The Actual

Item: Songs on Radio Idaho
Author: Dan Singleton

Songs on Radio Idaho

(2003)

Reviewed by Dan Singleton

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Label Eyeball RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2003

alternative rock indie rock power pop

I've never even been to Idaho, but if Songs On Radio Idaho is a fair representation of the music that is actually played over Idaho's airwaves, I'll move there in a heartbeat.

The Actual is a three-piece indie rock band with sounds alternating between heavy pop and groove rock in the tradition of Foo Fighters with a little Green Day and modern British rock mixed again. The vocals of Max Bernstein are slightly nasal, very breathy, and provide the most pleasantly distinctive element of this band.

The first standout of the album is "Cold Inside," a catchy rock song that was remastered from the band's The Red EP. "Hospitality Girl" is a slow, heavy tune with some clearly Doug Pinnick (King's X) influenced bass firepower from Jeremy Bonsall. "I Am an Item" is a fast, brilliant Fooey song with furious drumming from Jeff Keenan and nice guitar fills from Bernstein. Another good representation of The Actual's heavy side is "The Shines," whose dreary chords would have fit perfectly on the Galactic Cowboys' The Horse That Bud Bought album. It is also typical of this album's dominant lyrical theme--that of people either in denial or not in touch with themselves.

There's a mark on her back from the way that the sun shines.
There's a plan of attack, a mark of a lack of responses every time she looks at the time
From turning her back from the way that the sun shines.

Songs on Radio Idaho is solid all the way through. It has a broad appeal, like the Foo Fighters, which makes it easy to enjoy the first time through. But it's also interesting enough to still appreciate after many spins. A great effort from a band that deserves to be played on Radio Idaho, Radio New York, Radio California, etc.

4.5 tocks