The Danks: Are You Afraid of the Danks

Every time I begin to think that the powerpop genre is slowly beginning to morph into a genre that’s clean and safe, something like Are You Afraid of the Danks comes along and knocks me flat. Embracing the early era of proto-punk and incorporating it to their utmost advantage, the Danks continuously churn out pummeling rock and roll tracks, delivered with a whiskey-and-cigarette battered voice. That voice punctuates what makes this band great and gives them some distinction among other like-minded bands. While the middle section does occasionally feel tiresome, the closing trio of songs “In Alright”, “Planet Beach”, and “374” brings things home hard. A very strong start for another band with the potential to explode.