Act As If is a three piece band from Los Angeles, CA. Their first full-length album There’s A Light was released in March 2010, but their music is gaining new fans by the day. Songs from the album have been featured on numerous television shows, such as Cougar Town, Live to Dance, Jersey Shore, and The Real World. Their song “About Saying and Meaning Goodbye” was licensed by Apple for use in the promo video for their newest operating software, Lion.
There’s A Light can be described as swelling pop music set to haunting vocals and lyrics about love and loss. Vocalist Peter Verdell discusses the meaning behind the music in an interview with Anti Music, “I think the general message (and maybe the general theme of our album), is that when things seem to be falling apart, or someone we love doesn’t love us back–we can still find light, or joy, or hope–if we choose to look for it.” Hence the title, There’s A Light.
Verdell’s vocals rival that of Aaron Marsh’s melodies in Copeland, and Verdell’s ballads share a similar feel with Marsh’s as well. There’s A Light is composed of three types of songs: electrifying and catchy pop songs, haunting ballads, and stripped-down acoustics.
The album begins with the memorable and melodious ballad from which the album gets it’s name, There’s A Light. Verdell’s soft vocals perfectly compliment the uplifting guitar riffs. Multiple harmonies present themselves throughout every song, and are perfectly crafted. The album features other ballads such as “Grab the Map and Show Me.” The slow and emotional vocals paired with the thoughtful lyrics tell a story that matches well with the calm guitars and faint drumming. “Be There (Where Is Truth)” features Verdell’s commonly filtered vocals leading a vulnerable melody and melancholy lyrics in front of subtle instrumentation. The album’s closing song, “Hit The Ground,” allows the calm and smooth vocals of Act As If to be prominently displayed as the album finishes on a strong note.
There’s A Light offers a couple of natural and stripped down songs, such as “Sleater Kinny”, which is driven by powerful and emotional vocals. This song seems like the perfect song to listen to while driving with the windows down, as suggested in the lyric, “sometimes we’re taking a short drive.” “Please Be Worth This” is the shortest song on the album, coming in at two minutes. This cute acoustic song features catchy strumming and an abundance of background “oohs” and “aahs,” giving a sense of positivity and hope.
The most memorable songs on There’s A Light are driven by electric guitar riffs and upbeat drums. The most popular songs from the album are “Through Trap Doors” and “Know Your Name,” which sounded instantly familiar upon first listen. I then realized that I have heard these songs in rotation at many retail stores. What makes them popular is the mood that the music instantly sets, with prominent guitar and drums filling the speakers. This is a change from the ballads and acoustic songs on the album, where the guitar and drums are muted. A characteristic these songs share with the others, however, is the brilliant use of harmonies.
Other upbeat songs include the guitar driven “Not So Independent”, and “Old Souls,” where Verdell’s vocals sound strangely similar to William Beckett’s from The Academy Is. It’s obvious why Apple used Act As If’s song, “About Saying and Meaning Goodbye” for their promo, as the Owl City-esque positive tone paired with poppy synth and rhythmic clapping catches and reels the listener in, and the instrumentation is masterfully crafted.
There’s A Light was featured as “New and Noteworthy” by iTunes Music in June, and the band will continue to gain new fans as their music earns exposure and popularity. Peter Verdell’s vocals, Diego De La Rosa’s drumming, and JD Carrera’s guitar work perfectly support each other and contribute to the overall entertaining and fun sound of Act As If.
