Danko Jones – We Sweat Blood

Three weeks ago, when I first heard this CD I was blown away. My instant reaction was “holy cow, this rocks! Definitely the surprise album of the year right now!” So as you can tell, I liked it. Now three weeks have passed with me listening to it, and although my sense of awe and amazement for We Sweat Blood has melted down quite a lot; it is still clear that it is a damn good CD.

We Sweat Blood is a no bull-shit, straight forward rock and roll album. Its fourteen songs are simple,minimalist songs that is chocked full of raw energy and power. Danko Jones‘ vocals are strong and harsh, not worn or nasally at all as he sings sex song after sex song. But for once, even though the song contents rarely change, it never becomes too much. You can’t help but appreciate the lyrics, as he doesn’t try to hide anything with mixed metaphors or in depth soul searching and he doesn’t cry and whine about being dumped back when he was fifteen. Rather he cuts to the point and says what he’s thinking, teaching lessons and telling stories of attraction and lust.

The loud, fast, stripped down rock album doesn’t fall into the traps of today’s rock movements. They don’t fill it with breakdowns and solos or drag on the songs long after they should have called it a night. Jones’ vocals are unlike most rock singers around with no raspy, country wail in them.

For me, We Sweat Blood is still probably the surprise album of the year. Although the initial reaction has worn off, it is still able to maintain the listener’s interest for the entire album and you can’t help but respect the straight forward style of the Toronto trio.