Best known as
Further Seems Forever's second singer,
Jason Gleason is back with a new band,
ActionReaction, and some of the best music thus far in his career. If only more indie rock sounded this garden fresh. Rounded out by ex-members of
Element 101 (
Salvatore Ciaravino and
Bella), the trio's debut full-length,
3 is the Magic Number, is the work of a self-assured crew that knows exactly what it wants and how to accomplish it skillfully. Listeners are left with one treat of an album as the group incorporates basic indie rock with subtle touches of funk here, country twangs there, and even sporadic dance-y flairs that separate
ActionReaction from the pack without forcing them into any one of those specific genres. It's not like
ActionReaction is purposely trying to be eclectic, since really, their songs are pretty straightforward rock affairs that never approach complete randomness. Everything is simply melded together so cohesively and with a certain soulfulness and understated quality to them that the band's brand of rock is unique without them having to go crazy to achieve such an identity.
Gleason's expressive vocal chords sound stronger than ever, emitting a dignified confidence in every note that can be felt firmly throughout the entire record's run. This is plainly displayed on one of the album's best tracks, "With My Voice," a song that begins with a haunting elegance,
Gleason moving effortlessly among the rising and falling music, instruments and vocals ultimately swelling together into each of the track's gleaming, urgent choruses. With such poise evident in
ActionReaction's sound, it's pretty impressive that this album is just its first, even considering its members are already seasoned musicians. Using these 11 tracks as an indicator, three really is the magic number -- when
Jason,
Sal and
Bella combine forces, the results are pretty fantastic.