By EMIY SKEHAN, DAILY PRESS
Numbers’ grunge rock sound — complemented by some new school synthesizer and insistent percussion — would be edgy, if we hadn’t experienced it yet. The San Francisco band’s music has the noncommittal movement of Sonic Youth or Stereolab, with angsty vocals and sandpaper-rough guitar/piano melodies to boot, but it’s missing one crucial component: Originality. The sound harkens back to the early 1990s, but it can’t seem to decide what it wants to be — trippy, punk or electronic.
That’s not to say that Numbers don’t have musical potential, as female lead singer Indra Dunis has an appropriately strong, punk-y yelp and the roughly pop, swirling instrumentals don’t lack talent. The opening track starts with a fun, dirty Joy Division vibe and the penultimate “I want to believe” is worthy of a head bob or two. The band has an appealingly aggressive, electronically-tinted edge and is just on the cusp of being catchy.
But ultimately, the band has yet to develop a unique approach to the genre, and until they do the copy-cat grunge rock is a little short of satisfying. With more intelligent lyrics, songs that have discernible forward momentum, or original melodies, Numbers could have a hit. Until then, they’re not a bad choice for background noise while you’re having a subversive day, but they’re not worth an air guitar session. (Kill Rock Stars)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 9, 2007. Read the original PDF.