Susan Frances
08/06/08, 08:13 PM
The Action Design - Never Say
Record Label: Popsmear Records
Release Date: September 23, 2008
The Action Design make a good case for why sometimes the end of an era brings forth the start of a new one. The members of The Action Design came together after their previous bands called it quits. The Action Design emerged from lead singer Emily Whitehurst and bassist Matt McKenzie coming from San Francisco’s Tsunami Bomb, and adding guitarist Jaycen McKissick from the Bay Area’s Pipedown and drummer Jake Krohn previously of Calcutta Bazaar. Newly formed in 2007, The Action Design has one EP, Into a Sound to their credit and has recently added their full-length disc, Never Say to their portfolio.
Produced by Scott Llamas (Love Equal Death, Facing New York), Never Say has its mix of dance party tracks, car stereo tunes, and songs molded for arena settings. Speaking of which, The Action Design have been on the Warped Tour bill for both 2007 and this year’s 2008 lineup. Their songs on Never Say have a synth-rock pitch and emo-punk grips. Whitehurst’s vocals have a nice firmness with a hearty register reminiscent of Metric’s Emily Haines and guitarist McKissick cuts punk-toned indentations that give the songs a bundle of svelte melodic hooks. The rock calibrations in the dance grooves have kick pedals liken to the Kaiser Chiefs, and the synth-textured fringes have a shimmery echo reflective of Monsters are Waiting. Every track is worth your attention as the band changes the dynamics in each one, so they all sound unique while clearly showing The Action Design’s fingerprints on them.
“Tokyo Train” is one of those melodies on the album with words that resonate of real life. Whitehurst describes, “ Even though your letter began with ‘Hello’ and ended with ‘Love, Helena’ / Every single word meant ‘I’ll never see you again’ / I hate to see you go / But too bad you’re staying home / It’s bon voyage this time / But you don’t even seem to know / You made a bad day much, much worse / And I’m tired.”
The Action Design is one of those bands whose popularity keeps growing with time. I don’t think there is a doubt that they should be a band and playing in front of large crowds. Their dance-rock blends and slugs of pop punk insignias have excellent quality with an appeal that crosses the Atlantic, or the Pacific in the case of The Action Design who come from San Francisco. Their music is solid and hopefully that reflects the band too.
Metric, Soho Dolls, Kaiser Chiefs, Monsters are Waiting
www.myspace.com/theactiondesign (http://www.myspace.com/theactiondesign)
Record Label: Popsmear Records
Release Date: September 23, 2008
The Action Design make a good case for why sometimes the end of an era brings forth the start of a new one. The members of The Action Design came together after their previous bands called it quits. The Action Design emerged from lead singer Emily Whitehurst and bassist Matt McKenzie coming from San Francisco’s Tsunami Bomb, and adding guitarist Jaycen McKissick from the Bay Area’s Pipedown and drummer Jake Krohn previously of Calcutta Bazaar. Newly formed in 2007, The Action Design has one EP, Into a Sound to their credit and has recently added their full-length disc, Never Say to their portfolio.
Produced by Scott Llamas (Love Equal Death, Facing New York), Never Say has its mix of dance party tracks, car stereo tunes, and songs molded for arena settings. Speaking of which, The Action Design have been on the Warped Tour bill for both 2007 and this year’s 2008 lineup. Their songs on Never Say have a synth-rock pitch and emo-punk grips. Whitehurst’s vocals have a nice firmness with a hearty register reminiscent of Metric’s Emily Haines and guitarist McKissick cuts punk-toned indentations that give the songs a bundle of svelte melodic hooks. The rock calibrations in the dance grooves have kick pedals liken to the Kaiser Chiefs, and the synth-textured fringes have a shimmery echo reflective of Monsters are Waiting. Every track is worth your attention as the band changes the dynamics in each one, so they all sound unique while clearly showing The Action Design’s fingerprints on them.
“Tokyo Train” is one of those melodies on the album with words that resonate of real life. Whitehurst describes, “ Even though your letter began with ‘Hello’ and ended with ‘Love, Helena’ / Every single word meant ‘I’ll never see you again’ / I hate to see you go / But too bad you’re staying home / It’s bon voyage this time / But you don’t even seem to know / You made a bad day much, much worse / And I’m tired.”
The Action Design is one of those bands whose popularity keeps growing with time. I don’t think there is a doubt that they should be a band and playing in front of large crowds. Their dance-rock blends and slugs of pop punk insignias have excellent quality with an appeal that crosses the Atlantic, or the Pacific in the case of The Action Design who come from San Francisco. Their music is solid and hopefully that reflects the band too.
Metric, Soho Dolls, Kaiser Chiefs, Monsters are Waiting
www.myspace.com/theactiondesign (http://www.myspace.com/theactiondesign)