The Magic Numbers (album)

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The Magic Numbers
The Magic Numbers Album.jpg
Studio album by
Released13 June 2005 (2005-06-13)
RecordedRecorded and mixed at Metropolis Studios and Konk Studios, mixed at Metropolis Mastering, mastered at Sanctuary Townhouse.
Genre Indie pop
Length64:37
Label Heavenly, EMI
Producer Craig Silvey and Romeo Stodart
The Magic Numbers chronology
The Magic Numbers
(2005)
Those the Brokes
(2006)
Singles from The Magic Numbers
  1. "Forever Lost"
    Released: 23 May 2005 [1]
  2. "Love Me Like You"
    Released: 8 August 2005 [2]
  3. "Love's a Game"
    Released: 24 October 2005 [3]
  4. "I See You, You See Me"
    Released: 13 February 2006 [4]

The Magic Numbers is the debut album from English pop rock band the Magic Numbers. It was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize in 2005. Songwriting duties were taken by Romeo Stodart as was much of the musical composition and arrangement. It incorporated the earlier single release of "Hymn for Her" as a hidden track. The album incorporates many folk elements within the main indie sound which resounds throughout. The album also reflects many elements of the writers' early childhood dreams, tales of their love life and desperation of youth. For example, "Love Me Like You", the best known single of the album, illustrates the difference of feeling in their love for each other.

Contents

Production

The Magic Numbers began recording the album in late 2004 at the Metropolis Studios in Chiswick. [5] The album was co-produced by Romeo Stodart and American producer Craig Silvey. [6]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 80/100 [7]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Blender Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [10]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [12]
NME 8/10 [13]
Pitchfork 7.6/10 [14]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [15]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [16]
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [17]

The album was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2005, but lost to Antony and the Johnsons' I Am a Bird Now . [18] The Magic Numbers came 43rd on PopMatters ' 50 Best Albums of 2005 list. [6]

Track listing

The Magic Numbers track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Mornings Eleven"Michele Stodart, Romeo Stodart5:34
2."Forever Lost"Romeo Stodart4:11
3."The Mule"Romeo Stodart5:11
4."Long Legs"Romeo Stodart3:22
5."Love Me Like You"Romeo Stodart4:50
6."Which Way to Happy"Romeo Stodart4:27
7."I See You, You See Me"Romeo Stodart6:00
8."Don't Give Up the Fight"Romeo Stodart2:59
9."This Love"Romeo Stodart5:40
10."Wheels on Fire"Michele Stodart, Romeo Stodart4:03
11."Love's a Game"Romeo Stodart4:48
12."Try/Hymn for Her"Romeo Stodart13:32
Japanese edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
16."Idea of a Feeling"Sean Gannon, Romeo Stodart 
17."I Hope You Don't Mind"Romeo Stodart 
Total length:64:37

Personnel

The Magic Numbers

Other personnel

Charts

Singles chart performance

Chart performance for singles from The Magic Numbers
Single (British releases)Peak chart positions
"Forever Lost"15 [25]
"Love Me Like You"12 [25]
"Love's a Game"24 [25]
"I See You, You See Me"20 [25]

Release history

Release history and formats for The Magic Numbers
CountryDateLabelFormatCatalog
United Kingdom13 June 2005 Heavenly CD HVNLP53CD
LP HVNLP53
United States2 August 2005 EMI CD312162

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