ActionReaction
3 Is The Magic Number

by Cade L.

Equal Vision, August 2006
Genre: Psychedelic Rock, Alternative
Rating: 4/5

My first reaction to Action Reaction was “…okay….What?” To some degree, that’s still my reaction, only now my dumbfounded state of consciousness is compounded with the crazily superb sonic trip that is Action Reaction. 3 Is The Magic Number is the band’s debut featuring Jason Gleeson former vocalist of Further Seems Forever. After leaving FSF, Gleeson went on to form Action Reaction with fellow bandmates Bella (Gleeson's wife) and Salvatore. The result is a rich, gutsy, and in some ways explosive record that moves on so many levels. This stuff gets pretty weird, so hold on to something when exploring this eclectic and strange record.

Musically:
You would think that given Gleeson’s background with Further Seems Forever this music would be somewhere in the hardcore/emo genre, but that is not the case. The music is hard to describe. It’s dark, slightly mad, middle of the road rock ‘n roll. The style is in no way conventional, straying the line between pop, hard-rock, blues, and jazz. All the way through, we are carried by strong musicianship and perfect flow from the rhythm. Just when I think I have this band figured out, they throw another twist out of nowhere keeping the listener engaged from start to finish. Each track has its own flavor and attitude and yet it all fits together to make for a cohesive collage of sounds. The album begins with “Sinner’s Algebra,” probably the most conventional song on the record and that’s not saying much. Once the first verse kicks in, we realize that this isn’t an ordinary band. It features a solid chorus that ushers us into the world of Action Reaction. “Can You Hear The Sun?” and “March On” give rise to the brash attitude and confidence prevalent throughout the album. The band is at its best on tracks like “At The Moon” where the dark but mild guitar stylings dance with the savvy drum-work. This is one of my favorite tracks from the record. Another favorite of mine is “Come See My Grave,” a slow, beautiful tune that gradually builds to a boisterous conclusion. The album picks up the pace with “The Exit Poll, Amen,” a fast and energetic rock ‘n roll tune that would be a tent pole in their live show. We are treated to another savory crescendo with “Contagious” a song that slowly builds to an explosive end. Gleeson’s vocals are perfectly showcased here. “With My Voice” is another ambitious rocker that features a heavy bass riff mixed right into the foreground in full distortion during the bridge. Slapping this together with some crazy discordant key elements creates a delightfully sick twist to an already excellent tune. I just had to sit back when “Have A Cocktail” began with it’s lightly comical approach and B3 soaked chorus. I enjoyed this song thoroughly due to its head-nodding appeal and rhythm. Next comes “Spark The Sun,” which starts out soft and remains that way while still retaining the signature sound and color of the rest of the album. I could almost feel a slight Enya influence here—I could easily see her doing a version of this song after her own style. The song is very pretty and emotional, a worthy conclusion to the record.

Lyrically/Vocally:
Jason Gleeson’s vocals are one of the star highlights of this album. His vocals can be both smooth and abrasive on cue. Gleeson is able to conjure up just the right amount of force and subtlety, and weave them seamlessly with the given song’s direction. The quality of his voice works well on all levels of intensity—never once causing me to question his ability and skill. Unfortunately, the lyrics don’t live up to the level the music reaches. At best, the lyrics are vague and ambiguous. The lyrics fall into the whole “yes there is a subject, you just don’t know what it is” category. The songs are all about events which we didn’t see and people we’ve never met with no effort to clarify or help us relate as listeners. There is a little bit of questionable language in places.  To the band’s credit, there is one song that gave me some pause. “Come See My Grave” has one line that is repeated through the chorus that struck me as profound and truthful: “I would like to recognize my friends by which way they walk, not how far they run away.” It’s a message I think we all can relate to as Christians.

Lyrical glitches aside, 3 Is The Magic Number is an amazing record—one of the best I’ve heard this year. The skill and color make for a thoroughly engaging and entertaining sound. There’s nothing trendy here, so I can foresee this group delivering more of the same unique style in their music in the future. I’m willing to forgive them for the lyrical mistakes, but unfortunately, I can’t recommend this album whole-heartedly with a clear conscience. I hope they watch their mouths a little closer in the future and realize the spiritual potential their artistic influence could have on people.