Are they loosing the magic touch?
When the Magic Numbers took to the stage at the Chelmsford leg of this summer's V Festival they drew a large and enthusiastic crowd. Sure the biggest responses were for tracks from their debut album, but the new material played on that Saturday afternoon in August got a favourable reaction and I suggested at the time that it seemed "we could look forward to more great times in the company of the Magic Numbers and their music".
One of the tracks performed on that day was 'Take A Chance', a single I described in a review of it as one which was certain to become a "classic in the same way as tracks like 'Love Me Like You'". 'Take A Chance' has gone on to become the band's biggest radio hit to date and all seemed to be looking good for the new album.
The lead single from 'Those The Broke' is unfortunately head and shoulders the strongest track on the record, although there are some which suggest they have the 'grow' factor. Upbeat opener 'This Is A Song' could work as a follow-up single, all things are there on the Magic Numbers checklist: catchy tune, easy on the ear melody and harmonies and an all round warm air to it. 'You Never Had It' continues in a similar style but is weaker simply as it doesn't bring anything new to the party: a theme that runs true throughout this album.
Other tracks of note are the country tinged 'Carl's Song' and 'Most Of The Time'; the latter is the one from the collection of slower tracks that has the strongest single feel to it, maybe because it sounds very much like live and radio favourites from their debut.
My problem with this record is that, having listened to it a number of times; half of it is very forgettable. It is a testament to their distinctive sound that were I to hear tracks like 'Boy' or 'Take Me Or Leave Me' away from the rest of the album I would at least know who they were by. It is also possible that to hear one of the weaker songs individually they would appear to be better tracks, but as a whole set of songs 'Those The Broke' fails to excite me.
I accept that November and the run up to Christmas is the most competitive time of year for record sales; it never fails to amaze me just how many bands have best of albums out each year. That said it can't be denied that 'Those The Broke' hasn't exactly set the charts on fire, debuting just outside the top ten after it's first week and less than a month later (at the time of writing this review) it has dropped out of the top forty altogether. This would suggest that this second LP from Magic Numbers hasn't been the immediate success they would have been hoping for, and the popularity of 'Take A Chance' implied it could be. It seems like me, many who bought their self-titled debut are yet to be convinced by their return.
Despite being left a little disappointed by this record, I still believe Magic Numbers are a fine band and certainly are one well worth checking out live.