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Spank: Get Bent

Spank: Get Bent

Melodic Hard Rock
Rating: 3.5/5.0

Independent/TSM Promotions
www.spankonline.com
www.myspace.com/spankonline
Review: Craig Hartranft
Added: 06.07.2009

North Carolinian band Spank is another upstart American rock quartet which draws deep from the well of historic melodic hard rock of the 70's and 80's. Get Bent is their second full-length album of original material, and the second produced by Mitch Easter (REM). Overall, with a few exceptions, Get Bent is very derivative stuff (not necessarily a bad thing), and most definitely does not fit current modern rock trends. This doesn't make them bad, just out of fashion with today's fickle musical trends, which is a very good thing.

Spank strengths are found in several areas. First is the strength of their song composition which is tight, minimal, and free of excess: there are no wasted notes or movements in their arrangements. Second, Spank impresses with their savvy, yet simple, vocal arrangements which are most notable on In Time, Hard To Understand, and Breathing. Finally, the single most compelling attribute of Spank is their rhythm section: Jody Blevin (b) and Ben Barker (d) are simply fantastic. Every song displays the beauty of their performances. However, allow me to mention my favorites: Back To Me, Terrified, and Gravity. Generally, therefore, the parts are greater than the whole. Though all the songs are developed and convincing, especially Back To Me and Breathing, only a few truly captivated me. These include Space, a song nearing prog proportions with it's psychedelic feel, the lush hard rock ballad Hard To Understand, and the hearty rocker, Step Out Of Line.

Spank and their latest work Get Bent is a solid and entertaining work of melodic hard rock whose strength comes from its individual parts especially the vocal arrangements and hearty rhythm section. Their songs are well composed: often derivative, but also imaginative. Spank is good, and can only get better. Get Bent is a worthy contribution to the melodic rock field. Recommended!

In Short

Spank and their latest work Get Bent is a solid and entertaining work of melodic hard rock whose strength comes from its individual parts especially the vocal arrangements and hearty rhythm section. Their songs are well composed: often derivative, but also imaginative. Spank is good, and can only get better. Get Bent is a worthy contribution to the melodic rock field.

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