Magic Bullets
San Francisco, California, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
From the first moments of Magic Bullets‘ self-titled LP, one is taken back a quarter century on a journey into the music of The Smiths. No, Magic Bullets do not cover the famed band, but to say they were influenced by Moz’s early entourage is an understatement. Magic Bullets pack on the indie pop jangle and provide Moz-ish obscure, melodramatic vocal hooks that make you want to dig those Smiths records out for a spin on the ol’ turntable.
There are plenty of wandering bass lines and hyper-upbeat drum beats to bring the Smiths reference full circle while tossing in reference to similar era groups like Orange Juice. True to their influence, songs like “Lying Around” and “Sigh The Day Away” will get under your skin with one part foot-tapping and one part cower away in a depressive doom. Magic Bullets have mastered the continuously manic/depressive songwriting style, and they display it proudly on their sleeves on their self-titled LP.
The band just released a single for “Lying Around” on Mon Amie and will be releasing Magic Bullets in June. - FensePost
Obviously we want all of you to come to the BV day party at Public Assembly. Bands start at noon, with Jonny Corndawg kicking things off and then San Francisco's Magic Bullets (who I saw Wed. night at Bruar Falls, so much fun) at 12:30. Get there early for free food, drinks and Earpeace earplugs. So many great acts today. - Brooklyn Vegan
On their sophomore full-length, San Francisco's Magic Bullets take careful, well positioned steps to revive a sound that marries early 1980s UK guitar pop and 90s college rock. That specific band names will come to mind when discussing Magic Bullets is unavoidable: The Smiths and Orange Juice are obvious, as are the nods to the sunnier elements of twee. - Pitchfork
Magic Bullets may be based in San Francisco, but their music is more reminiscent of 1980s UK guitar-pop acts like Orange Juice and Dexys Midnight Runners. The band (who lost members to fellow San Franciscans Girls recently) has a self-titled full-length due out June 15 on newly-minted label Mon Amie, which recently released the breezy album single "Lying Around". - Pitchfork
Discography
* a CHILD but in life yet a DOCTOR in love (2007, Words On Music) (recorded 2005-2006) "Yesterday's Seen Better Days" video
* Upstairs Flight (iTunes single) • February 2008
* Lives For Romance (self-released) • January 2009
* Lying Around 7" (Mon Amie) • April 2010
* Untitled (Mon Amie) • June 2010
* Young Man's Fancy (unreleased, recorded 2007-2008)
Photos
Bio
Magic Bullets began as as a side project of a full time band in Redwood City, CA in 2004. What started as a lark became the main focus and the driving force for core members for years to come.
In early 2007 the band released an album’s worth of recordings collected over the span of the three years since the band’s conception. Their first full length “A Child But In Life Yet A Doctor In Love” was released on Minneapolis’ Words on Music.
Numerous tours of the states followed, finding the band as far East as New York and showcased at Austin’s SXSW music festival in 2008. Magic Bullets played with some of their favorite old and new acts including Pylon, A Certain Ratio, Section 25, The Raincoats, No Age, Wild Beasts, The Walkmen, and MGMT.
Magic Bullets opted to self-release their second recording, a four song 12? titled “Magic Bullets Lives For Romance”. “Lives for Romance” saw a dramatic maturation of the band’s sound from “A Child…” and despite various lineup changes, shining reviews for the EP encouraged the band to continue writing songs for a second album.
Whereas the first full length was somewhat haphazardly compiled, this new record was to be a better-envisioned and more deliberate effort.
2010's Magic Bullets (Mon Amie Records) exposes the band for what they are: a seasoned group who’s seen its ups and downs and yet somehow ends up the better for it.
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