, really
  40. robi
    Aug 19, 2005
    6
    This album, while perfectly listenable, is nowhere near the calibre of product that the reviewers have made it out to be. It's not bad, it's just not great. By the third or fourth song, I felt I had already heard it all before. And during every song I found myself hoping that the harmonies were more complex and that the lead singer, whatever his name is, would turn his volume This album, while perfectly listenable, is nowhere near the calibre of product that the reviewers have made it out to be. It's not bad, it's just not great. By the third or fourth song, I felt I had already heard it all before. And during every song I found myself hoping that the harmonies were more complex and that the lead singer, whatever his name is, would turn his volume down a bit so we could hear the rest of the vocals better. It's a better-than-average effort, but there is no justification for anyone ever using "breathtaking", "beautiful" or "sublime". It wants to be all those things, but never quite makes there.… Expand
  41. CarlosAT
    Aug 2, 2005
    10
    I find it excellent, beautiful duets and almost all the tracks are great. I love "Love is a Game"
  42. michaelk
    Aug 24, 2005
    2
    as someone said, it's really dull. sounds like i heard it 1000 times before
  43. MBrown
    Aug 25, 2005
    9
    It's darn good and you know it booooiiii!!!!
  44. Jamie
    Sep 15, 2005
    5
    The singles remind me of Deacon Blue although I actually quite like them for it. Not bad songs then but can nobody else hear what I am hearing? The girls on backing vocals are awful, flat, too high in the mix and have no idea how to sing backing vocals. Listen to the Beach Boys girls (actually I imagine they probably do that quite a lot). If everyone sang like Brian or Mike, or whoever is The singles remind me of Deacon Blue although I actually quite like them for it. Not bad songs then but can nobody else hear what I am hearing? The girls on backing vocals are awful, flat, too high in the mix and have no idea how to sing backing vocals. Listen to the Beach Boys girls (actually I imagine they probably do that quite a lot). If everyone sang like Brian or Mike, or whoever is on lead vocals at the time it would sound like a mess, it's all about blending in to the background. Sorry to get technical but this really winds me up every time I hear them. If this is the masterpiece everyone is making it out to be then I despair at the state of music right now.… Expand
  45. LemonzorbaQ
    Sep 5, 2005
    5
    A couple of great tunes on there, but a bit limp in parts
  46. johnc
    Nov 13, 2006
    10
    What an album brilliant harmonies those guitars check them out live you wont regret it
  47. GZoST
    Jan 20, 2006
    10
    This stayed in my 512 MB-Mp3-player for a couple of months. It's just beautiful. Enough said.
  48. seamusm
    Mar 28, 2006
    5
    Boring, boring
  49. connieco
    Nov 5, 2005
    9
    great
  50. matta
    Oct 27, 2005
    8
    Very pretty, inoffensive album. Doens't take alot of risks, but like other artists in this same vein like Ron Sexsmith, being innovative and eclectic really isn't the point. Stong debut.
  51. NickD
    Jun 25, 2005
    0
    The Emperor has no clothes, guys. This is one dimensional, bland, boring, guitar pop music that owes so much to the Mamas and the Papas we can consider the Magic Numbers to be beyond their overdraft limits. Hymn For Her is cheesy, overly saccharine, and deeply annoying. Lead single Forever Lost is just bland. Music for people who've given up on being entertained by music.
  52. dave
    Jul 11, 2005
    9
    beautiful
  53. AliC
    Jul 11, 2005
    9
    An almost perfect record, let down only by a couple of suboptimal drones (The Mule and Which Way to Happy), and that deeply irritating habit of hiding the best track at the end (cf Snow Patrol Final Straw). Forever Lost and Love Me Lke You are the best pop songs since erm... ABBA ahem.
  54. RodrigoV
    Jul 13, 2005
    10
    I've considered this album, since now, one of the best of the year. I`m happy that we still have bands like this.
  55. david
    Aug 18, 2005
    8
    A really good pop-rock album. I really love the song 'I see you, you see me'. I would bother for sure.
  56. EmmanuelR
    Aug 21, 2005
    9
    Amazing album... Almost every song makes you want to immediately play it again
  57. PhilipS
    Mar 22, 2006
    6
    I won't knock it- i'll just say it isn't my type of music
  58. SimonG
    May 29, 2006
    10
    Blows me away every time. I was sucked in by the Forever Lost single; was not disappointed by the album. Listen to it everyday. Love's a Game is the best one.
  59. AngelloC
    Apr 16, 2007
    10
    showing us that music styles never expire, maybe it sounds like 60's but its perfect to take us away, specially today, when everybody with stress need it
  60. JonnoR
    Nov 28, 2005
    8
    I like this band, they remind me of Broken Social Scene, and some Neil Young, as well as an assortment of other bands.
  61. SeanT
    Dec 11, 2005
    4
    i paid 23 dollars for this because everyone said they were the next mamas and the papas and because until recently american labels wouldnt get off their asses to release it. i still say it's pretty farty and they have a long way to go before they are even close to the mamas and the papas.
  62. KenR
    Dec 19, 2005
    10
    This album is the top. Buy it. No matter what music your into this is gold
  63. ChristinaM
    Dec 12, 2006
    10
    This album has something for everyone and every mood.

Awards & Rankings

85
#85 Best Album of 2005
54
#54 Most Discussed Album of 2005
37
#37 Most Shared Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Drowned In Sound
    90
    A record that will endure beyond this year, this decade and the rest.
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  2. musicOMH.com
    100
    Nothing quite prepares you for the sheer beauty of The Magic Numbers' music.
    Read full review
  3. Pitchfork
    76
    The songwriting falls a couple of times too many into timid generalities about love and loss; the melodies, though lovely, are sometimes interchangeable.
    Read full review
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