The Danks

http://blog.muchmusic.com/miss-the-strokes-meet-the-danks/ - Much Music

BACKGROUND/COMPOSITION: This quartet from Charlottetown stole a member from Two Hours Traffic. THT guitarist Alec O’Hanley plays with vocalist Brohan Moore, drummer Phil MacIsaac and bassist Chris Doiron in this pop-rock group.

Grade: 94

Comment: When The Danks first took the stage and powered through two energetic rock songs, I groaned because I feared that they sounded too much like Two Hours Traffic. But those songs passed and these kids proved they may look more like a young pop band, but they rock harder than THT.

Achievement of Rock 'n' Roll Expectations
80-100: Exceeds skill and knowledge expectations, i.e. rocked us so hard we peed our pants.
70-79: Achieves required skills and knowledge. Meets rock 'n' roll standard.
60-69: Demonstrates some skills. Approaches rock 'n' roll standard.
50-59: Demonstrates some required skills and knowledge in a limited way.
00-50: Has not demonstrated required skills or knowledge.

Learning Skills: E=Excellent, G=Good, S=Satisfactory, N=Sad Really
Oral And Visual Communication
Eye Contact: G
Pronunciation: S
Stage Presence: G
Stage Banter: S
Image: G
Appearance: G
Use Of Stage: G

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
There wasn’t too much banter to go around and the members didn’t attempt to talk to each other or the crowd very often, but they made a solid effort on trying to make eye contact with some of the audience. They were rockin’ out pretty hard, but if they pushed it just one more decibel and got the crowd moving just a little bit more, they would have killed it.

Musical Analysis
Level Of Participation: G
Problem Solving: G
Teamwork: G
Work Habits: G
Organization: G
Audience Participation: G
Sound: E
Composition: E
Songs: E

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
While Moore was lightning fast at strumming and haunting with his facial expressions, O’Hanley was sweet looking, hard working, and possibly daydreaming a bit. MacIssac and THT bassist Andrew MacDonald were the beat of the set that steadily progressed with each song. They coped with the remains of an audience that poured out after Two Hours Traffic, but caught a lot of attention. To add hilarity, add a heap of drunk musicians from the opening bands putting their all into singing along right in the front.

Other Skills And Areas Of Interest
Charisma: E
Problem Solving: G
Teamwork: G
Sexiness: E
Haircut: E
Indie Rock Footwear: E
Nods To Disposible Fashion: E
Cool Equipment: G
Level Of Inebriation: S
Actual Ability: E

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Moore is bound to be the next lead man everyone swoons over. Not only does he dress like he wishes he was in The Strokes, but he sings with a sometimes-raspy voice and could entertain the audience just by his facial expressions. The Danks had a lot of energy to go around for 1 a.m., which definitely worked for them. They have visible spunk and look like they could have been your best friends from high school, but as long as they aim to distance themselves just a inch more from Two Hours Traffic, these pop-rock days are just beginning.

- Chartattack

http://www.earshot-online.com/reviews/DisplayReview.cfm?DiscID=86929 - !earshot!

http://www.earshot-online.com/charts/index.cfm?intChartTypeID=101&dWeekOfID=2009-08-04 - !earshot!

http://www.earshot-online.com/reviews/DisplayReview.cfm?DiscID=86929 - !earshot!

http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/music/cd-reviews/the-danks-are-you-afraid-of-the-danks-4073/ - Fast Forward

http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/music/cd-reviews/the-danks-are-you-afraid-of-the-danks-4073/ - Fast Forward

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/117004-the-danks-are-you-afraid-of-the-danks/

How so many sub-par, paint-by-numbers power-pop bands find fame and fortune, while true masterminds of the rock ‘n’ roll hook like the Danks go largely unnoticed is a crime akin to high treason in modern rock. To call the 12 tracks on Are You Afraid of the Danks?, the band’s debut full-length, as catchy would serve as a gross understatement. These sharp and precisely crafted tracks are cut as lean as a middle-distance runner; yet each two-minute gem maintains the intensity and muscle of a sprint to the finish line. The charming, fuzzed-out stomp of “Treaty Connector” is so ripe with gleaming hooks it’s almost blinding, but close your eyes, and you’ll miss the Danks; the quartet’s true sonic resonance is most certainly in the blistering, immediate impact of Are You Afraid of the Danks?. Do your best to keep your eyes on these guys. - popmatters.com

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/117004-the-danks-are-you-afraid-of-the-danks/

How so many sub-par, paint-by-numbers power-pop bands find fame and fortune, while true masterminds of the rock ‘n’ roll hook like the Danks go largely unnoticed is a crime akin to high treason in modern rock. To call the 12 tracks on Are You Afraid of the Danks?, the band’s debut full-length, as catchy would serve as a gross understatement. These sharp and precisely crafted tracks are cut as lean as a middle-distance runner; yet each two-minute gem maintains the intensity and muscle of a sprint to the finish line. The charming, fuzzed-out stomp of “Treaty Connector” is so ripe with gleaming hooks it’s almost blinding, but close your eyes, and you’ll miss the Danks; the quartet’s true sonic resonance is most certainly in the blistering, immediate impact of Are You Afraid of the Danks?. Do your best to keep your eyes on these guys. - popmatters.com

Since the first time I saw The Danks live, I've been saying they're Canada's answer to The Strokes. Are You Afraid Of The Danks? is the proof. Put on this disc and you'll be transported back to 2001, to the first time you heard Is This It.

On the first few listens, you'll be so caught up by the wave of energy that you'll barely notice there are vocals accompanying the music. By the time the lyrics start to take form — and they eventually do poke through — you'll be inexplicably addicted to the pace.

Half of this Charlottetown foursome are also members of Two Hours Traffic, but there aren't many points of similarity between the two bands. If they all showed up at a family reunion, The Danks would be the angsty loner cousin that pushes kids like Two Hours Traffic into the pool.

Are You Afraid Of The Danks? is non-stop, hook-laden revelry from start to finish. It's the first indisputable pop hit of the summer — a must for every road trip. - http://www.chartattack.com/reviews/71807/the-danks-are-you-afraid-of-the-danks

Since the first time I saw The Danks live, I've been saying they're Canada's answer to The Strokes. Are You Afraid Of The Danks? is the proof. Put on this disc and you'll be transported back to 2001, to the first time you heard Is This It.

On the first few listens, you'll be so caught up by the wave of energy that you'll barely notice there are vocals accompanying the music. By the time the lyrics start to take form — and they eventually do poke through — you'll be inexplicably addicted to the pace.

Half of this Charlottetown foursome are also members of Two Hours Traffic, but there aren't many points of similarity between the two bands. If they all showed up at a family reunion, The Danks would be the angsty loner cousin that pushes kids like Two Hours Traffic into the pool.

Are You Afraid Of The Danks? is non-stop, hook-laden revelry from start to finish. It's the first indisputable pop hit of the summer — a must for every road trip. - http://www.chartattack.com/reviews/71807/the-danks-are-you-afraid-of-the-danks

The debut full-length from Charlottetown, P.E.I. natives the Danks is a power pop-laden effort immersed in reverberating, clunky guitars and dizzying keyboards, with raspy yet balmy vocals in a style similar to the Strokes or the Future Heads. Some of the Danks' most hypnotic grooves are nestled in "Who Knows?," with its ethereal combination of guitar and keys, and "Shifty," which is a post-punk endeavour that hinges heavily on its infectious bass line and surf-style drumming. This quartet from the birthplace of Confederation pull each song off smoothly, each one complementing the other in a consistent flow. Are You Afraid of the Danks? could easily be favoured amongst indie fans, while post-punks will dig the dreary but melodic pop hooks and the fact that it just straight up rocks. (Collagen Rock)
- http://exclaim.ca/musicreviews/generalreview.aspx?csid1=137&csid2=851&fid1=40565

The debut full-length from Charlottetown, P.E.I. natives the Danks is a power pop-laden effort immersed in reverberating, clunky guitars and dizzying keyboards, with raspy yet balmy vocals in a style similar to the Strokes or the Future Heads. Some of the Danks' most hypnotic grooves are nestled in "Who Knows?," with its ethereal combination of guitar and keys, and "Shifty," which is a post-punk endeavour that hinges heavily on its infectious bass line and surf-style drumming. This quartet from the birthplace of Confederation pull each song off smoothly, each one complementing the other in a consistent flow. Are You Afraid of the Danks? could easily be favoured amongst indie fans, while post-punks will dig the dreary but melodic pop hooks and the fact that it just straight up rocks. (Collagen Rock)
- http://exclaim.ca/musicreviews/generalreview.aspx?csid1=137&csid2=851&fid1=40565