WANK - 'White Knuckle Ride' Album Review

Tracklist:

1. Remington

2. Blue Skies

3. Salvation

4. Rollin' On

5. Sweet Music

6. Believe It

7. Shut You Down

8. We Wanna Rock

9. It Was You

10. Won't Let Go

11. Forgiven

I knew nothing about this band before I listened to their new album 'White Knuckle Ride'. I will admit to approaching this review with some trepidation, given the band and album name if I’m honest I was expecting a childish, puerile series of single entendre songs ( I didn’t even have expectations of double entendres!) I was also dreading writing this review as it felt like it was a minefield and there was no way I could get through it without writing something my friends would repeat back to me for the rest of my life!

Nothing could be further then the reality from my expectations about this album, from the first note of the first song to the end of this album WANK confounded my expectations, in a really enjoyable way, this is an excellent album.

I have really struggled to work out who they remind me of and what genre they fit it. I know most people would class them as Punk, and there are elements of bands such as the Clash in this album, but there is also Reggae (not unusual for some of the best Punk bands) and (and it is this which makes WANK different and stand out) a melodic, almost sixties style Pop sensibility. I’m not saying they are The Beatles but there is that feel to some of their music.

My concern with a lot of Modern Punk bands is that there is nothing left for Punk to say that hasn’t already been said better by someone already. This band sidestep that issue quite easily by not trying. Instead, they have written a series of well crafted, beautifully played songs.

I haven’t listened to any of their earlier albums yet, so I don’t know if this is typical WANK or a new direction for them, what I do know, and I really hope the site doesn’t mess up and there’s an extra a inserted here, I do love WANK! (If there was a typo there let’s be clear, it’s the band from California I’m talking about!)

Let’s be honest, it may be the band name that is holding them back, it may be people had the same expectations as I did and don’t even give this band a try, it is seriously their loss, this is a great band, at the peak of their game. I can’t recommend them highly enough!

Go on, give WANK a go!