2003 is coming to a close, and this is it: the best album of the year. I don't care who says it should be John Mayer or the Strokes or that Dave Matthews solo thing, or whoever the hell else - this is it. The Canadian veteran rock and rollers produced a gem of guitar-oriented pop/rock (the follow up to 2001's "Pretty Together") at a time when it is decidedly more hip and cool to slin an acoustic guitar and be "intimate" with your audience (what ever that means).
Let's discuss what you'll hear on "Action Pact". You will hear twelve perfectly crafted tunes with peronsal, often very wry and clever, lyrics, that still steer completely clear of pretension. That enough should be sufficient to sell this disc, but wait, there's more! The songs are wrapped up with very good production (a little compressed, but let's forgive) - it's slick, but still sounds live enough to be interesting. Not to mention the fact that it has a phenomenal drum sound - a huge, thumping snare that carries the music. Standout tracks include sublimely melodic tracks such as "False Alarm," "I Was Wrong," or "Fade Away," the latter of which mixes cynism and optimisim pretty darn well. When listing the good tracks on the disc, of course, one cannot forget the radio hit "The Rest Of My Life".
What's wrong with the album, then, if it didn't get perfect? Well, the guitars are a little weak in the mix at some points - as is the bass - and the record could do with a few slower numbers, but that is very emphatically it.
Let's sum up, shall we? Great songs, strong lyrics, close-knit harmonies, good production. It all comes together for Sloan on this alarmingly cohesive album. Sounds too good to be true, right? It's not.
By: Cousy
