You will hear a lot about The Darkness over the coming weeks and months. You will undoubtedly read about the spandex, the irony, the falsetto vocals and the massive production. If there’s any justice, you’ll hear a song of theirs on the radio with a title like "Get Your Hands Off Of My Woman" or "Love On The Rocks (With No Ice)," and you’ll ask yourself if this is a joke.
I’ve had over a month to digest Permission To Land, the debut album from England’s biggest band of the moment, The Darkness and what I’ve come to realize is that it is for real and unlike nearly all albums from this year, it’s the first I’ve heard in ages that I’ve been overwhelmed by. Lead singer Justin Hawkins and his brother Dan along with bassist Frankie Poullain and drummer Ed Graham have come up with a monster of an album. This is not cheesy hair metal. This is Queen. This is Iron Maiden. This is AC/DC.
Permission To Land has one of the biggest rock sounds recorded in nearly a decade. Huge riffs and two (TWO) guitar solos are not uncommon on ballads such as "Love Is Only A Feeling" and the epic closer, "Holding My Own." The full-on rock songs are all capable of being singles which in the UK has propelled this album to numero one for the past four weeks. Back in January, the band was playing to empty barstools.
"Epic" is indeed the key word of this review. This album is big and despite what you may think, The Darkness are sincere and for real. Listen to Permission To Land several times before you make up your mind...and pray this doesn’t spawn imitators.
1. Black Shuck
2. Get Your Hands Off My Woman
3. Growing on Me
4. I Believe in a Thing Called Love
5. Love Is Only a Feeling
6. Givin' Up
7. Stuck in a Rut
8. Friday Night
9. Love on the Rocks With No Ice
10. Holding My Own