The Darkness
- Permission To Land
by Rachael Reardon
Five Star: A look at albums
that are so good that they impress even the most cynical of critics. Very
few albums are superior enough to obtain a five star rating but occasionally
a band slips through the river of mediocrity that is the modern music industry
and they produce an album that restores our faith in the future of rock!
This series is a look at such albums.
Its not too often you come across a band
like The Darkness.
I remember the first time their front man
waggled his crotch in my face like it was yesterday, whilst watching some
oblique T.V. show at god knows what time in the morning. ‘Have you heard
of The Darkness?’ I ask my mate the next day, ‘No, why?’. ‘Cuz they are
bloody brilliant that’s why’.
After hearing his bro, Justin, wail out
‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in karaoke, Dan Hawkins (guitar) reckoned this messiah
like voice would suffice (!) for the front man of his band. With Frankie
Poullain (a bassist with quite possibly the longest arms and legs in the
world) and drummer/school chum Ed Graham, The Darkness was born, and about
time too.
These boys reckoned it was all too late
in coming, seeing as no one had the guts to sign them straight away and
so clinched their record deal in style – dressed up as 18th century noble
men and signing the cheque made out for ‘three pints of lager and a vodka
lime and soda’ with quills. Rock n fucking Roll man!!
Now, it’s at this point that The Darkness
merge into that World War II poster, only instead of proclaiming ‘We Want
You’, they grab you by the collar, shake you up a bit and wail ‘You NEED
US’.
Why do we need them you ask? For a kick
off, front man Justin Hawkins is the text book rock god we have all been
unconsciously wishing for. Pinned the ‘straight Freddie Mercury’, he sure
as hell has big shoes to fill. But as the press go mad with either bumming
this band like its goin outta fashion (what else is new?), or shaking their
heads at the ‘unoriginality’, everyone knows they fit perfectly into the
AC/DC, Queen and Led Zepplin generations as far as their sound. And what’s
so unoriginal about that?
‘Get Your Hands Off My Woman’ is all good,
old-skool rock n roll. ‘You cunnnt! Get your hands off my woman motherfucker,
Ow!’ – renowned for its high calibre swearing (ooh heck!), is enough to
make a manically depressed, impotent 60 year old man rock his thermal socks
off.
‘Love On The Rocks (With No Ice)’ slams
in a cowboy-western twinged intro, truly wonderful old-skool riffage and
solo’s that put ‘Appetite for Destruction’ to shame.
‘I Believe In A Thing Called Love’s swaggering
grooves and catchy metal licks manages to bring back from the dead, that
precious rock n roll beat that even the shyest prune of a rocker would
adore to sing in karaoke; as they delve into the world of air guitar, plucking
the strings and thrusting their crotch in tandem.
Ballad ‘Holding My Own’ mourns out soft
whining beats, while ‘Growing On Me’ reaches the peak of rock riffage and
falsetto vocals to make the hardest metaller try to reach the high notes
in idolisation mode.
‘Kiss my arse, kiss my arse goodbye’ sounds
off Justin on ‘Stuck In A Rut’ – something which The Darkness are not by
a long shot.
CD Info
The Darkness
- Permission To Land
Rating:
Tracks: Black Shuck
Get Your Hands Off My Woman
Growing On Me
I Believe In A Thing Called Love
Love Is Only A Feeling
Givin' Up
Stuck In A Rut
Friday Night
Love On The Rocks With No Ice
Holding My Own
Posted by who whants to no:
HOW THE HELL DOSE HE SING LIKE THAT U CANT CHATCH UP WITH THE POWER OF HIS VOUSE FREDT MERURY EAT UR HART OUT OR SOMTHING DARKNESS IS BUZZZZZIN
Posted by inolongerlovethedarkness:
ok really i dont like the darkness anymore queen ripoffffffffffs anyway any comments to make on that? www.paintedlies.tk ARGUE WITH ME
Posted by EAT MY DICK:
he has a girlfriend, meˇ
Posted by Dave :
I am a (i dont know what to call it Rudeboy/Chav) wat eva u wanna call it but the Darkness rock i have been playing guitar for 4 years and they are my motivation they just Rock all there songs. EVERYTHING !!!
Posted by She:
The Darkness ROCK! I saw them live and they were so awesome!!! Seriously! Anyone who thinks they are a joke band can go screw themselves! I BELIEVE IN A THING CALLED THE DARKNESS!
Posted by will:
WHO THE HELL SAID THEY RIP OFF QUEEN???
I challenge you to find ONE queen song that the darkness sound anything like a darkness riff. Anyone that says that instantly states thier stupidity and complete ignorance of music. And to the LOSER who had to pick on spelling because his arguement was so pathetic he had to fill it up with trash like picking apart sentence structure - get a life (oh - and I spot 8 punctuation mistakes in your post! haha!). I blooming love the darkness, they are my #2 band (aside queen) and my band loves doing covers of thier songs, I am desperate to go see them as everyone says they are amazing live! And I know they are as I have seen a few videos on mtv. There is not one song on the album I don't like, I love 'em all; I can listen to them anytime, no matter what mood I am in.
Posted by futureanimation:
www.futureanimation.tk is a site where you can watch free videos and films. Future Animation, making videos and animations since 2004.
Posted by futureanimation:
the darkness TOTALLY ROCK! please visit www.futureanimation.tk
Posted by dexter:
cool
Posted by Hannibal-the-barbarian:
Does he got a Girlfriend or wife?
Posted by ilovethedarkness:
THE dARKNESS SERIOUSLY ROCK MY SOCKS! they r the best band ever n to prove it i even made my own website www.ilovethedarkness.tk
you have to visit it!!!! OMG THEY R THE EBST EVER!
Posted by robab_angle:
well i think the people who said the darkness is "gay rock" or what ever, ha, they should get a life. who can sing like that and do it live like them, the are fantastic. i used to think they are a bit weird but i came to my sences. And finally, if you do think they are gay... lol maybe you should go and ask your self... am I gay? cause you might be a closit mate.
Posted by mushroomhead KAL:
The darkness is gay rock, what a bunch of freaks. Admitedly, the guitar riffs are solid, however, the singer freaking sucks! The Darkness is merely the "flavor" of the week rock. Please don't every classify this trash as metal...ha!
Posted by Mushroomhead KAL:
The darkness is gay rock, what a bunch of freaks. Admitedly, the guitar riffs are solid, however, the singer freaking sucks! The Darkness is merely the "flavor" of the week rock. Please don't every classify this trash as metal...ha!
Posted by George:
the darkness is so grand i mean nayone who doesnt like them is a retard lol theyre so funny and they sound like a 80's band but beter!!!
Posted by nicole:
i love the darkness htey rock i like the video of i believe in a thing called love. rock on love them keep playing.
Posted by nicole:
i love the darkness htey rock i like the video of i believe in a thing called love. rock on love them keep playing.
Posted by The Darkness Ilovethedarkness:
This review totally rocks! Come and visit my site www.matmice.com/home/ilovethedarkness
thx!
Posted by OLD GUITARIST:
Great riffs...great solos...great rock...
one of the best album since AcDc "BACK IN BLACK
Posted by Lord Bizley:
The darkness suck!!
They are a cheap rip off of Queen!
Posted by bigdarknessfan:
Check out this link for free, exclusive concert video of The Darkness:
http://music.guide.real.com/concerts
Posted by Ivan_Mtl:
At last, a band with actual talent that also write and perform their own songs! A fantastic debut album featuring infectuous songs (literally, in the case of "You're Really Growing On Me"), great hooks, blazing guitar work and out-of-this-world vocals! As a HUGE Queen fan, I never thought that the musical void left by Freddie's death could ever be filled, but I am slowly (and happily) being proven wrong! If you like Thin Lizzy, AC/DC, Aerosmith and especially Queen, you will certainly enjoy the Darkness!
Posted by xangelusx:
I have an extra ticket available for this sundays show at Lupos in Providence. You can bid on it here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2236054933
Posted by www.matmice.com/home/ilovethedarkness:
hi i'm i love the darkness n this review rocks! Plz visit my website 9stated in my name) the darkness rock!
Posted by Justin's Lady:
I love The Darkness..AWESOME Band!!
I love this band so much that I have had to buy another cd because I have worn the other one out...this band truly has touched my heart!!!!
Posted by Impulse:
I thnk that the Darkness F-ing rocks
Posted by shibby:
ulimate band of the year
the darkness rock big time and lovin their outfits
Posted by phoebe:
i cant think of an album that i have loved so immediately and so thoroughly since GNR's "appetite for destruction" RUN dont walk to get this CD and all those in the USA MUST see them in concert starting in march! I've got my tickets!!! ROCK ON YOU GUYS MAKE ME SMILE
Posted by Barb:
Unfrickinbelievable that in this day and age a band can revive such an amazing sound.I thought it was too late for all of us. Its about time that a band had some balls. Rock On Darkness
Posted by Anna:
MINT! MINT! MINT! MINT!!
F*CKING MIINNTT!!
Posted by A Darkness fan:
This album is brilliant. There is not one song on it I felt disappointed with.
Posted by RaCh:
I f*cking LOVE this album! Every song is fantastic with kick a$$ riffs and killer drums. AND Ed Graham has to be the sexiest man on Eath! This album is my idea of Heaven!
Posted by monkey:
I'll bet Freddie Mercury is grinning with pride up there in gay heaven. I wish I had been born during the Queen era. But I'm born now and I have the Darkness! I'M IN LOVE WITH THEIR MUSIC!!!!
Posted by Mad Moose:
Thank god, a band that doesn't sing absolute crap. And if it is crap they sing about then at least it sounds bloody brilliant. I really can't stand crappy lyrics that sound crappy. I LOVE THE DARKNESS!
Posted by Poison:
Wow, I love 'em! THey really remind of Queen. But the Darkness doesn't seem as fond of the piano as Freddie was. And I thought music like that was dead. Thank god it's not! Long live the Darkness! (Rule Britannia)
Posted by Maria:
Finally, it's about time a band like the Darkness came along after a decade of fighting of bad music. They are a resurection of real rock and roll music. The Darkness rock.
Posted by Jeff the music expert:
The Darkness are UNF'nBELIEVEABLE it's good no there are still some real guitar music out there
Posted by XD:
i saw the video for "i believe in a thing called love" the other day. so strange and yet so funny. i must have this album.
Posted by Joie:
Well, to be perfectly honest, when I listened to it the first time, I was a little put off by the first two tracks, and changed it over with Taproot instead. The singing, I had deemed to be a little too high-pitched, and for all the hype, I didn't think it was really that good.
Now, now, before the fans out there lynch-mob me, thankfully I had the brilliant foresight to give the CD another run, and I must say, once you get used to the voice, they're really good. Some people would think that they suck and all, but hey, it can go either way. You can choose to hate The Darkness absolutely, or just kick back and enjoy these guys and their brand of music which so aptly revives memories of Freddie and his glory days. =)
Posted by VampireRyan:
This band is actually getting a big following and from people I never expected. I just went to see Shadows Fall recently and Matthew from SF was wearing a shirt of theirs! they even played snippets of the songs between sets of bands.
Posted by chris:
pearl jam are s**!. and so are the american yannkee twats. f*** off
Posted by Helen (soon 2 b) Graham:
THIS IS THE BEST ALBUM I HAVE EVER HEARD! there isnt a single track dat i skip! Darkness kik ass! long live The Darkness! p.s. IM IN LOVE WIV ED!!!
Posted by emu hawkins:
THE DARKNESS ROCK AND DAN IS SEXY
Posted by EME:
i saw the video for "I Believe In A Thing Called Love" at like 3 in the morning 2 saturdays ago, and i actaully air-guitared to it while sitting on my damn couch! Wow, they have guitar solos! The next day i went and bought the album on impulse, and I am completely blown away by it! its a 10...they are coming to chicago on nov. 19th @ the DoubleDoor if anyone's in the area is curious. and btw, PJ is my favorite band, you really can't compare the 2 groups, stupid argument.
Posted by the lone ranger:
why I do beleave the darkness rock more than my old rocking horse what what
Posted by thedarkone:
I LOVE THE DARKNESS! I have bloody fansite dedicated to them. Yes, I made it!
http://darkruler.suddenlaunch.com/index.cgi
Posted by Zack (kingofhoop@hotmail.com):
The most amazing band in the world.
Posted by Holly:
Justin is sex on legs and their album is absolutely amazing!! They are brill!!
Posted by Shat:
Best thing since Queen! About time some real rock came onto the scene!
Posted by Wiggy:
They bloody rock!! They are obviously the best band around and probably the best band in the last few years as well!!
Posted by jin:
dont cry over spilt milk....love is only a feeeling...the darkness rocks...jin gford,surrey
Posted by StabMasterson:
On Pearl Jam: "It's like anti-music. That's the kind of thing that scares me about America. Usually, if you look at something, you might not like it but at least you're able to understand why it's popular, what it gives to people. With that music, I can't. I wouldn't want to analyze it too much - I can't grasp why people would want it in their life." - Jarvis C0cker (Pulp)
It does not surprise me one bit that a band like The Darkness would not be American. Everyday I thank the UK for bands like this.
Posted by child: Mother is always right!
Posted by
Mother: Children, calm down! The Darkness rock,
no question about it! and when you say that someone could learn from a
particular group, you are discriminating a whole load of other groups that
rocks just as hard as the next! It's all in the persons listening to the
rocking, that feels the pulsating beats, that flys into action as soon
as the music is heard. Agree with one another and Rock your socks off with
no worries of unnessary misery!
Posted by
The Shut UP man: Shut up you lot and get a life! The Darkness
rule! Now i don't want anymore of these arguements ;)
Posted by rockisdead: if hawkins is the answer what was the
question?
Posted byallofnothing: 'the Darkness could learn tons from PJ,
including how to actually be dark'.....yes,if it weren't for the fact that
their name shouldn't be taken literally.*should of been 'listening to the
darkness...'on my last post.
Posted byBrownie: Darkness rocks. The singer is mental.
Songs are a bit wierd but they rock all the same.
Posted byWoof
R' Us: "A boring old band like Pearl Jam"? -
what? Pearl Jam isnt party music for frat boys like you, Bobert - obviously
the Darkness is - the Darkness could learn tons from PJ, including how
to actually be dark
Posted byallofnothing: listening to he Darkness on disc is always
good but there so much better live in my opinion.and they've actually got
videos that i'd be happy to watch more than once,something that is rare
these days.
Posted byRob: No Lion you are a dumbass because you’re
calling a chick a jerk-off. You’re anal because you discount someone's
review over a little typo. I'm sure if Haha was the writer she would have
corrected the typo instead of posting that comment. You obviously must
be a tool! Learn how to punctuate while you're at it. Now back to the topic
at hand; The Darkness kick ass! I got the CD on Tuesday when it came out
and haven't switched it yet. "Get your hands off my women, motherf****!"
This is an Instant classic. Maybe a boring old band like Pearl Jam can
learn something from The Darkness. Who wants to pay a hundred bucks to
see a band stand around on stage? You might as well just listen to the
CD. I hope this band takes off here in America. We need some good ol' fashion
tongue in cheek, let's rock their balls off, rock n' roll!
Posted bythe
Lion: Im anal cus this jerk-off cant spell "Zeppelin"?
- you obviously must be the person who wrote the article
Posted byHaha: How original a whining Pearl Jam fan.
Anal at that!
Posted bythe
lion of Pearl Jam: "everyone knows they fit perfectly into
the AC/DC, Queen and Led Zepplin generations as far as their sound." -
What do i think?. i think you need to learn how to spell "Led Zeppelin",
one of the most legendary bands ever whose name is also on a ROCK WEBSITE
spelled incorrectly, before i can take anything you have to say about any
band seriously, you sh*thead
Posted byallofnothing: hobo,there just rock.no fake sh*t,just
proper listenable,accessible rock music.
Posted byFreddie
mercury: They r F*cking GREAT! and the fact that
they sound like Queen who happen to be my number 1 band makes them more
intersting.
Posted byHobo: Im confused, what style are they?
Posted byallofnothing: Totally agree with your review racheal.
