The harmony-rich sibling quartet release the follow-up to their award-winning debut, and avoid the "difficult second album" jinx.
Whenever a new band comes along, influences are always cited in their upbringing. Yet, more often than not, these influences aren't really audible in the band's music. The same cannot be said of The Magic Numbers.
With both the band and music critics alike sound-biting R.E.M, The Beach Boys and Kings Of Leon, to name but a few, the resulting self-titled debut album showed all these influences and more. From the multi-layered harmonies so loved by Brian Wilson, to the lyrical story-telling of Michael Stipe, here was a band that actually sounded like their peers. The result was a million-selling record that still stands up today, with beautiful and heartfelt songs such as Love Me Like You and Forever Lost sounding as fresh today as they did then.
Following up such a critical and commercial success is never easy for any band, and often the dreaded difficult second album syndrome rears its ugly head. Just look at bands like The Strokes or Gomez to see the difficulties that can be faced in producing a second record as successful (commercially and musically) as their debuts. Thankfully, the two brother and sister pairings (Sean and Angela Gannon, and Romeo and Michele Stodart) have avoided this pitfall and, with Those The Brokes, released a follow-up just as accomplished, if not more so, than their 2005 release.
Opening with current single This Is A Song, any fears that the band couldn't possibly maintain the standard of the previous album are soon dispelled. Featuring everything their fans have come to love about The Magic Numbers, it's a rollicking five minutes of feel-good celebration. Romeo, although British like the rest of the band, has one of these voices that reminds you of pure Americana. Gentle, sweeping, almost dulcet, it just begs you to listen to his tales of love, angst and deceit. A strong opening to the new album, and one that sets the pace for the remaining twelve songs.
This is followed by You Never Had It, which has hit single written all over it. With trademark harmonies from both Angela Gannon and Romeo's sister Michele complementing him, it's a lilting affirmation of love overcoming all. And this is the beauty of The Magic Numbers - their songs are an open letter from each member, with their hearts on their sleeves, and yet never do they feel contrived. The songwriting skills of Romeo himself have increased even more from the scribes shared on the debut, and this is evident anywhere you look on the record.
Whether it's on first single Take A Chance, a typically 'sixties-tinged, almost psychedelic tune that Brian Wilson would be proud of, or Boy, a gentle semi-duet that evokes memories of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, these are songs that have something for everyone.
Yet it's not all gentle acoustics and vocals. Just when it feels that this is a more reflective album than its predecessor, Runnin' Out enters the fray. An up-tempo piece that mixes early R.E.M and current Scottish favourites Franz Ferdinand, here the band really let loose. With a cohesive mix of drumming from Sean Gannon and electric guitar from Romeo, this is the song that shows that, although a gentler beast than the debut, this new album still knows its place in anyone's indie collection.
The Magic Numbers have never been a fashionable band. But then, they've never pretended to be. All they ever wanted to do was write honest, truthful music that sounds as if it's been written just for the listener. Those The Brokes cements the fact that, despite now having major label backing and a larger audience, it still feels that they're your band, and your band alone.
