The Telephone Numbers
Scarecrow II
(Slumberland)
3.5/5
San Francisco’s The Telephone Numbers are cementing themselves as a worthy presence in the indie pop scene, with their second album, Scarecrow II, boldly embracing the timeless feel of ’70s and ’90s rock.
From the opening track, “Goodbye Rock n Roll,” the band establishes a clear and distinct sound that remains present throughout the album. Each song features a strong, typically upbeat tempo, with dreamy acoustics and vocals that pay homage to the early California music scene while still appealing to a wider audience of music lovers.
These elements come together to create a formulaic structure that, perhaps in spite of itself, doesn’t get old, nor does it feel repetitive. And the reason for this? Well, similar to bands like Bleachers, The Telephone Numbers lean into a vast and somewhat strange—for rock—body of instruments, including the organ, mellotron, mandolin, and trumpet. The result of this is a glowingly unique sound filled with warmth, familiarity, and resonance.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the band’s lyricism. While there are bright moments, specifically on tracks like “Ebb Tide,” “Falling Dream,” and “Scarecrow,” the bulk of their lyric writing left me unimpressed and disappointed. For this reason, I opted to focus less on what they were saying and more on how they were saying it—near-perfectly. Not to mention the album’s production, mixed by Chris Cohen, which seamlessly polishes an already shining collection of songs.
Now, all that being said, as they creep up on their seventh year together, the broader success of The Telephone Numbers remains to be seen. As an underground band with no social media presence, they primarily perform and promote on a local level. And while respectable, I do think this squanders a great listening opportunity for us folks not residing in the San Francisco area.
So, for fans of The Eagles, Brett Dennen, and any number of indie musicians who embrace nostalgia alongside doomed optimism, this album is for you. Even if they don’t want you to know about it.