Act Thirt33n

Act Thirt33n are a young upstart hailing from Georgia, US of A. Salute and Smile is their debut EP and has been out for some months now. The word "young" in my previous sentence is no metaphor for inexperience; despite the entire band still being in high school, there is a long history of music with each member that takes most of the EP's 5 tracks to unexpected heights. The style is fairly straightforward power pop, bordering at times on various other genres but has an overall feel that seems to fit a niche that has grown to vast proportions over the past decade or so. Emotive, inspiring, solid production and chemically in flux with one another, Act Thirt33n offer more promise than amazement but still manage to stick.
"Shine" is a fitting introduction to the band, an upbeat, catchy track that a band can hang it's hat on and utilize to make a lasting impression. The duality of vocals are sometimes a highlight and sometimes a hinderance throughout the EP, but they help drive this track home. Lead vocalist Andy Morgan is an obvious choice for the position; his sense of melody and timing adds a professional tone to what can sometimes come off as an amateur affair. And that's no slight; it's to be expected in the early stages of almost any musical entity. "Sic 'em, Boys!" has far more edge, some slightly off-putting screaming intertwined with some excellent guitar leads and stand-out percussion work. It doesn't stick like "Shine" sticks, but it leaves a mark all the same. "Rabbit" seems a bit unsure of what it wants to be; the edge to the music doesn't necessarily match the heartfelt and pensive nature of the lyrics or the vocal approach. If any of these tracks misses it's mark, it may be this, despite the line "home is not a question of disguises" being the one I remembered long after the EP was over. "December Thieves" is my favorite track here, it's pacing and tempered emotion effortlessly pulsing with a maturity and creativity far beyond expectations. The discordance occasionally set forth only lends impact through variation, a daring choice where a simple, continuous melody may have sufficed and certainly would have represented the easy road. "Last Breath" is a stripped-bare acoustic anthem, something that I actually could have seen myself putting together as a teenager. It represents that personal, tormenting deluge of emotion that can only form from one's first love. The longing, endless limits of the promise of having that one special someone, it all translates smoothly and without any sort of heavy-handed forcefulness that would have otherwised killed the most vital aspect of any love song; honesty.
Promise is the keyword to take with you if you do decide to explore Salute and Smile. Promise not only of bigger and better things to come, but promise of revitalizing a blend of music that has stagnated so very much in recent times. Youthful exuberance, passion and commitment to what is obviously a major collective inspiration for these 4 young musicians; it all shines through refreshingly on every track. As the band hones their creativity further, learns what works best and what works better sparingly, the promise of the future will continue to be brighter and brighter for Act Thirt33n. - Music Emissions

Act Thirt33n are a young pop alternative/emo band from Atlanta who have already played some impressive venues such as the Hard Rock Café’s Velvet Underground and Taste of Atlanta. Consisting of Alec Ragsdale (lead guitar, vocals), Andy Morgan (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Ashley Smith (bass and background vocals) and Pat Meisel (drums), this act is hoping their sound will have a wide appeal in punk and emo rock circles. Inspired by acts such as My Chemical Romance, A Day to Remember, and Emery, their debut EP is called “Salute and Smile”.
“Shine” has a classic emo sound, if not somewhat predictable for the genre. All the same, the musicianship is there and the band can play. Andy Morgan’s vocals are surprisingly charismatic, and although things get slightly pitchy on the chorus, he shows a knack for phrasing and dynamics, just like the band. And it should also be noted that vocals are supposed to be somewhat raw in this genre of music, so it’s not an issue here. There is an inspired feel Act Thirt33n is capturing as a band. If you’re not a fan of the pop punk or emo genres, chances are you won’t be swept up, but for fans of these respective genres, they hit the mark, and “Shine” is a worthy anthem.
“Sic’ Em Boys” finds them flexing a bit more punk rock fury and a call-and-response vocal between Andy Morgan and Alec Ragsdale slightly similar to acts like Thursday. The megaphone on the 2nd verse shows a seed of experimental At the Drive-In type potential that Act Thirt33n could easily grow into on future releases. With hints of aggression and rock n’ roll, this song shows versatility and confidence.
“Rabbit” is dreamier, with a shoegaze influence and a wall of thick guitars. The keys on this track really elevate the song, and they’re so well placed that you barely notice them at first. The band shows their affinity for gang vocals and it works greatly in their favor. “December Thieves” has a beautiful intro and some very strong lead vocals from Andy Morgan, as well as harmonies from bassist Ashley Smith. Had this release been more heavily produced, this would have easily been a radio single. Call it a shoegaze slow burner. Go ahead and bob your head. It’s ok. I’m doing it too. “Last Breath” sounds more specifically directed towards the kids who go to Act Thirt33n’s live shows, and a filler track on the release. At the same time, it could very well be a favourite amongst their fans.
Act Thirt33n’s “Salute and Smile” should be considered a demo because of the very indie production, although this is not a problem for a few reasons. The production gives the release a very underground, early 90’s sound. This is also a debut release from a young band, and they achieved what they set out to achieve. It’s a “scene” release in the sense that it’s not offering anything new stylistically, but the band prove themselves as worthy of continuing their growth with a follow-up that could be quite strong. Each band member is talented and have good song-writing sense, so the future could be bright. - Skope

Atlanta indie-rock-punk musicians, Act Thirt33n (pronounced thirteen) don't sound too young with overall pretty solid songs.
It is a bit unfair that this writer/listener listened to the EP Salute and Smile out of order. After to listening to Act Thirt33n's "Last Breath" it occurred that there just might not be something other than mediocre lyrics and a garage band that needs to mature a bit more before hitting a tour. Wrong, oh so wrong, was this writer/listener.

While listening to track four "December Thieves" the guitar riff and purposely placed percussion change-ups makes for this song to fit nicely into any alternative music collection. This song is not magical in the sense it creates this grand image, but the guitar riff is truly unique. It is simply a nice packaged, well-produced track.

Some Punk, Some Rock
Working backwards on Salute and Smile's (afive-track EP) seems to pay off. Track three "Rabbit" has a more punk feel to it, at the same time, the chord progressions and layering vocals take it up a notch. The lyrics are a bit more mysterious - but the overall package of this song is incredibly interesting. The song ends in this moody, piano solo. It is rather beautiful.

In "Sic 'Em, Boys!" the chords vary and there is a solid guitar riff, and arrangement. There is nothing typical about this song - the lyrics keep the listener engaged. The chorus easily lingers in one's head!

In the first track, "Shine," the guitar riff and arrangements are once again solid. There is a bit overkill (maybe the guitar bridge could have been a bit shorter) but overall this song is another great track. What amazes this writer/listener is the variety of tracks on this EP. While they have that core sound, no lyrics appear to be repeated. Each song can stand alone easily.

Due to their age - the members are still in their teens - it might be easy to throw them into the next crop of Disney garage band stars. But, there seems to be something different about Act Thirt33n - it is not that they have grittier arrangements or outlandish lyrics that make them stand out; they are genuine. These songs do not sound or feel fabricated in any way. They are emotional and creative.

Overall CD Review is A
Keep listening to Salute and Smile. It really is a gem. Overall the review is a solid A. Minus "Last Breath" all the other four tracks are remarkable. Fans of Neon Trees (keep in mind Trees' singer Tyler Glenn has way more of a developed, and more distinguishing voice), The All-American Rejects, Taking Back Sunday, Hawthorne Heights, guitarist Blake Sennett (guitarist for Rilo Kiley) will like what they hear! - Indie Music @ Suite 101

Shine is an immediate introduction to the band, and it will be what keeps one listening in. This is due to the fact that the band is able to fully insert themselves into this track. This emotive rock contains high energy and smart musicianship. While the genre seemed to be on its last legs a few years back, Act Thirt33n may single-handedly promote its revival. One need only listen to Shine once or twice before being able to sing along, while Sic ‘Em Boys is a track that showcases the diversity of influences and styles that fuel the band’s unique sound.

Sic ‘Em Boys has a harder edge than Shine, and the guitars are provided ample opportunity to Shine. The vocals and drums are pushed to their logical extremes; the band has listeners by their throats. December Thieves is a much softer effort than anything opn Salute and Smile, and I believe that the track’s inclusion is smart. The different harmonies achieved by the band couple with introspective arrangements. This allows the band to build things up gradually until the track’s climax – the band flies high into the disc’s last track, an acoustic version of Last Breath. The earthy and close sound of this finale puts the perfect punctuation onto Salute and Smile; I want to hear what the band can do when given an LP’s run time with which to play.
Make it a point to see Act Thirt33n whenever they play at a venue near you; I have no doubt in my mind that the band’s energy and allure will increase substantially in this setting. Act Thirt33n is the best thing that we’ve reviewed in 2012; here’s to hoping that they can close the year in the same way.

Top Tracks: December Thieves, Last Breath (Acoustic)

Rating: 8.4/10 - Neufutur Magazine