Now, before I even get started I'm going to point out that I'm an out of town Rocksnob. It's kinda like how on the news they have different correspondents all over. I might as well be Dragon's Jersey correspondent. But unlike most Jerseyans I can't stand Bon Jovi and unlike certain other Rocksnobs, I am not a fan of Mr. Springsteen. Like Dragon I live in the '70s, but only in 1975 instead.
But on occasion I will keep up with current bands. Well, that is if they sound like the '70s and '80s groups I love. In this case I am talking about The Darkness. These guys rock, and if you live in the '70s or '80s they're right up your alley way.
On first glance they seem like a total joke band, with silly pointless lyrics and frivolous clothing. Some claim that front man Justin Hawkins probably raided Freddie Mercury's wardrobe trunk from the '70s. (I rather LIKE his clothing choices but I'm just going to say I think he's hot and leave it at that.) Their guitarist wears a Thin Lizzy shirt and the drummer's nose sort of looks like a potato, while the bassist sports, of all things, a giant mustache. What's not to love?
Well if you've gotten your paws on their debut album Permission to Land then you'll really understand.
(An actual review and not a ramble.)
The album starts out with some heavy power chords. Black Shuck is the most falsetto powered song of the album, and it's more or less an acquired taste. If you listen to it a few times, you're gonna love it. From what I understand, Black Shuck is an old English legend up in Suffolk in which a church was visited by a curious beast. This "curious beast" was a dog-like creature with one eye and it's pretty much one of those things that can foretell death.
Next up is Get Your Hands Off of My Woman and if you're a small child make sure your mum and dad never hear this one. "Motherfucker" is used about every four words in the chorus (chorus in the good way, not the icky Bon Jovi style.) It's another heavily falsettoed song, and if you can understand the words then cookies for you!
Following Get Your Hands off of my Woman is the widely acclaimed Growing on Me which I happen to love (although I have a different version a friend found and it's completely different.) The video features a dinosaur humping a space ship and Justin Hawkins naked in a bathtub. (Don't worry it's pixilated.) The guitar solo on this track is one of my favorites, you can't help but NOT want to sing along. The lyrics may seem strange at first ("I wanna shake you off but you just won't got/you're attached to me but I don't want anyone to know.") Out of context it sounds like gibberish but when you hear it in context it's brilliant.
I Believe in a Thing Called Love follows Growing on Me and this one is the band's current chart single (14 on Billboard, I believe.) Again, a highly falsetto-based track and the music video contains a giant squid. 30 feet is the actual measurement so if you like calamari a LOT then you best not watch. The song's lyrical content is again, great, and the opening for the video again contains a naked lead singer. Man, what is it with this guy and nudity? Ah well, what the heck. If they're reviving rock then he can dart about naked as much as he wants.
Love is Only A Feeling comes next and borders on the line of mock power ballad and truly emotional. It's not one of my personal favorite tracks, but it really is well written.
Giving Up will put a true smile on your face because it's the most UPBEAT song about heroin you will ever hear. The opening screams rock and you'll find yourself air guitaring to the monster chords and if you don't then you're clinically insane. The guitar is the best part of the entire song, particularly the solo in the middle. This is a favorite of mine, and it's definitely the hardest rocking track on the album.
Giving Up flows smoothly into Stuck in a Rut with a single drumbeat. The song has a moving yet mysterious beat to it and I'll never get how one can be propelled by a carriage of aluminum. Whatever, Justin. The chorus is a bit annoying, but the interlude contains the true gem of the entire album. A single prolonged bit of maniacal laughter that will make most fan girls squeal happily. For me it's like Bruce Dickinson saying pranced. Repeatedly.
Friday Night takes the album down a few notches, but Hawkins sings in his natural voice for most of it and it sounds simply wonderful. It's one of those unrequited love songs but with a new spin on it, and it shows a different side to the band. Great guitar in this track as well but in reality, you'll start wondering why this man doesn't use his natural voice on more of the tracks of Permission To Land.
The second to last track is Love on the Rocks With No Ice which is horrible in the studio but so much better live. If you have seen/heard Queen's Live at Wembley Stadium and can recall Freddie's playing about with the crowd during Another One Bites The Dust, The Darkness will do the same exact thing with this song live. And will sometimes meander through the crowed on a roadie's shoulder à la AC/DC. Again, better live. It's not one of the best tracks on the album because it is too slow for my taste.
The song Holding My Own ends the album on a sad, yet hopeful note and expresses a lot of teenaged-type feelings. It's got angst, but in a better way then nu-metal. Metaphors are also used well in this track. Again a high-pitched voice is used and bass doesn't seem to prevail as much as it does in the heavier tracks, but if you read over the lyrics a few times you'll more or less appreciate the track.
So, on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the best, the Megala Rock Factor is 8, for having just enough rock to cover over the slow songs.
Permission to rock? Permission granted.