Numbers
Issue #25
We're Animals (Kill Rock Stars)
By Laura Paisley
Published: September 1st, 2005 | 1:15pm
Perhaps Numbers has been spending more quality time with fellow Bay Area comrades and labelmates Deerhoof. We're Animals — their first release on Kill Rock Stars — occasionally toes the fine line that distinguishes the two bands' experimental sound, and you may wonder whether you're hearing the little-girl vocals of Satomi Matsuzaki or Indra Dunis.
And yet other elements of this album make it clear that Numbers are blazing some new and original trails. While fans of the older material from Life will encounter the familiar rush of angular dance-punk fodder, they'll also be introduced to gentle, hypnotic songs reminiscent of early Stereolab on "Can't Remember" and "Party's Over." It's a testament to the band's musical maturation that they're slowing down, stretching and spacing out a bit, adventuring beyond the straightforward appeal of catchy electro. It's easy enough to get audiences gyrating on the dance floor, but engaging them more dynamically requires the finesse that comes with experience.
But lest you think their third release is anything less than a rousing, mainly upbeat record, Numbers at their most essential is still at the root of every song. The band maintains its endearing sense of humor in songs like "Funny But Sad," which recounts the misfortune of arriving at a party where your crush is only to encounter your ex, who punches you in the face. And someone is definitely pissed at "The Fuck You Garage." In the end, it's a question of balance: one really appealing thing about this album is that it fuels both dance parties and their sleepy aftermaths.
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Numbers' official Web site
Numbers' Myspace page
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