Permission to Land

Okay so The Darkness formed and they thought, “Let’s indulge in every hair metal cliche and play the hell out of them.” And somewhere around then the lead singer thought, “I should sing like Freddie Mercury after sucking a helium balloon.” And most importantly they agreed, “Let’s have fun and not overthink anything.” I completely understand why someone would fall head over heels for their shtick. I can’t get mad at music that wants to entertain me as much as this does. But I found myself rolling my eyes about as often as I was banging my head.

An album that was *everywhere* when it was out - every song was played in the pubs and clubs of Glasgow (not just the singles). Mostly very silly, but with a few more poignant moments. Reminds me of being a student in the big city, and gets am extra stars for that!

Fun fact for me. My buddy loved "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" so much, but he didn't have an iTunes account. Since he was my office mate, I purchased the album for him on the spot and listened to it on repeat for about a month. First iTunes album I purchased. The thing I love most about the Darkness isn't that they missed the hair band era by several decades. It's that they said Fuck It. This is the music we love and we're going to be the best damn hair band of the new millennium. Their love of the genre is obvious in their execution. Brilliant debut album.

I assumed that they were a one hit wonder band and that this would be fairly meh...but I was wrong! This is a gloriously daft and superbly unself conscious album . They throw in all the metal tropes and make it work . you can feel the genuine love and affection for the music, style and genre and it is great.

I have this album. Got it for £2 at a car boot sale. Picked up some Tupac, White Stripes and Billy Idol at the same time. Less than £10 for the haul. Anyway, it is what it is - a fun, colourful oddity, which seemed to emerge at the time from nowhere, glowing neon amidst a slurry of Creed and Nickelback. Time has been relatively kind, and the big songs still have a kick to them. A charitable four; guitars crunch, vocals soar and there's an infectious energy throughout.

Campy, tongue in cheek, but undeniably fun. An over the top auditory diary. If you can’t smile while listening to this, you are truly dead inside. Will listen again.

This album rocks. When it first came out I was in my early 20s and at first I thought I liked them ironically but they actually ended up being badass.

It's sort of everything you want from a rock album.

fun but a whole album is a bit much

A surprisingly heart felt album when listened to in the right context

I got this when it came out and played it to death. Everything about it just rules. Big songs, goofiness with ambition, catchiness. I still listen a fair bit, and it hasn't dropped an inch in quality in 20 years. If anything, it's even better now that everything else sucks so much in 2023. 5/5 and I'd give it 6 if I could.

Against all odds the album lives up to its ridiculous cover art. Kudos, The Darkness, you nailed it.

Not particularly deep by any means, but a hell of a lot of fun. Kind of like Journey on speed, but with F-bombs.

If you let this stand alone on its music, it's ok. Vocally, it makes chalk screeching across a blackboard sound like fine opera. Listened. Check. Done. Next.

This is one of those tongue-in-cheek-cliche bands right? This album can't be serious <reads the Wiki page> "Permission to Land is the debut studio album by the British glam rock band"… Seriously. This is my 538th album on this list and probably the 700th British band that Demory put on here instead of a proper band from that genre that launched the genre. I'm about thisclose to dropping this project due to Robert fucking Demory's insanity. 2/5.

Hello The Darkness, my old friends! A joke of similar quality to this joke of an album. I vaguely remember the dismal state of UK music at the time this came out, when 3rd-rate karaoke AC/DC seemed like a breath of fresh air. Can you imagine?! It's all probably genuine and heartfelt, like a college talent show Queen covers band. Doesn't mean I have to sit through it. A mean 1* for wasting my time. Looking forward to Right Said Fred next, or The Shirehorses

Surprisingly good, I didn't rate the darkness when they came out but in retrospect this is actually a fantastic album

Super fun. There's a self-awareness that lands on the earnest side and really elevates the whole thing. Committing to listening to this list means having to wade through a lot of New Wave Britpop, but finding albums like this one make it worth the trouble. Best track: I Believe in a Thing Called Love

This album was my liberation into rock music as a teenager. Will forever love it.

Fuck this album is so fun. The Darkness knew what they were doing and it works. Yeah it's got that cheese to it, but they lean into it and it's fucking awesome.

Beyond the well known single the album is strong throughout. Any music which has fun at it's core like this I'm always going to get on with no matter the genre. It hits hard and keeps it up, when you think it may get tiring the sheer energy pushes through. They never quite lived up to this album but damn if this isn't an incredibly enjoyable listen all over again. fuck it it's a 5

A glam rock album? With a Christmas song (in some versions)? With a high register singer?! AND THE LEAD SINGER COVERED A SPARKS SONG LATER IN HIS CAREER?!? I haven't listened yet but this may line-up to be quite the hit with me. While certainly glam, we're talking Journey and some hints of Queen more than Sparks, which was obviously my hope, but I still enjoyed this a bit, even it was hard to place this album and its sound. We were going pretty hard rock one moment, to showing remnants to what was to come with the emo wave of music, and then just straight up the most steretypical 70s glam metal, thirty years late. Either way, it's enjoyable enough to be barely a 4, it definitely helps that it's a shorter album, making the parts I disliked more being swift. The highlight was most certainly the lead singer's vocals when he chose to use them in just the right way. Again, a very light 4.

cool ig, nothing special

Funny

Anglo music's two-decade peek rearward produced some 2000s artifacts which already look a little lopsided; In fairness, one is guaranteed to blindly plunge into the equivalent at least a few times. And this glam revival isn't bad at all! The stickiness seems to come from anachronism purely, but anachronism isn't all that happened in the studio.

Okay

This is legit hair rock made by enthusiasts that is content to be nothing beyond what inspired it. The Darkness’s music doesn’t excite me, but it’s fun, well-made, and I applaud them for digging in their spurs and making passionate love to their hobby-horse. It’s not their fault that I keep expecting to hear Brasseye’s “Playground Bang Around”.

Meh

Blegh

Eh. Feels like the novelty hasn't worn back on.

Overplayed and overblown. Nothing they did hadn't been done before. I just think of Russell Brand when I think of this band. Appalling hair band.

Bad hair band ... with bad hair

Sweet!

Very fun, loved it Also made a banger of a Christmas song

It’s awesome, sometimes comical hard rock with a lead singer who is a similar level to freddy mercury. 5/5

Hard rock

Fuck yeah

sonzeira, conhecia o hit das antigas e o resto do álbum fez jus ao som

Had forgotten about the darkness.... Great pop rock record though. Completely different to anything being released at the time. I remember seeing them at Leeds festival 2003 and not knowing who they were beforehand. Their name made me think it was going to be some death metal band or something, but they were completely different and I loved it. Listened to this album a lot at the time. Lots of good songs, but I think my favourite is love on the rocks with no ice. It's getting a 5 for how different it was to everything else at the time

How did this come out in 2003!? Can't believe it was 20 years ago. I loved this album at the time, it doesn't take itself too seriously and there's some great riffs. They were victims of their own success really, would have probably had a longer career if they hadn't shot to number 1. Don't think I've listened to it since my teens and I really enjoyed going through it again, really nostalgic and kept me smiling. Won't listen again very soon but have to give it a 5.

So much fun to listen to again, total classic

I love this record.

It's been too long, this is a cracking debut!

What a surprise, never heard of them, but I loved everything about it. The 80s guitar based rock with riffs, licks, solos, the pop punk feel of the production, the silly yet pretty proficient singing, in a good runtime. Loved it!

One of the great debut albums. Over the top nonsense with tongue firmly wedged in cheek. Which cheek? Have a listen and you decide.

Guilty pleasure

Man, forgot how many good songs are on this.

https://media.tenor.com/wlZU0JjHqNEAAAAC/thumbs-up-cool.gif

Big fan of this album, not a bad song on it. The b-sides are strong too, could never give it anything less than 5

I initially heard this album described as satirical like Bad News or Tenacious D, but it is a legitimately hot shot of badass rock and roll.

Really great album ! If you love old school rock, you will love it.

Great album. I remember it when it came out and saw them in Reading

truly amazing!

Have you ever heard of Led Zeppelin? Queen? AC/DC? Well those guys are amateurs compared to this band. 😂 Ok, in all seriousness, this band recycles the mid 70s/early 80s rock sound. This album did commercially well, perhaps due to the popularity of the sitcom That 70s Show. If you dig on any of those bands mentioned on top, you’re gonna love this album. With tasty licks and a soprano voice from front man Justin Hawkins, this one is a keeper 5

I believe in a thing called LLLOOIIVVEEEE

FUCK YES. This album is what RAWK shoud be. Hawkins is great, the band is solid as fuck, 6 stars.

Hard rock, glam metal. Un megahit. Me ha gustado bastante... Vinilo, venga.

That's a banger. How have I not heard of this?

Albums I liked when I was 13 very rarely hold up. This one does. No notes.

TESKI hitovi

- never heard of them before - holy shit this eats - love on the rocks with no ice !!!! - this was my favourite album i’ve listened to so far

Gewoon plezant

This is just... classic rock for a reason.

Fuck yes, I Remember these guys! Lead singer is like a young Axl Rose. I loved this album in university. It's unapologetic 00's glam metal. It was so weird to hear a new band take on a genre that was so popular in the 70's-80's. This gave me the same wow factor that I got the first time I heard Greta Van Fleet. Favourite songs: Love On the Rocks With No Ice, I Believe in a Thing Called Love, Get Your Hands Off My Woman, Growing On Me, Stuck in a Rut, Makin' Out, Black Shuck, Givin' Up, Love Is Only A Feeling, Friday Night Least favourite songs: if forced to pick, Holding My Own 5/5

An absolute legend of an album

Perfection

Hard rock, glam metal. Un megahit. Me ha gustado bastante... Vinilo, venga.

Let me go ahead and listen to this album for the 1,329th time and give it my first 5. What an amazing story these guys are.

Love this album. I remember first seeing the music video for "Thing Called Love" and being so intrigued and weirded out at the same time.

Love it! All of it

This whole album is just such bombastic over the top perfectly executed stupidity. I loved every second.

The high octane hair rock revival of my dreams! I fucking love this album. It is a party the whole way through, an absolute gem. Did not expect to see it come up on this list, but I'm so glad it did. It is just pure, unadulterated FUN. There's a magical blend of silliness, camp, funkiness, and stank on it that just takes me there. Right fucking on, man. I love it.

I know this album well, and it never fails to disappoint. The soaring vocals, edgy riffs and brilliant sense of humor make this an absolute blast to listen to. I wouldn't change a thing about it -- it's about the perfect album for me. Five stars.

Fantastic

It is a really fun album. I was familiar with several of the songs. The songs edited correctly and do not drone on. I would definitely listen to it again.

Before listening: We didn't realize it at the time, and we don't realize it now, but the Darkness saved Rock 'n' Roll. And like the Wyld Stallions, they were trying to save the world. It's just that we weren't ready. The Darkness were laughed at and mocked, and considered a joke band. But they were always incredibly talented and they never took themselves seriously. This album was amazing, and their second album was great. Then they were dropped by their label. And they still produced amazing albums after that! I love the Darkness and this is the album that started it all. You were all just too high on your high horse to appreciate it. After listening: I said what I have to say.

- Growing on me is a great track! - I Believe in a Thing Called Love still bangs! - Love is only a feeling is great! - Friday Night is a nice song! - Love on the rocks with no ice goes hard! - Holding my own is a great rock ballad! Great guitar solos throughout the whole album worth listening to just for the fun guitar solos through the project

good album imo

2023/03/23 Awesome!

2003 … wow ca sonne pas cette annee la du tout. Tant mieux, ils ont ramene le bon vieux rock l’instant d’une annee en 200. 4.25

Despite all known laws of nature, there's no way that a music should be able to fly on account of the singer's ability to do incredible falsetto runs over some upbeat rock, yet The Darkness somehow does so every song and they are all very joyous and fun! While I don't entirely believe that the vocalist is the only thing that makes this band and album good, their skills certainly overshadow anything the band can really try to do, including guitar solos, so I would almost say that it doesn't matter

I vibed with this way harder than I was planning to. Just some good silly rockin fun.

Such a fun album. The Darkness had a sound they wanted and just went for it.

I Believe in a Thing Called Love i Love is Only a Feeling najlpesze. Ogólnie taki całkiem przyjemny wesoły pop rock.

It has all the catchy riffs and camp vocals of a great glam rock album.

Silly glam metal that's really well done. It's a fun experience to listen to and surprisingly good. This could easily be mistaken to be from the 80s. I've only listened to "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" before but the rest of the album is also impressive.

Good fun is to be had here amongst the high pitched hard rockers!

Goofy glam metal that can be a lot of fun. Falsetto singing of sophomoric lyrics over riffing guitars. The ultra-catchy "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" is the anthemic standout.

Hard Rock, always a joy, sometimes AC/DC vibes but an own style, Summary: I like

This album is hilarious. But it is also extremely tiring. Better as singles. Essentially, Justin Hawkins and his chums saw the dismal state of music back in the early 2000s and thought "there is literally nothing good to say about Lowestoft, which means we'll be perfect for today's music scene". Fortunately, being from Lowestoft means that you kinda have to have a certain ability to just say "fuck it, it can't get any worse" - and that's exactly what they did. They said "fuck it" and decided to do what they wanted to do, which was hair metal. In Norfolk terms, this was about the latest, most exciting, fizzing with excitement musical genre since Cromwell banned fun in 1642, and fortunately, The Darkness carried it off spectacularly. The glittery, plunging neckline unitards of Kiss, the spectacular Def Leppard haircuts are all there. Make no mistake - The Darkness are as good as anyone at what they do. They just did it 25 years after anyone else.

Het is hele foute glamrock. Die gillende aanstellerige stem van de zanger is best wel irritant. Givin' Up klinkt als Queen. Het is een grote gimmick van een foute jaren 80 periode. Oftewel het heeft alles om enorm te haten. En toch is het best wel aanstekelijk en vermakelijk. Dikke gitaren voeren de boventoon. Goeie drums en bass eronder. Die gasten zijn gewoon een paar decennia te laat geboren.

Een overzicht van de meer stevige gitaarstijlen. Soms meer klassiek, soms wat moderner. De zang is afwisselend. En ook binnen de nummers gebeurt ruim voldoende om het interessant te houden.

Uiteraard kende ik dit gezelschap enkel van de hit. Tja, het is even wennen aan die mallotige stem, maar het lukt ze om boven de gimmick uit te stijgen en zowaar best lekkere muziek neer te zetten. Gillende gitaren, maar lichtvoetiger dan het stampende Soundgarden.

Tiene temillas

I dalje nevjerojatno zabavan album

Just do good, in a classic way

Solid rock album

Pretty rad

Really impressive, though it seems a test whether you can handle the falsetto rock voice. I'm on board. I would say every song (except the last) is strong, with lots of entertaining, campy melodic "metal" (though more poppy hard rock with a falsetto metal singer). Definitely enjoyed.

Like a cheap version of Boston. Some forgettable stuff, but also some bangers.