ActionReaction – 3 is the Magic Number

The latest — and true debut, excepting a short tour EP — from ActionReaction, 3 is the Magic Number, is a glossy work of pop-rock with an element of careful production. ActionReaction’s attention to detail is apparent, what with a fair amount of meticulous timing and instrumentation.

It’s obvious that this is a band with some experience behind them — and with Jason Gleason, previously of Further Seems Forever, there’s some strong evidence to back up such a thought. ActionReaction displays more than just a modicum of rock know-how, much to their benefit.

3 is the Magic Number, though, fails to really capture anything magic, so to speak. While moderately catchy and explorative, ActionReaction’s first full-length is somewhat lacking. The problem, it seems, is over-production; it doesn’t much feel like a band playing the songs so much as three strangers playing arranged pieces. To their detriment, they fail to really mesh as a group, which may or may not be of their own doing.

This album has definite potential, but potential only goes so far in the listening experience. ActionReaction hasn’t clearly failed, though — the songwriting is quality, the performances are quality — but they never really mesh in an appealing manner.

Even still, ActionReaction is definitely on the lookout for — the lack of the proper cooperative atmosphere hasn’t stopped certain music from gaining popularity in the past. And, if there’s only one thing ActionReaction has potential for (it seems they have much more potential, though,) it’s the possibility that they’ll gain even slight amounts of popularity.

The latest — and true debut, excepting a short tour EP — from ActionReaction, 3 is the Magic Number, is a glossy work of pop-rock with an element of careful production. ActionReaction’s attention to detail is apparent, what with a fair amount of meticulous timing and instrumentation.

It’s obvious that this is a band with some experience behind them — and with Jason Gleason, previously of Further Seems Forever, there’s some strong evidence to back up such a thought. ActionReaction displays more than just a modicum of rock know-how, much to their benefit.

3 is the Magic Number, though, fails to really capture anything magic, so to speak. While moderately catchy and explorative, ActionReaction’s first full-length is somewhat lacking. The problem, it seems, is over-production; it doesn’t much feel like a band playing the songs so much as three strangers playing arranged pieces. To their detriment, they fail to really mesh as a group, which may or may not be of their own doing.

This album has definite potential, but potential only goes so far in the listening experience. ActionReaction hasn’t clearly failed, though — the songwriting is quality, the performances are quality — but they never really mesh in an appealing manner.

Even still, ActionReaction is definitely on the lookout for — the lack of the proper cooperative atmosphere hasn’t stopped certain music from gaining popularity in the past. And, if there’s only one thing ActionReaction has potential for (it seems they have much more potential, though,) it’s the possibility that they’ll gain even slight amounts of popularity.

The latest — and true debut, excepting a short tour EP — from ActionReaction, 3 is the Magic Number, is a glossy work of pop-rock with an element of careful production. ActionReaction’s attention to detail is apparent, what with a fair amount of meticulous timing and instrumentation.

It’s obvious that this is a band with some experience behind them — and with Jason Gleason, previously of Further Seems Forever, there’s some strong evidence to back up such a thought. ActionReaction displays more than just a modicum of rock know-how, much to their benefit.

3 is the Magic Number, though, fails to really capture anything magic, so to speak. While moderately catchy and explorative, ActionReaction’s first full-length is somewhat lacking. The problem, it seems, is over-production; it doesn’t much feel like a band playing the songs so much as three strangers playing arranged pieces. To their detriment, they fail to really mesh as a group, which may or may not be of their own doing.

This album has definite potential, but potential only goes so far in the listening experience. ActionReaction hasn’t clearly failed, though — the songwriting is quality, the performances are quality — but they never really mesh in an appealing manner.

Even still, ActionReaction is definitely on the lookout for — the lack of the proper cooperative atmosphere hasn’t stopped certain music from gaining popularity in the past. And, if there’s only one thing ActionReaction has potential for (it seems they have much more potential, though,) it’s the possibility that they’ll gain even slight amounts of popularity.

The latest — and true debut, excepting a short tour EP — from ActionReaction, 3 is the Magic Number, is a glossy work of pop-rock with an element of careful production. ActionReaction’s attention to detail is apparent, what with a fair amount of meticulous timing and instrumentation.

It’s obvious that this is a band with some experience behind them — and with Jason Gleason, previously of Further Seems Forever, there’s some strong evidence to back up such a thought. ActionReaction displays more than just a modicum of rock know-how, much to their benefit.

3 is the Magic Number, though, fails to really capture anything magic, so to speak. While moderately catchy and explorative, ActionReaction’s first full-length is somewhat lacking. The problem, it seems, is over-production; it doesn’t much feel like a band playing the songs so much as three strangers playing arranged pieces. To their detriment, they fail to really mesh as a group, which may or may not be of their own doing.

This album has definite potential, but potential only goes so far in the listening experience. ActionReaction hasn’t clearly failed, though — the songwriting is quality, the performances are quality — but they never really mesh in an appealing manner.

Even still, ActionReaction is definitely on the lookout for — the lack of the proper cooperative atmosphere hasn’t stopped certain music from gaining popularity in the past. And, if there’s only one thing ActionReaction has potential for (it seems they have much more potential, though,) it’s the possibility that they’ll gain even slight amounts of popularity.

The latest — and true debut, excepting a short tour EP — from ActionReaction, 3 is the Magic Number, is a glossy work of pop-rock with an element of careful production. ActionReaction’s attention to detail is apparent, what with a fair amount of meticulous timing and instrumentation.

It’s obvious that this is a band with some experience behind them — and with Jason Gleason, previously of Further Seems Forever, there’s some strong evidence to back up such a thought. ActionReaction displays more than just a modicum of rock know-how, much to their benefit.

3 is the Magic Number, though, fails to really capture anything magic, so to speak. While moderately catchy and explorative, ActionReaction’s first full-length is somewhat lacking. The problem, it seems, is over-production; it doesn’t much feel like a band playing the songs so much as three strangers playing arranged pieces. To their detriment, they fail to really mesh as a group, which may or may not be of their own doing.

This album has definite potential, but potential only goes so far in the listening experience. ActionReaction hasn’t clearly failed, though — the songwriting is quality, the performances are quality — but they never really mesh in an appealing manner.

Even still, ActionReaction is definitely on the lookout for — the lack of the proper cooperative atmosphere hasn’t stopped certain music from gaining popularity in the past. And, if there’s only one thing ActionReaction has potential for (it seems they have much more potential, though,) it’s the possibility that they’ll gain even slight amounts of popularity.

Matthew Montgomery

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