This trio of Canadian stoners already stamped a positive impression on me just for being stoners. Legalize this shit in the UK you alcoholic bastards! DANKO JONES has been around since 1996, the decade that Grunge dominated the metal charts. However, they have never been Grunge. With an accessible hard rock style and lyrics talking about weed, girls and fun, the band has survived thru the years with 11 albums released counting with the last one Electric Sounds. The band had a few formation changes but mainly stayed as a trio and recently had a performance at Wacken 2023. The album starts with “Guess Who’s Back” and you can see that the band knows what they are doing. A solid basic heavy rock a little based on the 80’s but without the hairspray and without instrumental  excesses ala Eddie Van  Halen. 

The album follows with “Good Time”, another upbeat rock tune that talks about being ready to get wasted tonight. With a good melody and sticky chorus, the band does not worry much about guitar solos. Let's keep it basic. The third song “Electric Sounds” , which is the album title, starts with a more interesting guitar riff and a different tempo. It even has a small guitar solo. For a band that, despite being very competent, does not expose themselves much musically, you have to admit that the songs are very well composed with solid melodies and riffs. With a riff that you probably heard before, and melody either, “Get High” is an invitation to smoke weed!! Count me in. This is a happy light tune using familiar rock elements that will be more digestible for the stoners out there just like an edible. Happy times.

 “Stiff Competition” starts like a march and has a solid riff. The guitar work of Danko Jones despite not being too flashy, is solid and fits the tunes. It reminds me sometimes of proto punk bands like GREEN DAY and maybe a little of the FOO FIGHTERS. Good heavy songs without too much dressings.  Danko also has a good range of vocals and does not compromise. Delivering the lyrics with energy and clarity, he takes care of both his duties competently and this is shown once again on “She’s is My Baby” , for me the best of the album so far. Out of the box melody, and a Punk energy like no other. A mosh candidate this one. Is good to see that the band is willing to explore within their genre. The punk energy keeps going on “Eye For An Eye”. Another best for me. Great melody, funny chorus and a tempo pause in the middle that gives you a couple of minutes to get your breath. It gives me SUM41 vibes meaning that is not too heavy, but also not too mellow punk rock.

 We go back to the basic hard rock with “I Like It”. Another solid melody and good accompanying riff. I don't know what it is but I like it, says the chorus. I don’t know what it is but I like this song as well. You can clearly hear the competent work of bass player John Calabrese who has been a partner of Danko Jones since 1999. The 9th tune of this complete album (meaning 2 full sides) is “Let's Make Out” and I will not explain what the song is about. I will just say that “all night long” is in the chorus. This is the most 80’s California song of the album and smells a little like hair spray. We get the energy back with the also great “What Goes Around”. With obvious touches of Punk, the melody is once again great as well as the lyrics. What goes around, comes around and your time will come my friend. Relentless drum beat by the competent drummer Rick Knox dictates the mood. Another one with top marks for me.

We get to the end of the album with the also great “Shake Your City”. Consider this song as a message from the band when they stop on tour in your city in  2023. Another competent tune, with great energy and a great way to end this solid album.Good tunes in this album with 3 or 4 a little more out of the box with a punk flavor that for me, are the tunes that enhance the overall output making this an even better album. I could live without a couple of songs that went too close from what I call bubblegum rock, but this is a solid work without a doubt. These guys have been around and have seen a lot of changes in rock and music in general in the last 30 years. You can feel musically that they are a very tight band, and also have command in the composition, being able to produce songs that you want to listen to again after a first try.