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Monday, July 18, 2005

Quick Takes: The Magic Numbers - The Magic Numbers
I really want to give in to the Magic Numbers's debut self-titled album. I really do. On some levels it isn't difficult. How can I not instantly like music this summery? "Mornings Eleven" is overloaded with undeniably faultless pop moments; "Long Legs" kills with its rollercoaster riffing and hand clapping; and the build-ups in "Love Me Like You" are just plain perfect. But there are many excesses on the album and I can't help but feel frustrated and even a little bored at times.

The Magic Numbers stretch their songs to the point of breaking and sometimes beyond. If I could play God, Stylus-style, I'd nip and tuck many extraneous sections on several songs. For example, the aforementioned "Mornings Eleven" could lose a few interludes, "Wheels on Fire" takes its sweet time getting to the point, and "Love is Just a Game" lingers just a bit too long. There's a concise classic buried in here somewhere. Too bad the Magic Numbers couldn't hold back.
posted by jason @ 5:29 PM  LINK |
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check it
Dinosaur L
Dinosaur L
"#5 (Go Bang)"
"#7 (Recorded Live at the Kitchen, 1979)"
Not that it takes much, but the trailer for the upcoming Arthur Russell documentary got me onto an AR kick the other day, and I headed for Dinosaur L's 24-24 Music. 24-24 is thought by some to be the gem of Russell's dancier material, and it'll hopefully be reissued soon. The Francois K remix of its masterstroke "#5 (Go Bang)" kicks off 2004's The World of Arthur Russell compilation, but I actually prefer the 24-24 original (MP3). When I first heard 24-24, though, the standout for me was far more fleeting. The two-minute "#7 (Recorded Live at the Kitchen, 1979)" (MP3) is a tantalizingly short slice of a session I hope is sitting in full in a vault somewhere. Russell's cello anchors a percussive horn-guitar groove that quickly recalls (or, I should say, previews) !!! and others. And, like much of Russell's music, I love it not only for its sound but also for the era of NYC it instantly evokes.

- rajeev, 12.14.06
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