Some would say that punk can't get very sophisticated. I said that once, coming for a background of very British bands and couldn't possibly seeing myself liking and modern "Punk" band. But Action Action did it. They combined the best of Indie guitar rock, synth pop, and dark, gloomy, pop. Kluepfel's vocals chill every track with the low and dragging vocals. The synth work is dazzling from the opening "This Year's Fashion" fuzzed Square to the synth masterpiece "Drug Like".
The first thing I noticed after a full listen is how the album's cover contrasts to the actual content. The color scheme of pink and green is highly different than the imagines of death and depression given in the album.
Let's start the track by track
1. This Year's Fashion -- Starts with fuzzed synth line sounding much like something you would hear at church, but with a dark sound. Kluepfel's vocals come in with a sympathetic tone, like a stalker telling his tale. Breathes follow all the sing word lines ("Erractic...Ellusive"). The guitar kicks in for the chorus and Kluepfel's voice come from a distant speaker. The drums kick in towards the end, but doesn't quite reach the quality of it's older brother, "Don't Cut Your Fabric.
4/5
2. Drug Like -- Kicks in with the same tone from TYF, but in a slow chord form. A watery synth line of random notes is in the back, and after a few seconds, the main, Pop oriented theme comes in. Kloepfel's voice sounds whiney but keeps the same low tone the whole time, and the chorus shows a great show of melody and lyric genius:
The world falls apart in just seven days,
It sinks to the bottom in oceans of rain,
The cure is so clear,
The blood is astray,
And everyone dies,
Except for the rain
The bridge sounds like the band is trapped in a cave under lots of rocks and the strings are out of tune. Overall, an amazing song.
5/5
3. Photograph -- Opens with a stock modern-pop punk riff accompanied by a synth line that follows. Kloepfel comes in with a childlike voice, popping around. Like in any pop punk song, the guitar follows the vocal tone for the pre-chorus, and the chorus is a pretty stock pop punk one. The solo is decent, with lots of compound bends and wah. The rest of the song makes up for the weak chorus.
4/5
4. Basic Tiny Fragments -- Kicks in with a light synth chord with Kloepfel's voice. It seems to change songs as the song takes a whole new tempo and instruments. The strumming guitar chords go with the vocals great, and the distortion screams in right after "Basic tiny fragments..." In the back, screams can be hard. Short, but good track.
4/5
5. Bleed -- Extremely distorted guitar and Kloepfel start it off. Mark sings in a sing song tone until the synth comes in where that and the guitar play in synch. Mark screams about how everything is being lost, but the chorus comes in with synched vocals from atleast 3 Kloepfel recordings. Catchy chorus rhythem. Excellent.
4.5/5
6. Instructions on Building a Model Airplane -- Bleeds new wave. Phased, clean guitar riff opens. Kloepfel screams into the electric chorus, with a very catchy beat and melody. Goes back to a distorted new wave riff where the bass comes in. I don't particulary like how Mark sings the verses though. Mark ends it with screams. "Chorus makes it all worth it" track.
4/5
7. A Simple Question -- Very synth and sampled beat oriented. Kloepfel sings in a very relaxed voice during this slow track. Tremelo effects fill any guitars. The chorus contains some very nice synth progressions. At about 2:10 it supercharges into a guitar oriented rhythem, which is totally awesome, with a synth solo or two in it. Amazing.
5/5
8. Eight-Grade Summer Romance -- Humorous title, gory track. The lyrics depict slitting wrists, commiting suicide, and other evil things. The chorus vocals are some of the best in the album, although you can see the Beatles influence there:
You're a drug like the gun inside my mouth,
I know it's wrong but I just can't spit you out,
Happiness is a warm pun,
And I love the taste of steel tonight,
After each chorus, there are small guitar breaks. At 2:10, that guitar break goes into an awesome solo very reminescent of Angus Young meets Eddie Van Halen. Great track.
5/5
9. Let's Never Go To Sleep -- Comes in with a distorted pop riff, goes through an OK verse (instrumentally). The chorus blows me away every time, with Knoepfel's voice upbeat. The third verse/bridge is an amazing time, with rushed vocals and kick ass drumming, along with one of the greatest lyrics OF ALL TIME:
The meaning of life will come in a dream,
This is why we must never go to sleep.
After that, starts a 1 minute sub track (-0:45 on CD Players) which is, ironically, a highlight of the album.
5/5
10. Broken -- Heavy bass riff starts off the track with synth fills in the back. Then BAM! awesome synth driven melody. Chorus is sadly screwed by the backup vocals, who don't do anything with Knoepfel's voice. Synth solo towards the end is the highlight. Meh track.
3.5/5
11. Four Piece Jigsaw Puzzle -- ACOUSTIC??? H4X! Yes, good guitars and pianos. Of course, the coolness of that outweighs Knoepfel's vocals. When they drop out for the chorus, Knoepfel shines with his relaxed voice. Amazing track.
5/5
12. Don't Cut Your Fabric -- The single from the CD, and it shines away. Basicially, the first track on steroids. Knoepfel shines with his erratic vocals and organs. The backing vocals for the chorus are a million times better than the opening track's and the guitars add a new level of darkness to it. Synth solo near the end. Wow.
7/5
13. The Short Week Begins With Longing -- 6 and a half minute closer. And a good one. Sampled beats, synth chords, and Knoepfel. Lyrics seem to reflect on the events of the other tracks events. The chorus goes right in, and is the best one on the album. Very, very poppy. At 3:05, Knoepfel sings in a very high pitch, which is very great and fits the track. Ends the album on synth chords. Awesome.
5/5
Great album.
