Permission to Land

It's got all the expected tongue in cheek/cliche/irony from Justin & Co. It's pretty good for what it is, but the one mega single was probably the reason for it being here. 2.5 rounded up to 3

better and worse than i remembered

Kind of a fun rock album. Vocals were sometimes annoying, but also fit fairly well. Kind of reminds me of Franz Feredinand or The Killers in a way, but a bit more frantic. 3/5

me, opening the 1001 album generator website this morning and getting my album for the day: ............................ the DARKNESS????????????? i have literally not thought about The Darkness for at least 15 years. they just deleted themselves from my memory completely. this is truly a throwback thursday. before listening to the album in full i went straight to I Believe In A Thing Called Love and suddenly i was in year 9 again. completely, COMPLETELY forgot about the existence of Friday Night as well. anyway the rest of it... idk if im a bit clouded by nostalgia here but im having a good time?? its just fun and bits of it are not that great but its just BIG AND SILLY and tbh im remembering how at age 14 i'd be reading the NME and there'd be all these bands taking themselves really seriously and then there was just the darkness doing this kind of thing, and i don't think i really appreciated this at the time but it was good to have this kind of silliness alongside everything else.

Pre-listening thoughts: I’m a little nervous to listen to this one bc Adam Lambert did I Believe in a Thing Called Love on glee and I worry they can’t actually top his cover of it Post/during listening thoughts: I kind of enjoyed this! It was a fun listen but I’m not sure I’d ever revisit it. I think it was a nice modern take on glam rock/metal but also to me serves as why we should never bring that genre back. It’s just a little too much yelling in the falsetto range and sometimes the instrumentals feel like they’re fighting with the vocals instead of complementing them. Anyways this wasn’t bad though, but still a 6/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: I Believe in a Thing Called Love, Love is Only a Feeling, Friday Night Least fav tracks: Get Your Hands Off of My Woman, Stuck in a Rut

The kind of music I picture in my mind when I imagine “classic rock”. Best song: I Believe in a Thing Called Love Notable(s): Givin’ Up, Love on the Rocks with No Ice

A Sort of guilty pleasure I won't intentionally revisit.

It's crazy just how much better their hit is than the rest of the album. A few others are not bad but overall it's just fine. Maybe this should actually be 2 stars idk.

Pretty basic but fun glam-esque riff-driven rock album. There's nothing out of this world here, but catchy riffs are always good, and this album has a fair few. They kind of gave up in the second half, through, loosing a fair amount of energy. Still, overall, this is a pretty good album but not very memorable. 7/10

Kinda just wish they wrote songs for AC/DC and not these overly jokey pantomimes. There's some stuff which is as good in its mechanics as any of the greats but it's through so many layers of irony it can be difficult to stomach

Pas à mon goût, mais une cote de 2 serait chien, étant donné le talent et la proposition.

What a fun project! Nothing super special but it really nails the sounds it seeks to replicate/evolve. "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" is timeless and ripping it in Guitar Hero on the DS was my introduction. Unfortunately for The Darkness, my brain pictures the lead singer as Dennis Reynolds as the Dayman...

I was familiar with the Darkness mostly from "I believe in a thing called love". I was pleasantly surprised by this album- they have a more varied and complex sound than I anticipated. Still- not too many standouts, and the 80s-style falsetto singing did start to wear after a while. A lot of fun songs though. Overall- good album. 3.5/5

I really liked I believe in a thing called love and black shuck. But the rest I was meh about

meh mostly with some fun tracks. i know i believe in a thing called love and CANNOT remember what from

From who? Where?

It's a fun album. However it gets a little old as the album goes on. Still, not all that bad.

this needs some context. there was absolutely nothing like it when it came out. it was such a refreshing breath of fresh air back then, having a band sound completely different and just having fun. the rumor back then was that the band overheard the future lead singer in a karaoke bar and said - we gotta make an album with this dude.

5/10…glam metal / hard rock

The music sounds like some fun, energetic 2000s Rock Music, but the vocals don't match the music. The lead singer sounds like he belongs in the "High School Musical" series. It's okay, but the vocals held this album back. Favorite Track: "I Believe In A Thing Called Love".

Listenable but the novelty wears thin

I believe in a thing called love is a banger. But the singers voice gets so grating on the other tracks

A couple of absolutely cracking singles alongside fun album cuts. I love the vocals.

While “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” and the one about getting your hands off my woman are iconic, I don’t think hair metal is for. A bit too much falsetto.

Transitioning straight here from Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic, there is a lot of similarity in the tone. I'll say that I love I Believe in a Thing Called Love. Always have, always will. Love on the Rocks with No Ice is another standout to me. Otherwise this was perfectly okay, but I find myself with a bit of a headache following. Unsure how much of that can be attributed to the music. For me this is perfect middle ground territory. Wonderfully bombastic glam rock at times, but generally just fine.

An interesting blend of hair metal and a bit of punk. Pretty generic sounding all in all. No notes.

High energy, fun album. The theatrical vocals were kind of a turn off for me and kept me from loving it. If I would listen to just a couple songs I could handle it, but not the entire album. The instrumental side of this album is what makes it shine.

It was okay. I like I Believe in a Thing Called Love. The high pitched singing is hard for me to listen to over and over again.

Was excited to listen to this one. I enjoyed maybe 75% of the album. "I believe in a thing called love" will always be a masterpiece. Some other songs just didn't grab me but not too shabby overall.

Enjoyably silly - slightly over stays its welcome - but good memories of seeing them at Reading.

Low guitar with high pitched vocals. Interesting mix.

Band was OK - vocals had too much Patti LaBelle going on.

This is another album on here for one song. And it is a banger. Love is Only a Feeling was also good. You really get all you need from the first half though. Fun listen.

Never heard of this band. Sounds like a mix of Foreigner and Boston with a bit of power pop and grunge thrown in. The vocals are too screechy for me, but otherwise not bad. I would give it a 3.5

Fun and lively. Some really good tracks. Just on the three side of a 3.5.

Interesting retro rock album but nothing amazing here

Always loved I Believe In A Thing Called Love. These guys had fun with it, bringing that 70s/80s rock star style back to life. Fun time

Don’t want to admit it, but this thing rocks. Worth taking a bit more seriously than the Spinal Tap parody I was expecting.

The singer's voice is too high for me to enjoy this. Sounds like Kiss at times. Also why was this released in 2003.

Listened to this right after faith no more and i didn’t like that so this sounded good in comparison. There were a few songs I didn’t I didn’t mind. It was fine

Not actually that good but still pretty entertaining. Don’t think I’d want to listen more than once though

I had only ever heard the big single. I assumed the whole album would be good and it was.

low 3

wdym this album didn't come out in the 80's during peak glam rock era?? good for them tho, respect

Could be a solid 3.5 if 1/2 stars permitted. Decent rock album aside from/in addition to some of the falsetto-heavy vocals.

I might believe in a thing called love, but I also believe in a thing called one hit wonders.

Decent

Glam rock, está bien pero no es mi género favorito

Good 3/5

2.9 2x nothing to write home about

I like some of the songs but for me it's not really an album for this list.

I BELIEVE IN A THING CALLED LOOOOVE

I remember liking this album. Not so much anymore.

Not their best, but some good ol OG glam with big guitars, big drums and soaring vocals. Justin Hawkins has some raaaaaange, though on the album seem to live in the high vocal register for a bit more than I like

Kinda gave like 80’s rock album but done in the 2000’s lmao. Cool stuff esp that hit song haha

Respect for these guys to make a glam rock album in the 2003 and make it work. Love seeing guys do what they do best. Anyways not my type of tea.

Hadn't heard this before. Not one for me but decently done.

A little off beat but I still liked it!

Excellent British rock. Over the top fun.

The band is pretty good. I just wish the singer would not use his falsetto voice on EVERY. DAMN. SONG. "I Believe In A Thing Called Love" is typical of the fare of this album, and even in this big song I don't think the singer is keeping up with the band. He is trying to sing faster to the point he is out of breath. I can't imagine how he does it live. I would like the album more, but the singer is just... gah. Top tracks: "Friday Night," "Givin' Up," "I Believe In A Thing Called Love"

Very of its times I think. Not a big fan unfortunately. Not a huge fan of the vocalist. Specific rating - 3.1 Fav song- love is only a feeling Least fav- love on the rocks with no ice

An album made to be sung in the shower. Bit too screamy for me at points. Favourite: Friday Night Least: Stuck in a Rut

Not interested.

🎧It’s fine. I don’t love it, I don’t hate it.

I vaguely recall my brother mentioning The Darkness as a fun hair-metal-esque band for the 21st century. And while he might have even given me one of their albums, I think this is the first time I've listened to them, and I can definitely see what he meant now, especially with the opening track "Black shuck" storming out of the gates and never looking back (and very cool that the song was based on a legend of a dog that haunts a church near the band's hometown). Screaming falsettos, power chords aplenty, blistering guitar licks and a veritable wall of distortion; this one has it all, down to the somewhat embarrassingly adolescent titles and lyrics. It's not really the type of album to have too many highlights, only because they're probably 20 years too late to get the kind of airplay they'd have deserved in the 80s, but I'd say that they had a few perfectly tuned tracks in "Growing on me", "I believe in a thing called love", "Stuck in a rut", and the epic "Love on the rocks with no ice". Not the best album ever (by a long shot), but definitely fun, and I can see why they're compared to the likes of Queen,as they have the same kind of energy and over the top commitment that's not quite camp.

Not bad for a “joke band”! IBIATCL is a classic tune

Mer mues säge dass ehre Frontsinger e beidrockendi Stemm hed, vorallem met sim Falsetto. Vorallem im "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" zeigt är sie rächt guet. Au "Love is only a Feeling" esch e rächte Banger. Sie hend debi e ganz eigete Stil. Dä esch zwar eigentlech no geil, aber werd ergendeinisch no relativ Langwiilig. Au setzed sie extrem of Rockgitarre ond Schlagzüg-Kombo was mer cha mache, mer aber schnell z repetitiv werd.

The music is good but the vocals bring it back to average. 3 stars or C+.

Meh! The Sweet do stadium rock. It's Ok, but not great.

only ever heard I Believe in a Thing Called Love in the past, and i don't recall any other major hits from this group since. hopefully the rest of the album is decent Black Shuck - 3/5 Get Your Hands off My Woman - 1/5 Growing on Me - 3/5 I Believe in a Thing Called Love - 4/5 Love Is Only a Feeling - 5/5 Givin' Up - 2/5 Stuck in a Rut - 2/5 Friday Night - 3/5 Love on the Rocks with No Ice - 3/5 Holding My Own - 3/5 Makin' Out - 2/5 Average score: 2.8/5 (rounding up) two songs in and it's abundantly clear to me that this is gimmicky glam rock. not that there's anything wrong with that i guess my enjoyment of the vocalist's performance overall is like 50/50. i feel like he was overdoing it at times, particularly on Get Your Hands off My Woman. like we get it man, you can hit high notes after listening in full, i guess i can say this was okay for what it is; it's camp, it's tongue-in-cheek, and obviously not trying to be taken seriously. this isn't an album i'm likely to return to in full though

Meh still think of them as one hit wonders. But that hit does enough to bring it to 3 stars

A good rock record and a notable level of production that goes into a compilation of fun songs to listen to. A different style than the rest of the bands at the time.

Song: i believe in a thing called love this song is good but not a song i usually listen to but it is good for some reason when he says the ooh- hoo it reminds me of the movie lorax Song: get your hands of my women this song is good but i really dont like it because there are a lot of bad words which i dont like Song: Stuck in a rut this song is good but i really do not like the bad words. It could be without bad words

The album cover is pretty cool. I like the music, just not the singer's voice. Overall, the album is fire.

Not particularly deep by any means, but a hell of a lot of fun. An unabashed homage to the 1980s hair and glam bands (that I love) with only a little in updated production values as a clue that this is actually an album from 2003. 3⭐️

I kind of dig the music - great guitar work on here but that singer is hard to suffer. I’ll average the 4 for music and the 2 for vocals.

They were always a gimmick. Maybe more of a parody then a tribute. All that being said Thing Called Love is a pretty good song. The rest of the album was fine.

Unserious (but not insincere), catchy, sturdy rock music. It's kinda fun that a band was making glam rock like this in 2003. It didn't move me, but I had a good time listening to it. "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" is a crazy banger, which helps.

not for me

"I Believe In A Thing Called Love" is such an undeniable top hit. Yeah, it was absolutely everywhere when it came out, but it's a fun earworm and I'll sing along with those high notes anytime it's on. The rest of the album sounds like any other glam/hair/rock, but I guess the interesting thing about The Darkness is they were doing this a good 20? 30? years after it's prime. Good for them, I'm sure they had fun making the album.

Not too bad, could be worse. I did not mind listening to this, but I would not choose to put this on.

Good album but not great. They are like a mix between Queen, Kiss, and AC/DC… all rock. Just not quite memorable enough to move them into the “great” category.

yeah this kinda stuff just ain’t rlly my thing lol

Great single, had awesome time watching a clip to this song on MTV back in the day (it was 20 years ago?!). Never listened to the album, but remembering I Believe In A Thing Called Love I had a high hopes. Turns out the whole record, all 30 minutes is the same song over and over again, just woth slightly different riff and new, but thematically same lyrics. The main vocal is pretty good in a sample size of 3 minutes, but 10x more classifies as a torture in Guantanamo. Once again, cool songs, but take a break of few weeks to few months before listening to another one.

A fun album bringing back glam rock to mainstream charts. But I don’t think it’s groundbreaking enough to be on this list. Anyway the second half isn’t as good as the first.

Much respect to a band who can hit a grand slam like this. This is an album that accomplishes all it set out to be and more. At a time when ricknom general was dying, this reanimated corpse of hair metal rigged supreme

Ist das noch Glam Rock oder doch schon Metal? So richtig ernst sollte man die Musik nicht nehmen. Aber sie nimmt einen mit positiven Gefühlen mit, auch wenn für mich einmal hören reicht. 3/5

Well this is a weird one, the singing is odd, especially in the first few tracks. It's got a cartoony style to it which is reflected in the cover, and music. But I'm not really sure how I feel about it, there were a few good tracks but most of it was just "okay". I may change my rating in the future since I want to give it another listen, but for now I think this is just middle of the road, not good, not bad. Rating: Mid (Decent ☆☆☆) Favorite Tracks: Givin' Up, Stuck In A Rut, Love On The Rocks With No Ice, and Holding My Own.

Musik: Ok! Stimme des Sängers: Gefällt mir nicht bei jedem Song.

Thoughts before listening: Hard rock/hair metal throwbacks whose songs are catchy enough to keep them from being a complete novelty act. Still though its hard to understand why they deserve to be on this list. Review: "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" is great, and the album as a whole is certainly fun. However, I do feel like the vocals come off as strained and fake more than they work. Some of these songs are tough to listen to because of the non-natural sounding high pitched shriek, even if the actual music is pretty enjoyable. I'm giving this 3-stars.

smell the glove, lads

Well that was something. Great rock guitars and interesting riffs. The singer sounds like Robert Smith, Geddy Lee and Jack Black were involved in a nuclear experiment and this guy popped out. A little too over the top most of the time, but on "Friday Night" he proves he can sing like a normal person, but he just doesn't want to.

Good album. Great crunchy power chords. Annoying falsetto vocals.

They took the 80's and turned it up to 11. Too bad the singer's voice is just so annoying. The music is corny, catchy, and fantastic - his voice just ruins it for me. 3/5 despite the singer's grating vocals. 3/5

I'd only heard I Believe in a Thing Called Love before. I didn't realise how similar Justin Hawkins' non-falsetto voice was to Robert Smith's. That was particularly clear and slightly unsettling on Friday Night. The album as a whole is pretty good if a bit one note, the guitar pyrotechnics do bring a smile to my face.

Epic falsetto over hard-ish rock

Glam rock fun!

Sure it's fun, and they were fun at the time, but that falsetto is a bit much.

Didn’t think I’d enjoy this one so much. Fun glam metal that somehow ruled the airways when I was in high school. Solid musicianship with a fair amount of talent on display. Not too shabby

Kind of split in my opinion on this one. I like it for it's no nonsense guitar rock style, but Justin Hawkins voice doesn't always do it for me. Sometimes his falsetto just kind of seems gimicky, while other times he absolutely sends it. This kind of just made me want to put on Cheap Trick instead. 2.5/3

Solid.

Un mélange de glam rock et de hard rock FM très cliché, avec voix suraiguë, envolées de guitares et décorum kitsch. Ça reste catchy, mais on a rarement été aussi proche de “The Spinal Tap”. Ils voulaient secouer leurs cheveux sur des riffs guitares alors ils y sont allés à fond mais ça reste assez générique. Le tube de l’album : “I Believe In A Thing Called Love”, “Growing on me” est sympa, “Friday Night” est cheesy as fuck. Toujours sur le fil entre l’hommage sincère et la parodie (sur “Get Your Hands Off My Woman (Motherfucker)” par exemple). C’est pas non plus indispensable.

This is a perfect rock record of the early 00's

It was kind of fun

Really enjoyed how this started out... I thought it was going to be enjoyable. Then the lead singer started to sing. Just not aesthetically pleasing to listen to for me. However, great band. Find a 20 something Sebastian Bach & let 'er rip!

Talented musicians. The repetitive screeching falsetto is insulting to glam rock, otherwise the album is a good time.

Without context, this album sounds like it came straight from the 70/80s. Then I see it was released in 2003! It is very faithful to the genre and takes the best parts of its predecessors. This is a fun, cheeky record. Would be grasping at straws to find a lot of deeper meaning but the album rocks and its an easy and fun listen.

Hard to believe this came out in 2003. I thought this kind of music was deader than dead by this point. Don't get me wrong, I did like it except for when the singer goes operatic. It just sounds...silly, like a parody, like Tiny Tim, whatever. I'm even OK with the higher pitched scream (when used sparingly), but that in between, goofy sounding stuff I'm not a fan of. It brings the entire album down. I really did like the rest with the exception of the f-bombs that I felt weren't necessary.

As someone who has heard plenty of glam rock from the 80’s, this album is just fine. It’s not doing anything new or better in 2003, but they recaptured the sound well. It’s more baffling that this was even chosen for this list. When albums like this pop up, they feel like a wasted spot when they could have spent time finding better albums to showcase to be considered as must listens before you die.

Started off scared that this will be any other rock album, but it was a good album overall

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

Falsetto pissed me off

When this band is firing on all cylinders, that is really going for it tempo and performance wise and the singer is belting in his natural range, only dipping into the falsetto for a bit of range or effect, I actually think they’re killer. Unfortunately. Much of this album has the band coasting down a hill. Lots of tracks with little to no energy, the ballad was awful, when the singer spends too much time in falsetto it sounds a bit silly. And of course, the single, I believe in a thing called love is phenomenal l. It’s a love letter to glam.

Why does he sing like that?

It's wild that this isn't from the 80s. Clearly they were going for a style and they did a hell of a job with it. I believe in a thing called love is such a well built song to be a hit. This doesn't go anywhere new but it takes all these parts of earlier bands and does something fun and tight with it. Good to be on the list. Not a masterpiece but a nearly perfect execution of 80s glam/cheese rock.

They are doing this homage album really well. Sonically it's well sculpted, but I'm not sure that it elevated or improved on the original bands of the genre. It's fun music, I just find it hard to justify making it required listening. Decent album length for what they are bringing.

I Believe in a Thing Called Love was the only song I was familiar with, and truth be told I never knew what album it was off of, much less the band who made it, until today. Solid early 2000s hard rock, nothing I’d actively seek out but something I’d listen to in passing.

Pure, unapologetically in-your-face rock n roll! The instrumentation is fairly standard fare, but Justin Hawkins's lead vocals really kick this whole thing into the stratosphere - he really gives it 110%

I have to say I didn't expect a band called "The Darkness" to be singing in falsetto about someone they liked in high school.

I guess the '70s weren't quite done being the '70s, and I guess they left their hot album cover chick looking for work. They are unapologetically derivative, emphasis on not apologizing for the straight out over-the-top revisitation to the glorious past. They do their best being unafraid of asking kindly to be let into the club--they aren't imitating, after all, just deriving. Good for them.

This is certainly a lot of fun. It's over the top and often hilarious. A whole album of it is definitely too much, however. Cut it in half and I might could do 4 stars.

Vocals are a bit much but the music is strong

Generic metal

Decent for a band about 25 years late to the party.

Fun!

That was a fun air guitar album

The hits are good. It’ll you have to admire them for exploiting a niche that no longer existed.

Competent yet forgettable pop metal not much else.

This knows exactly what it is, and for that it goes all out. Lot's of energy, no holds barred hair-rock out of time.

Interesting lyrics. Catchy songs. A rock band not taking themselves seriously.

I thought I was going to hate this based off of their hit song since it's been overplayed to death but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and I enjoyed it at times with some good guitar riffs. I don't know if it really belongs on the list though because the music isn't innovative, and sounds like B-Sides from various 80s rock bands. Makin' Out sounds like an AC/DC filler track from The Razor's Edge album.

It's hair/glam metal fun. Never did take themselves seriously but put out some decent bangers. This albums no exception, fun listen. Wouldn't be my choice of playthrough but can't say it wasn't enjoyable.

A bit of daft fun, hardly the most original thing in the world but nothing to take too seriously. Justin Hawkins' vocals can be pretty funny but I'm guessing that was intentional, the whole thing feels pretty tongue in cheek. I doubt I'll come back to this anytime soon and the more I think about it I don't really understand why it's even on the list, but there's nothing actually wrong with it Highlights: Stuck In a Rut, Get Your Hands Off My Woman, Love on the Rocks with No Ice

One really great song is carrying this 3

Great fun, but not really sure it belongs on the list

Once you accept the fact that that’s their sound, it’s actually a fun listen. Don’t take it too seriously and it’s absolutely fine.

It's not terrible but I don't understand how this is on the list and all those 1980s American bands who did it at least as good with a better singer aren't. Favorite song: growing on me

Pretty fun album overall which doesn't take itself seriously, but hard rock/glam from the 00s are not really my cup of tea, and his voice wasn't very good either.

Heavy rock with a poodle vocal. Not my favorite combo, but there are feel good “radio hits” in there like I Believe in a Thing Called Love and Love is Only a Feeling.

Okey

Album is not bad. Kind of single toned. Not a very serious album, but it is pretty fun. 3/5 Might listen again

So I like The Darkness (I Believe in a Thing Called Love is one of my FAVORITE songs!) but I always thought they were an 80's hair band, so when I originally found out the album was released in the early 2000's I was shocked. Everything about them screams 80's hair band, doing their rock and roll thing. So when it comes to be influential I am not sure I can really consider them that, because they really just bought into something that was already there. Now they did it well...its a fun album and they don't take themselves seriously. They seem like some guys that liked 80's music and said f@ck let's just have fun, make some music and add a 2000's flamboyantness to it. New to me favs were Givin' Up, Stuck in a Rut and Holding My Own (classic 80's ballad). I waiver between a 3 and 4, because I really like the music, I like the album but is it influential, I don't think so.

Spotify mentions "Hawkins' iconic falsetto, often compared to Freddie Mercury." Hold up. Not even in the same league as Freddie. At first listen I was super annoyed by his singing style. It's sort of grating and just "too much" for me. Second listen I got a little more used to it. The song writing and music is pretty rawk'n. Not a big fan of the vocals.

A classic

Did it take a few decades to obtain the permission to land?

2,5

This sounds much older than it actually is. Some good songs and some bad songs.

a perfectly fun time at the squealing factory 6/10

A Queen clone. Not bad but why listen to a clone when you can hear the real thing? Well executed but not much original here.

It's a little scary that this album came out over 20 years ago now, when I still think of it as being relatively recent. Ignoring the fact that it belongs a further 20 years into the past, it's a fairly generic hard rock sound that I would expect to find a decent pub band performing.

3.5

A fun moment of time in the early 2000s. Still has bangers but the charm doesn't stick around

Not bad, not great either. The two hit songs are amazing

1. "Black Shuck" 3,4 2. "Get Your Hands off My Woman" 3,1 3. "Growing on Me" 3 4. "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" 3,9 5. "Love Is Only a Feeling" 3,2 6. "Givin' Up" 2,8 7. "Stuck in a Rut" 2,7 8. "Friday Night" 3 9. "Love on the Rocks with No Ice" 3,5 10. "Holding My Own" 2,8 11. "Makin' Out" 2,3 Average 3,06

There's more to like here than I find with a lot of glam rock bands. I don't think that there is anything too unique about anything that they're doing other than the vocals quality. Everything else is pretty standard rock music especially for what you expect by 2003. You could have told me this came out in the 80s and I wouldn't bat an eye. That being said, I really dig the vocals, very unique voice and they lean heavily on it. It's got its hits, its got its duds, enjoyable album but nothing that's really going to blow anyone away.

A success of Hype over Content. OK, it's a decent album, distilling a thousand hair-metal albums into one pastiche, with an OTT vocal performance... but I couldn't wait for the album to end. Once was enough.

Totally fun, and the singles where huge back in the day. its unapologetically cheesy as it embraces all of the clichés the band members felt were unfairly erased by the grunge era.

"Permission to Land" is the debut studio album by British glam rock band the Darkness. The Darkness included Justin Hawkins (vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, synth, piano), Dan Hawkins (lead and rhythm guitar), Frankie Poullain (bass) and Ed Graham (drums). The album had wide-spread acclaim, won several awards and was on a number of year-end best-of lists especially in the metal community. Commercially, it reached #1 in the UK and #36 in the US. "Black Shuck" opens the album. Loud, forward guitars with a rock beat...sounding like an AC/DC tribute band. Justin Hawkins sings in a heavy metal style and loves his falsetto. Swirling guitars and a prominent bass kick off the first single "Get Your Hands Off My Girl." Driving rock. The song speeds up. I'm hearing Urge Overkill now. It's based on Hawkins' personal experiences. "Growing on Me" is more melodic as they enter power pop and glam territory. I think his falsetto best matches this style. Goo Goo Dolls? They take the glam up a notch in "I Believe in a Thing Called Love." Ah, the one song that I've heard before. Power chords. "Touching you, touching me." He kind of sounds like Tiny Tim but it works. Nice guitar solo. The last single "Love is Only a Feeling" is softer with an acoustic guitar. Melodic guitar chords. A heavy metal hair band guitar solo. The album closes with "Holding My Own." They are firmly in heavy metal hair band ballad territory. This was not needed. This album is power pop/rock and most often a fun listen. This reminded me of a number of bands. Hawkins' falsetto can be annoying but sometimes it fits the song perfectly. The songs are generally melodic and catchy. For the most part, their music exists in the glam rock or hair metal (essentially glam rock a decade later) genre and if you like that style, you'll enjoy this.

Endlich mal wieder was rockigeres, aber kein Album was mich vom Hocker gerissen hat

ganz okaye musik eigentlich, believe in a thing called love natürlich oberbanger

Interesting. Lots of 70s vibes.

I shouldn’t like this but I have a soft spot for old sounds with modern production.

reminded me of AC/DC soundwise with Heart or Bad company vocally. Interesting sound, nothing too groundbreaking, sounds like the 80's re-packaged.

The guitars are amazing… the voice takes some getting used to, especially early on. If you can power through you are in for a bit of a treat. Pop rock. High 3

This album was... interesting. Musically it was very good and up my alley. On the other hand, the vocals did not do this album any justice. I found them extremely annoying and cheesy. They were way too over the top for the music.

A fun listen for sure, but I don’t really like the vocals, especially the high notes

Cut-price Queen

Raucous fun

I hated the Darkness when they hit the scene at the time. I was a little too entrenched in my "death to false metal" phase. I've since softened my stance and in retrospect this is actually a surprisingly well crafted piece of work. It's as good or better than a lot of the stuff it's paying homage to and you can tell they absolutely love this stuff and it's not just a gimmick. If we could just do something about those vocals i might actually want to listen to this again. Those falsetto "oooOOOOoooo"'s are killing me.

Ooh, I have a sweet spot for this kinda fun, almost trashy metal. When this came out - It was a little like hearing a good Cheap Trick song for the first time!

I'd like to be The Queen

I'll take getting cut from the list for 300

A little cheesy, and I dislike the singer's falsetto, but it's still a fun album if you don't take it too seriously.

Serious talent Rocking guitar, vaulting voice Slapped with silliness

Fair

Well I was expecting to not like this album…and after the first two songs, I was thinking I was right. However, it grew on me and I think the album got better with each passing song. I liked this more than I wanted to and will listen again.

I don’t hate hair metal. I think it’s perfectly acceptable to a certain extent. But it’s pretty rough when pushed too far. And honestly, grunge killing hair metal was probably the best thing for music in the 90s. I would have thought before today that by the time 1995 rolled around, hair metal had mostly been killed off. And yet, a band like The Darkness released Permission to Land in 2003. And it might be the most unapologetically 2000s sounding album I’ve ever heard in my life. Even down to the cover art. But it also seems like they were trying to merge the ideas of the 2000s with the late 80s and early 90s metal music. And the one thing you will consistently find during this listening experience is utter excess. This a flaming glam fireball of rock and metal that screams “Look how crazy we can get!”. But I honestly that excessiveness admirable. The performances here are pretty strong, and that definitely allows for them to get pretty wild. There is even some nepotism at play. This group’s drummer is the son of Queen’s Roger Taylor. He isn’t the one recording here though. The most abnormal and confusing part about all of this is the vocalist. I had a really hard time deciding whether I actually liked the way he sang or not. And I’m still not totally sure. I’ve listened to bands, like The Mars Volta or Protest the Hero, whose vocalists lie in the same range. But I feel like they balance a little better. Hawkins’ voice soars so high above everything else, and it feels the most egregious when it comes to that excess I was speaking of. He has some pretty solid moments, but others like the chorus on I Believe in a Thing Called Love where I questioned what I was listening to. But I don’t dislike this nearly as much as I imagined I would. Rating: 6/10

Yea, it’s fine, there are a few jams for sure but the formula runs stale. 3 stars

Unlistenable but also good hahaha

Music from a bygone era retreaded. Its fine, but definitely nothing new and exciting.

I'm super picky with glam and this barely gets a pass from my annoyance meter. I remember when "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" came out. I've never really liked it but didn't mind it today, in the context of the rest of the album. "Makin' Out" was a strong song as well. Overall, not for me, but if you like this sort of thing, it seems like a well-made album from the top to bottom.

I mean it's *fine*, but not too groundbreaking. The leads voice is genuinely impressive, and I had a good time with a lot of the guitar riffs, but there're a few tracks that blend into the canvas. This would have broke records about 10 years earlier. Favorites are I Believe in a Thing Called Love, Stuck in a Rut, and Friday Night

These guys have their schtick and sell the hell out of it. Who cares that they are 15 years too late. The music is fun. An entire album however can be a little draining. Favorite songs were I Believe In A Thing Called Love, Love Is Only A Feeling, and Friday Night.

That’s some big fat guitar. Falsetto vocals not my favorite. Meh.

Campy nonsense, extraordinary functionality, 80s era hair metal from middle England. Exciting when it came out (I was about 11) and completely pleasant now. Unfortunately, never quite leaves a mark.

I'm struggling to rate this one. I didn't like listening to it really, but the more I hear "Get Your Hands off My Woman" the more amused I have gotten. I'm thinking I missed something the first time through this weird 70s-80s hard-glam-rock revival.

This one does not tickle my fancy much. I guess I can appreciate how it is a throwback to a different era, but I didn't really love the sound back then either.

I BELIEVE IN A THING CALLED LOOOOOOVVVVVVEEEEE! the rest was fine.

i want to love this purely for how insane it is, because i understand the joke, and i get it - and honestly, in a bunch of places it's pretty damn good musically...but i just can't. i also really can't watch the office, and for the same reason: i get that it's a joke, but it still makes me super uncomfortable, cringing that much.

It’s good but something about Justin Hawkins

Rating: 7/10 Very good album overall. A light-hearted album that is fun to listen to. The instrumentation is great throughout, inspired by glam and hard rock of the 80s but done with the band's own twist. The biggest drawback of the album is the vocals, the falsettos the singers does can be annoying and are quite frequent. Can easily be 4 stars if the vocals grow on me. Favorite songs: Black Shuck, Growing on Me, I Believe in a Thing Called Love, Givin' Up, Love on the Rocks with No Ice. Worst song: Love is Only a Feeling.

Banger rock record, yeah it’s over the top but that’s the point lol

I Believe In A Thing Called Love is definitely the most recognizable song on the album. The rest of the songs were fine, but nothing that really stood out.

This is a fun take on hard rock with that doesn't seem to take itself too seriously despite its intense tone. I'm not a fan of high singing voices but this one just about gets away with it. It's very AC/DC-esque so if you're a fan then you'll probably enjoy this a lot. "Love Is Only A Feeling" stood out as a banger and I had to rewind the solo at the end just to fully take it in.

auditory tillamook

It's fun and fine. 3.

There’s definitely a seat at the table for glam rock with 2000s sensibilities. The falsetto vocals and campiness poke fun, but there’s still enough energy and ability to work as an homage to the genre.

Not bad but not my thing either

I BELIEVE IN A THING CALLED LOVE is just an absolutely fabulous song. Listening to 1st cut, BLACK SHUCK, not so sure the campy vocals can be carried across an entire album. The band rocks its socks off, is very tight, but when the bizarro vocals come in they detract from what's going on. This would be so so so much better if Justin Hawkins simply sang it straight (see GROWING ON ME). I'm trying to figure out who they remind me of and it suddenly dawned on me - they've synthesized the best sounds and musical tricks of EVERY HARD ROCK BAND THERE EVER WAS. You want driving bass, screaming guitar leads, and power chords? Voila. Things kind of go downhill after BELIEVE, especially the lyrics. First half of the album rates ⭐⭐⭐⭐, but because it all gets boring in the second half, it gets a ⭐⭐⭐. ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 61 🎧 LPs left to review: 940 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 13 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 17 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 17

Why is this band named The Darkness with this upbeat cheery rock. This kind of wild and loose falsetto singing is not what I like. It definitely works and I'm sure plenty of people love to sing or dance along, but I'm not the type to pull my broom out and play it like an air guitar while hopping around the house. I can accept and enjoy the style for about 4 minutes before wanting to move on, so I'll stick with I Believe in a Thing Called Love and leave the rest of the album for the fans.

too much changing emotion like diaper

I vaguely remember this band when they came out. Lots of high voiced stuff and for one reason or another I remember getting a copy of metal edge magazine that had a poster of them. I don't really think this is metal, bland for whatever artists they may have been compared to, all I hear is Tiny Tim. Luckily the vocals chill out a bit in the later half and actually is a pretty good rock album. Their single is fun enough with the vocal antics, but the first couple tracks were a bit too much. All in all, for a meme band I had all but forgotten about, this was a decent blast from the past, even if it was only about 20 years ago. Favorite track "I believe in a thing called love" 3/5

Ha. This album is over the top and so ridiculous, but I have nothing but fondness for it. We used to listen to this a ton in the pizzeria I worked at in high school the year it was released. Some bangers for sure. Nice to revisit.

Kind of interesting. Has it’s moments and made me smile.

This was really good, but lost a star for unnecessary falsetto in a few songs (in my opinion).

It’s fun. But they sort of fade after this. It’s a good representation of that early 2000s. One does wonder what they’d do if they’d never heard a Queen album. But yes I can accept this.

This was a more enjoyable and fun listen than many on this list.

CHEESE on cheese on top of more cheese. If you're not into very tongue in cheek cheese (or heard the singles on repeat when living abroad) this wears thin over the course of what felt like a looong album. Still enjoyed I Believe in a Thing Called Love & Love is Only a Feeling - but not enough to listen again.

The album is pretty solid, except for the vocals. Nails on a chalkboard, and the chalkboard is on fire.

Good light hearted fun with some very good tracks. But it loses it's way a bit in the second half and I don't see me choosing to listen to it as a whole album.

Another album i always felt was overrated

Fun in parts, doesn't take itself seriously

This was a fun listen, I'd probably revisit them again. Could see them really growing on me but for now they are about middle of the road as far as this list is concerned. Some great songs, and some missable ones. There are times they feel really of their era, and times they feel like a throwback to eras past. Above all else they sound like they are having fun which makes me feel that way too.

The Darkness basically sounds like a throwback to the sound of its clear inspirations such as Led Zeppelin, Boston, and AC/DC, and while it definitely works on songs such as "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" and "Love on the Rocks with No Ice," there's definitely some cheesy lyrical content and the hooks can feel a bit repetitive after a bit. Also, did there really have to be three songs with the word love in them?

Love I believe in a thing called love, but generally not really the sound for me, decent tho

Du glam rock légèrement anachronique mais totalement assumé et engagé. Un bon plaisir, mais je n’ai pas l’impression que toutes les pièces sont d’une portée égale

Fun rock, not disappointed when it ended.

Good rock album

3.5/5

Probably doesn’t deserve to be here, but it was a fun enough listen for 40 minutes.

If you’re gonna do something that’s so derivative, this is the way to do it. ‘Permission To Land’ is big, dumb, silly fun and I had a blast listening to it.

I mean, on principle, I want to like any album with a track title "Black Shuck." But this is, you know, just okay.

OK in an ACDC sort of way

Day117 - i don’t know if this album belongs on this list but it was a bold album in the early 00’s to try to bring back glam rock.

Kind of an interesting one. Must have started out as a pastiche pisstake (albeit from a place of affection and knowledge) then morphed into a legitimate and pretty strong album in its own right. Genuinely funny in places (a love ballad to an STD? I mean, come on) and actually winds up almost as good as the AC/DC or Maiden records it emulates.

It was alright. Simpsons: No

I guess i'll commend them for realising that 38 mins is about the limit on how much someone would want to hear this, I would've removed a star for every 10 mins it continued. This kind of rock is a little more bearable when it's somewhat tongue-in-cheek like this, but I was still losing my patience about halfway through (ironically around the song 'Givin' Up'). The big single is fun, maybe that's just nostalgia, but the rest does very little for me. It's not bad, but it definitely isn't good.

A record that both real rockers and theater kids can agree on

Solid over the top rock album. Vocals get a little annoying at times but there are some great guitar parts. Favourite song for sure is “Love is only a feeling”.

I really enjoyed the album. I wish I could give this a 3 1/2. I was familiar with this bands radio hits, but never listened to an album. Great rock band. A lot of fun.

This was pretty hard, which I liked, but the singer's voice was distracting. Stand-out: Love Is Only A Feeling

Solid glam rock, men også lidt forglemmeligt

Cool angsty rock album. I liked it. 6/10

Hmmm…The Darkness. Rang a distant bell. Gave this a listen, wasn’t bad, wasn’t great. These funny guys were just too late. This is a solid 2.5…I’ll round up to 3 for their nostalgia.

Sounds is perfect of course, but the song material is al little weak overall.

Not something I would revisit but it was fun to listen to.

The Darkness... der Name ist Programm

Know this well. Great album. Not listended to for a while

“I Believe in a Thing Called Love” is a f’n fantastic song and I will absolutely die on this hill. The rest of the album is a great glam-rock throwback but doesn’t quite live up to that standard, although still pretty enjoyable.

The album started and I thought, oh no, this is not going to go well! Gives off strong Spinal Tap vibes…”Big Bottom” would fit right in on this album. It did win me over as the album progressed as a fun, guitar driven glam rock album which really surprised me. A few songs I would play again.

Wait, The Darkness didn't form in a haze of cocaine in the 70s?

The Darkness’ music is at times as hollow and inane as a lot of hard rock; but they have their secret weapon in lead singer Justin Hawkins. The singles have become classics and if you just let go and indulge yourself in the over the top vocals, most of the album is actually quite fun. The first side is definitely stronger than the second, but I never find myself truly bored.

This was an interesting album. 80s hair metal but written in the oughts. Super campy but honestly not too bad. A lot of the album made me laugh with the funny lyrics being sung in the super high falsetto voice. Not really my vibe but it was fun.

I enjoyed the music, but his voice is just too much. It works on a handful of the songs really well and they are great. I am guessing it would also be fine if I was only listening to one or two of these songs at a time, but a whole album of that voice was just not as enjoyable.

These guys are like a serious version of Ninja Sex Party. But the lead singer is doing an Elmo impression. It is NOT a good falsetto.

so on the fence abt this. his voice is annoying af and catchy at the same time

Gimmicky and gets old really fast.

Big showy rick elements and impressive vocals. Very upbeat album, although it does get tiring for me listening to the whole album. Pretty interesting though

3.2 rounded down. Funny and engaging, and they clearly love hair metal, though it does feel like one long winking joke.

A fun love letter to glam with more virtuosic vocals than some of the bands it so clearly reveres, but on the whole the songs just aren’t too memorable (bar the obvious mega single)

it's ok. not a fan of the singing

Reasonably entertaining.

Just as absurdly fun as it was 20 years ago.

This was better than I expected, but I gotta say - the falsetto voice is annoying. I heard I believe in a thing called love when it first came out and thought it was very effectively used in that song, but he sings in that falsetto voice every chance he gets in spots that make no sense. It’s like he found out he could do that and sees himself as the next Freddie Mercury. I believe in a thing called love and Friday night are legitimately good songs.

Tons of fun. Channelling the more optimistic seventies classic rock sound, all duelling guitars, falsettos and killer choruses. Amazing they got a whole career out of pastiche Lizzy/Aerosmith/Queen etc.

It was alright

Good

🤘 I go back-and-forth on the voice. Opening track black shuck really hits. I had a great workout to this 20th anniversary of the album this year, they’re touring it, maybe want to see them

Thing called Love is one of my favorite tunes. The rest of the album was pretty good not great. can’t tell if it’s a parody album just a modern day take on screaming metal either way it’s fun

These guys come storming in with the first songs. Musically pretty good, but nothing that's been done better elsewhere. It's nice music when it drops on, but I don't think I'd became a big fan of their output. The lyrics are super cheesy, and I can't really dig Justin Hawkins singing. Just fun music with a dumbed down feel to it. Standout tracks: Black Shuck, I Believe In A Thing Called Love, Love Is Only A Feeling, Friday Night, Love On The Rocks With No Ice 7 out of 10

I actually did enjoy this album. I need to get used to the style of singing as I wasn't the biggest fan of it, but I thought the music by the band was really cool and musically interesting which I liked.

I've never heard of this band but I like it.

Better than I expected for the whole album. Fun.

indifferent towards this.

Fun listen :) A convincing homage to 70s glam rock, for better or for worse. The overuse of guitar solos may also be wank but despite that the guitarist is quite good

Dehä va nå bullshit

Music history is full of meteoric rises and steep falls from grace, but the speed at which the entire country became obsessed with The Darkness and then completely and totally lost any interest whatsoever has never come close to being replicated by any other artist. Jobbing club band to festival headlining biggest band in Britain and back again in all of what felt like 10 minutes. And you know what? Both are probably deserved. Hats off for a fun, funny and popular debut album, that captured the imagination of the public, but this was never going to be anything more than a one hit wonder throw back to novelty retro 70s glam rock. Rating: 3/5 Playlist track: I Believe in a Thing Called Love Date listened: 23/01/24

Aikoinaan ajanjakson yksi pahmmista inhokeista oli The Darkness. Sotakirves on kyllä haudattu jo kauan sitten ja nykyään tätä voi kuunnella ilman ylimääräisiä tunnelatauksia, mutta eipä musiikki silti loista kovinkaan erikoisena. Yläkanttiin 3*

The album is, good rock but not really my cup of tea. Maybe if I'd have the patience to listen to the album a few more times I'd like it. But I rather want to turn to the next album.

They know how to make music, just not my kind of music

3.6 - Some intense rockers. The guitar solos are "Love on the Rocks with No Ice" and "Love Is Only a Feeling" are scintillating. But too much falsetto and unneeded cursing for my taste.

mira, este disco se me pasó en esa época, salvo por el inescapable single que ya todos escuchamos. Me gustó, la voz del cantante es especial y característica como para llamar la atención y diferenciarse del resto de lo que estaba sonando en esa época. En todo caso, para mí no deja de ser una buena copia o mezcla de lo que ya sonaba dos décadas atrás.

6/10 du hard rock des plus normales. monotone.

Just fun

2003 pop hard rock.. ei mitään pielessä tässä.. Tuotos vastaa kuitenkin sitä mitä "The Darkness" tuottaisi vuonna 2003.... Tuottaisi juuri tämän commercial ass levyn... Hyvä presentaatio ajasta kuitenkin.. tälläistä se oli.. Oli erilaista 2000 luku alku.. En itse päässyt kokemaan.. Tämä jauhanta kuullosti niin futuurilta vaan eiköhän siinä käynitkin niin että tätä ajanjaksoa koittaa ennenaikainen vanhuus, vaan ei kuolema. Eloisat 3 tähteä täältä hrlta 11 viikkoa sairaana.. Early 2000s.. joku paikka sillekkin on sydämmessä liekö syy vanhat dvd:t joita ei köyhälistössä kovin nopeasti kierrätykseen viety

Rather jolly. No real duds but no standouts either.

Started off strong then really took a dive. Almost unlistenable by the end

I want to hate this more than I actually do. There is just so much energy in the playing it's hard not to have it "grow on you" (like their song lolololol). Honestly this gets 3 stars just for I believe in a thing called love anyway. Just some power rock/80's nostalgia with some decent tunes and a lot of nostalgia.

Good!

Black Shuck - 8.5/10 Get Your Hands Off My Woman - 8.5/10 Growing on Me - 8/10 I Believe in a Thing Called Love - 8.5/10 Love Is Only a Feeling - 7.5/10 Givin' Up - 7.5/10 Stuck In A Rut - 8/10 Friday Night - 8/10 Love on the Rocks With No Ice - 8/10 Holding My Own - 8/10 Makin Out - /10 TOTAL - 80.5/110

Kikkeli hevi men helt solid

Fine. This would be fun playing in the background of a bar or video game or whatnot, but I don’t see myself seeking this out.

This was fine. I kind of feel like if I want to listen to this kind of thing I’ll put on Queen or Boston or Journey or AC/DC. It is pretty impressive how they can mash up those different bands but instead of feeling inspired by them, it feels like they’re “inspired” by them, which is less fun. But still a little fun, admittedly. What I’m trying to say is, essential listening, 12 stars.

Not my thing. I’m not a fan of glam rock vocals, usually, and this wasn’t the exception. Nothing else about this made me overlook that, but this wasn’t bad.

Nice rocker.... Above average guitar licks and solid drums

Pretty good. Pretty fun. Semi Camp.

Classic rock revivalists. Gotta love ‘em. Taking us back to a time where music was just all around better. It seems that since grunge died a new band will form and try and play the sounds of the 70s and 80s. They’re fun and rock out but if anything they’re just a mirror of the sound back then. Hardly do they have their own image. Same goes with the darkness. Fun hard rocking band but just a general hair metal arena rock combo of sound. I enjoyed most of this album and believe it is overall pretty good. It’s just upsetting that the classic rock sound hardly exists anymore. This album will be replayed until the singer becomes annoying but it’s always a good listen. 7.0/10

Very much playing off the classic 70s/80s rock of Def Leppard or Boston, but does a good job of bringing it’s our campy, theatrical flair to each song. 6/10

Gotta give it up for The Darkness. They have a schtick they’re schticking to and it’s fun

State of the art rock circa...1986? The vocals sometimes seemed to be intentionally verging on satire. Perfectly content to listen to a bit of retro hair rock but I'm not sure it brought anything new or distinct to the table.

Hahaha yeah I remember this. Didn't last, did it?

Pretty good. The instrumentals are basic but charming. The lead singer’s voice, though, can get really annoying at some moments. This album does not feel like a 2003 release a lot of the time though, it definitely has a more 80’s rock sound a lot of the time.

Hard rock, et par bangers, rigtig pub-musik

Par hitova, malo cudan vokal, al nije lose.

good hard pop. groovy. Interesting singer

Tää on kyl varsin hauska rokkilevy. Pastissia tietysti mutta kyllä mä nautin ja tää saa ihan hyvälle tuulelle. 3/5

Varsinaista iloittelua! Ei todellakaan taiteellista ja kysymys herää että miksi listalle, mut hymy tulee huulille. 3/5

Better than I was expecting, actually. The singers voice isn’t my cup of tea though.

I liked the hits. I have issues with Falsetto.

In een vorig leven stond Xander in onze tourbus dit keihard, staand mee te schreeuwen: Get your hands of my woohoooman motherfuckehhheeeerr! Toch een speciaal plaatje daardoor voor mij, hoewel het verder weinig boeiend is.