Review Summary: Not anywhere close to magic.
Magic! Is a so-called reggae-fusion band, originating in Canada and created and fronted by Nasri Atweh. I say “so-called” due to the fact that they aren’t so much reggae-fusion, or a band, as much as they occasionally employ the use of simple off beat chords played on an electric guitar, or the rare groovy bassline underneath standard, electronic, squeaky-clean pop fare. Even setting aside genre labeling, Magic! is nothing special or unique even by pop music standards.
The awfully titled
Don't Kill the Magic begins decently enough with lead single and one of two worthwhile song on the album, “Rude.” While its dreadful lyrics certainly stifle the song and it takes everything in you to not utter “What the ***?” in disbelief as Nasri sings “why you gotta be so rude?/don’t you know I’m human too?” with the utmost sincerity and seriousness, overall it’s an enjoyable listen. It is almost criminally catchy, and quite refreshing to hear a pop band employing actual instruments (complete with a lackluster guitar solo!) even if the music is stupidly simple.
But from here the album quickly devolves into trite and generic pop music, complete with sickeningly sweet production and lyrics. Even songs that begin with even a slight hint of promise such as “Paradise,” with its funky bassline and catchy chorus riff, transform into synthesized disasters. Every cliché trick in pop handbook is pulled out and beat to do as if Nasri’s experience writing and producing for pop artists as lead to a complete inability to introduce anything remotely new or enjoyable to the genre. Each and every song feels like Magic! trying to craft their next big single, and the album feels bloated and disjointed because of this.
Lyrically,
Don’t Kill the Magic is almost exactly what you would expect, with the notable difference being only a single variation from sterilized love songs. Even other radio hopeful pop artists include the occasional song about heartbreak or partying, but no such deviation is found here. Nearly every single song is the same medium tempo and contains disgustingly happy and hopeful lyrics. Magic! paint a portrait of a world where everything is happy, women are objects to be won, and love conquers everything. The one exception to this rule musically, “Little Girl Big World,” is the best song on the album. Perhaps it’s due to the change in tempo, or the fact that it is the first and only moment on the entire album where the band was fully utilized, particularly the bassist who is the most talented member of the band. It also contains some of the worst, most sexist lyrics on the album, with this particular gem: “All I wanted was a home-cooked sandwich/But your greedy little fingers couldn't manage.”
Overall,
Don’t Kill the Magic is not worth anybodies time nor attention. The instruments are nonexistent for the majority of the album, Nasri’s voice is neither amazing nor unlistenable, the lyrics are absolutely terrible, and nearly every aspect of the album was done better on
Songs About Jane,
Synchronicty or other contemporary pop albums. Don’t waste your time.
