Artist: Darkness, The
Label: Atlantic Records
Release: 2005
Length: 35:04
Rating: 4.1/5
The rabid, foaming-at-the-mouth “critics” were dying to get their hands on the second album from glam rockers The Darkness. In the hope of tearing it to shreds, of course. The lads from the north of England didn’t disappoint the raging critics this time either. Anyway, the guys in the band are thinking “who gives a f*** about critics” and just do whatever the hell they want. And that’s the only way to do it! Bravo, boys! What The Darkness have created on this album deserves nothing but praise.
From the opening line of coke being snorted (screw the press, I couldn’t care less), all the way to the final, typically Queen-esque ballad, this album is unstoppable. They kick things off with a classic AC/DC-meets-Def Leppard riff in the title track One Way Ticket To Hell…And Back. The drums and the whole rhythm section pound like crazy, hammering away like a mule in harness. After an opener like that, of course, nobody can stop them anymore. Dinner Lady Arms is easily the next, third single (the second single, Is It Just Me, comes out on February 20, 2006). The track really does remind you a lot, especially in the guitar parts, of something from the repertoire of their buddies Def Leppard, whom The Darkness warmed up the crowd for three years ago on a UK tour.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu2N8FJPYN0
Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time gets a little boring by the end thanks to the repetition of the title phrase, unlike the jolly Scottish highland melodies on Hazel Eyes. Excellent! The way the bagpipes and guitars intertwine is just a joy. Hats off, boys. Next comes the more serious Bald, where Justin is obviously dealing with the problem of getting older in the lyrics. After a short breather from the previous track, Girlfriend carries on the trend of happy riffs. The opening riff could easily be filed under the Status Quo grade school of riffs. And of course the good-time vibe doesn’t stop with this track, as the guys carry it on even more cheerfully and even more bouncily in English Country Garden. The album, which runs a good half hour and is basically designed like a vinyl LP, wraps up with a more than obvious tribute to their idols, Queen.
I’m sure most critics tore this album to shreds, and yet, lo and behold, the prestigious British magazine Classic Rock went and declared it album of the year. The Darkness have truly saved rock once again and given it a hefty dose of adrenaline too.
Line-up
Justin Hawkins – vocals, guitars, sitar, piano, Hammomd, Mini-Moog, synth
Dan Hawkins – guitars, bass guitar, marching drums, tubular bells, tambourine, triangle, vocals
Ed Graham – drums
Richie Edwards – bass guitar, vocals
Stuart Cassells – bagpipes
Fredy Gomez – panpipes
Production
Roy Thomas Baker
Track List
1.One Way Ticket
2.Knockers
3.Is It Just Me
4.Dinner Lady Arms
5.Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time
6.Hazel Eyes
7.Bald
8.Girlfriend
9.English Country Garden
10.Blind Man
