I'll do a track-by-track.
1. Black Shuck
Starts with an awesome classic rock riff, very reminiscent of AC/DC, with the dual guitars and driving rhythm section. The verses show off the singer's vocal versatility, from Freddie Mercury-like high sections to throatier hard rock sounds. The chorus isn't too memorable, but it works nicely enough. A more chaotic, almost free-time bridge comes next, followed by the out-chorus, where the singing gets more and more ad libbed, culminating the mandatory rock and roll finish to round out a very competent, rockin' starter to the album. 4/5
2. Get Your Hands Off Of My Woman
The opposite of Black Shuck, this song has a good intro, mediocre verses (with little in the way of the catchy melodic content this band are best at), but a fantastic chorus. A cool ascending guitar line leads into the chorus, which features singing at a range comparable to - you guessed it - Freddie Mercury. The bridge/solo comes after the second chorus, with some cool layering between the dual guitars, and then a final chorus to finish this kickass track. 4/5
3. Growing On Me
The first single to be released off Permission To Land, this didn't catch my ear until I heard myself singing it to... myself. The song is very catchy, despite the poor sound (production-wise), which is odd, because the album as a whole is very professionally done. The solo vocals in the verse and backed up vocals in the chorus are complimented very well by the understated yet talented guitar work, and the bass and drums don't intrude on the main melodies. After a brief chordal interlude, comes the first real solo on the CD. It's short, but it shows The Darkness aren't just another band of rhythm guitarists. Then the outro solo confirms this, with licks in the vain of seventies hard rock. Killer track. 4.5/5
4. I Believe In A Thing Called Love
Wow, this song rules in every way. The chorus stands out more than anything else on the whole album, just for the jokingly over-done vocals (in falsetto British accent)! The solos are more than up to the task of carrying the momentum, and the false build-up after the second one (it leads to a quieter bridge instead of the expected chorus) is fantastic. The instrumental section at the end gives the guitarists their chance to shine, with blazing solos, a driving rock riff, and a even legato outro figuro.
5/5
5. Love Is Just A Feeling
The drum intro heralds the coming of the power ballad (essential on what is, at heart, an original hair rock tribute album). The guitar sounds here are really diverse. From the electric melody lines in the intro and the chorus, to the acoustic arpeggiation of the first verse, and the tremolo strumming of the second verse, it's a subtle showcase of the diversity many people fail to see in The Darkness. The chorus is fantastically melodic, ensuring this slower song never gets boring, and the solos are splendid, featuring bluesy bends, harmonised lines and even climactic tapped passages. The outro is almost folksy, with dual acoustic guitars reprising their roles of arpeggiation and speed-strummage from each of the verses respectively. I could listen to this for quite a long while. 5/5
6. Givin' Up
The intro/verse riff here is so reminiscent of the early Rolling Stones, it's a wonder there aren't lawsuits. But then, there's the chorus, with its descending vocal melody and catchy-as-hell hook (givin' up, givin' up, givin' a fuck). Add to the equation the 24-bar solo, in which each lead guitarist gets a chance to voice his style, with harmonisation from the other, and we have an adequate song. Neither filler nor killer. 3.5/5
7. Stuck In A Rut
The drumming comes through in this song's intro and verse more than anywhere else on this album so far. Despite the grooviness of the early sections, the chorus's mediocrity and breakdown's total rhythmic bankruptcy spoil this outing somewhat. The call-and-answer solo makes this a worthwhile song, but I might find myself skipping past it in the future. 3.5/5
8. Friday Night
Another ballad-type song. That's not a complaint though. This song is so listenable, and on closer inspection, it's quite a well written track too. Probably the deepest lyrics on the album (even if they are a carbon copy of The Cure's Friday I'm In Love), set to vocal melodies that are a pleasure to hear Justin sing. The harmonised guitar line in the bridge is pure gold, and the outro solo leaves the song lingering nicely, without going into the kind of theatrics some other songs do on this album. 4.5/5
9. Love On The Rocks With No Ice
The bad humour of the title aside, this song rocks. Probably the most "heavy metal" song on the album, with sludgey rhythm guitars comparable to Black Sabbath, and consistently driving riffage, a la Judas Priest. The chorus, as always, features outlandishly high vocals, but it still works with the song here. In fact, without that touch of contrast, this would be a lesser song. The solos really set this song apart though. From the 3:00 mark onward, there's a barrage of pentatonic lead work that is just plain cool to listen to. And just as it starts getting tiresome, Justin Hawkins interrupts with a shattering rendition of the word "ice" that sends the rest of the band into a frenzy, paradiddling and tapping like mad to provide an appropriately heavy rock finish to this above-average heavy rock song. 4/5
10. Holding My Own
This song isn't as much a breath of fresh air as it is a choking waft of sickly sweetness. The comparison one can draw between this and the ballads of 80s hair metal is amusing, but short-lived. The competence of The Darkness at writing catchy melodies salvages some of this track, as does the powerful yet shamefully short first solo, but on the whole, this is just too cheesy. Maybe after forcing myself to listen to More Than A Feeling, I'll be able to take this track seriously. Then again, maybe not. 3/5
Overall Rating: 4.25/5
I'd've given it 4/5 but with the general fun-ness of The Darkness to listen to, most especially the engaging singing, makes this album that much better than the sum of its tracks.
P.S., I'm seeing them at the Big Day Out in 36 hours (exactly
), so I hope they appoint...
...as opposed to disappoint, of course.
