BBC Review 1bj6o
There's a growing maturity to this album that which is full of delicate ballads,...
Dan Tallis 2006
"I was lost, but now I’m found" claims lead singer Romeo Stodart on the band’s second album 'Those The Brokes', contradicting the sentiment of their big hit “Forever Lost”. This reflects a growing maturity on an album that is full of delicate ballads, beautiful harmonies and the occasional up-tempo gem. Lyrically, love, relationships and redemption are all recurring themes.
No matter how heavy their hearts, things get off to a jaunty start with “This Is A Song” which bounces along at a fair old pace. Radio friendly single “Take A Chance” maintains the musically joyful mood and sees The Magic Numbers at their best – sun drenched catchy pop tunes with soaring harmonies from the two sets of siblings.
The tempo slows dramatically as wistful ballad “Slow Down (The Way It Goes)” makes a lovelorn plea; “you can’t give up on him”. From here the tempo rarely returns to the bright and breezy levels that the band excel at. There’s too many long ballads - seven of the tracks here are over five minutes. And the subject matter of unrequited love becomes a bit tiresome after the eighth song.
On the whole 'Those The Brokes' is a worthy follow up to their debut, just don’t be afraid to use the skip button now and again.
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