The Actionslacks - Never Never Shake Baby - Post Parlo

Review by: Jennifer Perkins

How do you like your Actionslacks? Live? Perhaps via a cover tune? Maybe acoustic? Well, Never Never Shake Baby, their latest release, has a little something for every Actionslacks lover.

The first two tracks on the 5 song EP, "Annie Oakley" and "Iron Anchor" were recorded at the same time The Actionslacks were in the studio recording for their stellar The Scene is Out of Sight. For whatever reason these 2 songs did not make the full length and have landed here. They almost seem to be an ooch harder than what I have come to expect from the Actionslacks. I can see that where these are excellent songs they would have thrown off the pop continuity of the last record. If anything it just shows the band flexing their muscles.

One of my favorite songs from the last record, "Shining Jewels", is on the EP 3 songs in - listed as a remix. This almost entirely acoustic version is every bit as engaging in this sparse and heartfelt version as it was as an upbeat peppy number on The Scene. The only other thing besides vocals and an unplugged guitar is some lightly peppered tremolo guitar work done by J. Robbins.

Never had the privilege of seeing The Actionslacks live? Well now you can at least hear what they sound like. The EP contains a version of "I Hope This Makes It Easier For You" recorded at San Francisco's legendary Bottom of the Hill. Give Tim Scanlin a head full of wavy blonde 70's hair and a Polyester shirt unbuttoned to his navel and think Actionslacks Come Alive.

The EP is wrapped up with a rather obscure cover tune, that is unless you are a die-hard fan of Gary Myrick or know The Valley Girl soundtrack like the back of your hand. I, for one, did not recognize "She Talks in Stereo". The cover is kind of dark and out of typical character for the band - apparently recorded early on in the bands existence.

It is really easy to throw Never Never Shake Baby into the outtakes and oddities category. "Oh, these songs made the EP, because they were not full-length quality". Ah contraire. My theory is Actionslacks were wise enough to save these little gems because they knew they were strong enough ditties to stand alone on a release all there own.

Read a review of The Scene is Out of Sight here.

Read where The Actionslacks got their name from here.

See pictures of The Actionslacks here.