The Magic Numbers
“The Magic Numbers”
Every once and a while an English act pops up that manages to make American music better than most American acts. But imitation means little if there’s not much soul behind it. The brother-sister (two of each) band the Magic Numbers sometimes recalls the ’60s at their rollicking, rustic best, the group’s self-titled debut rich in harmonies, jangling guitars and songs about love. But the group’s innocence often comes off more bland than interesting–“Love Me Like You” squanders some great hooks, while the only thing that comes of the sweet “Wheels on Fire” referencing the great Bob Dylan/Band song is that its immediately cast as inferior to that classic. It’s wimpy in all the wrong ways.
Hot track: “Long Legs” is a delightful ditty in a time short on such things.