Rockers Take a Position to Define Sound

Groundbreaking, pop-laced punk reached its peak back in the late ‘70s, early-’80s. Defiant bands such as the Clash, Buzzcocks and Ramones exploded onto a complacent rock scene with their raw musicianship and independent spirit.

Remember the excitement? Local rockers Wank do, and they happily mine that vein on “Get a Grip on Yourself,” the promising quartet’s 12-song debut. By pouring so much energy and heart into its songs, however, Wank comes off as convincing and relevant, if derivative.

Several numbers on this disc aren’t new. “Never,” “Rollin’ On” and “Charity” were released on Wank’s self-produced cassette, “Animals of Discontent,” in 1995. But they’re solid, catchy tunes, and these remixes by comparison offer superior production quality.

Mixing a pop sensibility with pure punk drive, this Huntington Beach-based band cranks out crisply played, crunching rockers, delivered with gusto and skill. The fast-paced “I’m Goin’ Home” and reggae-flavored “Forgiven” unleash a jolt of angst, while a pop rocker such as “On the Radio” belongs . . . well, on the radio.

Lyrically, the material relies mainly on youthful misadventures, from relationship woes to male rites of passage and run-ins with the law. Burning with anger or reeling from heartache, the protagonist in each song appears downtrodden and overwhelmed but fights back with admirable resiliency.

No one, it seems, is immune from travels down life’s shadier streets. In the tune “Mickey,” the sordid character “living by his own rules and possessing a dagger with a skull on the handle” is based on guitarist Whitey’s father. Now that’s scary.

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Lightening the load a bit are Beatles-inspired three-part harmonies that add a welcome sing-along pop ingredient. Yet the album veers into punk more often than not, with the edgy guitar work of Whitey and Fingers Smalley and the heartfelt wailing of singer-bassist Bobby Amodeo adding up to an emotional wallop.

Not every song clicks. “Quarterboy,” “Paranoid” and “Crime Pays” tread familiar terrain without planting anything new. And Wank at times may sound too much like the Clash (or its modern sound-alike, Rancid) for its own good. Even so, the group plays with such fierce determination that it’s easy to imagine Joe Strummer smiling somewhere out there.

“Get a Grip on Yourself” is available from Bordello Pop Records, 8931 Adams Ave, Suite 400, Huntington Beach, CA 92646. Wank hotline: (714) 862-6025.

* Wank appears with All the Madmen, Extra Fancy and Dakota Wildflowers on Saturday at Linda’s Doll Hut, 107 S. Adams, Anaheim. 9 p.m. $7 (714) 533-1286. Also appearing with Turbo Negro and Smogtown on Wednesday at Club Mesa, 843 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa. 8 p.m. $5 (714) 642-6634.

Ratings range from * (poor) to **** (excellent), with *** denoting a solid recommendation.