Actionslacks - The Scene's Out of Sight - The Self Starter Foundation

Review by: Jennifer Perkins

Making a subtle pop record is quite a feat to behold. Usually bands fall into one of two pop categories. The first being over-the-top pop. This is where a band comes across as so strained to be upbeat and peppy, you feel like they are constipated with a candy bar. The second is a band that is desperately trying to be pop, but can't quite figure out a guitar hook to save their sad "I want CMJ to love me" life. The Actionslacks however fall into that rare and elusive category, not many bands reach - perfect pop subtly.

The Actionslacks are sly fellows. They reel you into their record and you love it before you even knew what hit you. There is not an over-dose of power chords, woo-woo backing vocals or any other cheap pop shenanigans. These are good straight forward songs, simplicity seems to be working in their favor.

There is nothing like a piano to make a song work. The Actionslacks know when to hit the ivories. Two of my favorite tracks on the CD "Tad Loves Kimberly James " and the jazzy "Shining Jewels" both use a piano beautifully. Usually, I have eerie Billy Joel flash backs when pop bands try to work a piano into their sound. Instead of making the piano the focal point the ever-tricky Actionslacks use it to perfectly augment already great songs.

I find it amusing that my favorite song on an overall fairly upbeat record is a rather down trodden love song. "Perfect G" four songs in is a sweet an endearing love song that makes my heart hurt. The music of The Actionslacks may come across as pop on the surface, on closer inspection there are melancholy undertones in the lyrics giving everything some added depth. As a side note, if Travis Morrison of The Dismemberment Plan was any more of a balladeer people would be getting him confused with Tim Scanlin. Wonder if J. Robbins noticed the resemblance in their voices while they were recording.

Though the music of The Actionslacks may not be overbearing and obvious, their talent is. This is a band that has been around a good long while and deserves every bit of attention they get. Not only is the scene out of sight as the title indicates, so is this record.

Read a Review of Never Never Shake Baby here.

Read where the Actionslacks got their name from here.

Read where the Self Starter Foundation got their name from here.

See pictures of The Actionslacks here.