4. The Darkness - One Way Ticket to Hell ...and Back
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfaubmS6VC4 One track that can at least be recommended: "One Way Ticket". Rock cliches may be reeled off at an astonishing rate (the use use of cow-bell, Justin Hawkins discussing his drug problems) but its undeniably infectious and a reminder of the quality of the debut. Hard-Rock was given a swift kick in the knackers when The Darkness arrived high-kicking and screaming in 2003. Blessed with a proud 'English-ness' not heard since the likes of Blur's "Parklife" and clad head to toe in soft-bits-revealing catsuits, the UK finally had a band who embraced the kind of Hard Rock/Rock-Opera shenanigans the likes of which hadn't been seen since the glory days of Queen. The Darkness' debut was awesome, took everyone completely by surprise and was a slab of pure unadulterated fun; 80's spandex and star-jumps, updated for the 00's. Then came the follow-up. The riffs were kinda there, the humour was kinda there but the public's appetite was not. Maybe it was too close to the blueprint laid out by their massive debut but the magic contained on Permission to Land's 10 tracks seemed strangely dialled down. "Is it just Me" may have a riff which Status Quo would have rejected for being too simple but the chorus redeems it; built for arenas and a rollicking good sing-along. "Hazel Eyes" on the other hand is frankly terrible, painful to listen to at times and blatantly straining to be humorous and quirky. The rise and fall of the band, seemingly led by Justin Hawkins' drug and alcohol issues was hard to watch. They had promised so much but the fall from grace was swift and scathing. It took seven years for them to recover (literally in Justin Hawkins case, who is now sober) and release a third album, but the moment had passed.
I love Heavy Metal, and generally anything that involves a guitar and loud noises, so I figured it was about time I put all the useless information in my head to good use and start writing a few things. Most of the time I'll be writing nonsense but occasionally I may surprise myself and appear half-way knowledgable.....but you can be the judge of that. Thanks for your fleeting attention!