DANKO JONES

Toronto is a cultural hotbed for music; since the inception of music in any form, the town has been a leader in bringing sound to the masses. For close to three decades, Danko Jones, an undisputed staple of the rock community, has been one of the top contributors and blessings from the 416 area code. The city’s relationship with musical trios is absolutely a force to be reckoned with for the rest of the world; it always has been, and with bands like this releasing albums, the track record will continue to keep the speakers of our largest city in the country (by population) buzzing.

Twelve albums is no small feat, and this most recent release for Danko Jones, titled Leo Rising, clocking in at almost thirty-eight minutes, feels like you are right in the studio with the band. The band are absolutely dialed in, leading the charge in blending multiple genres and delivering the best examples of their genre-defining sound. Not only is the energy consistent throughout the album, but it also serves as a great example of music with equal parts killer notes and killer lyrics.

‘What You Need’ – The intro guitar riffs, although short, are fierce and impactful; the bass notes are mixed really well to shine above all the other instruments. This song, in its chorus, asks questions over and over again, but the message remains the same regardless of the questions. This song proves that Danko Jones is what you need!

‘Diamond In the Rough’ – The third and final single to be released before the album dropped. The song is full of riffs and melodies, very groovy from the drop, and it continues to roll with musical punches. It also has very smart note spacing to enhance Danko Jones‘s singing. There is an exceptional guest guitarist on this song as well, which is an absolute treat to listen to in the back half of the song. Short but impactful, it is always great to hear Marty Friedman make a guitar scream.

‘Everyday Is Saturday Night’ – The second single for the world to experience. This song is all about days of the week from an altered mindset; lyrically, choosing that “Mondays are not Fridays” is something I can get behind. More groovy riffs and hooks on this song, but the drums really stand out over every other instrument when they are all playing together. My favourite lyric from this album is from this song, “Go out and get it; you’re welcome to stay home and regret it.” So good!

‘I Love It Louder’ – Things are starting to slow down in tempo at this point. This song would be awesome to hear live. I can imagine the volume going up each time the word “louder” is shouted. It’s perfect towards the end, with breaks in the music that will allow the crowd to scream. There are some funky guitar effects on this song; with the layering of the notes and vocals at specific points, you can tell it is happening, but it is still accessible to hear it all because of how clean it is.

‘I’m Going Blind’ – Huge Rush vibes for the intro of this song, and as soon as that momentum gets comfortable, we are switched over to blues-inspired notes. The short guitar-driven solos from this song absolutely left me wanting more. Lyrically, the song explores someone who’s just lost in life; the melodies make it more uplifting, but the lyrics are pretty sad overall.

‘Hot Fox’ – Confident and strong riffs absolutely dominate this song. I absolutely love hearing the fingers slide over the frets. This is a sound that is often left in, and it is a cool effect. I’m not sure who the “hot fox” was who inspired this song, but it’s a fun, very catchy listen from start to finish.

‘It’s A Celebration’ – If a previous song in this album was about being lost, this song is about being found, with luck being turned around. It’s not just a celebration; it feels like an absolute rebirth, lyrically, with ferocity and motivation. The tempo is charged back up; this would be the best song on the album to start a highway drive if you were making a mixtape, that is!

‘Pretty Stuff’ – Imagination is the name of the game. There are endless references to the song title on this one. Is this referring to someone or something? We may never know! But what I do know is that the slow riff-charged guitar solo into cowbell from the drum kit was a very nice touch to this song.

‘Gotta Let It Go’ – High-energy riffs from both stringed instruments charge us up for the intro of this song, but the guitar carries the same pattern for the majority of the song. Listening to this song while keeping the title in mind, it feels like a pep talk in stages: light but uplifting, acknowledging what’s going on but getting back up. Musically, it’s just super uplifting.

‘I Can’t Stop’ – Even with decades away from being infected with rose-colored glasses from teenage years, this song is filled with the L word, love. Someone absolutely infected Danko, and the lyrics absolutely pull at the heartstrings for the three-plus minutes.

‘Too Slick For Love’ – The courage is back in the lyrics with this final song to round out the album; the power of the instruments is also back, adding a finishing touch. There is a lot of room for the lyrics to breathe, with very smart pauses to add to the inflexion, and some words are said for complete control of the situation and enhanced focus. This album is a rollercoaster of music and lyrics that absolutely prove the band can keep delivering even after decades of releasing music.