It seems to me that Sloan is listening to their fanbase with this one. I don't have Pretty Together due to the collective sigh issued by reviewers everywhere. Between The Bridges was so good, I didn't want to have my buzz ruined. So Sloan must have heard. Dropping the keyboards and punching up the guitars and the tempos, Sloan delivers a more hard nosed sound. But the advances in songwriting made over the years have not been jettisoned. Sure, "Backstabbin'" is some big dumb rock but they have never denied their taste for these moments. But then again a song like "Who Loves Life More?" somehow invokes Brian Eno in its harmonies.Their taste for the 80s is subtly mixed with the 60s and 70s throughout. What you get are those tight harmonies delivering thoughtful lyrics over some really tight rock riffs and grooves. The mood is downcast overall but never at the expense of some really driving pop/rock that is opposed to the prevalent adolescent mope you find coming from most quarters. While clearly embracing the emotive rush of youth, Action Pact is made by adults who like to rock. So if you have problems with four grown men holding onto the redemptive powers of two guitars, bass, and drums, clear out. And with time, this album sinks its teeth in and hangs on. It simply supercedes any rock hang-up I have and says this is real. It is all about leaving any critical sawhorse behind and getting swept up in the moment.