Post by The Curmudgeon on Apr 11, 2007 11:05:28 GMT 2
Hate to say I told you so but..
Hey, I TOLD YOU SO. Yes indeed, way back in The Curmudgeon's list of musical mishaps was The Darkness and their first album which, while being very popular, was complete junk. And here's the second album - which is exactly the same. But, and here's where I was right, without the very popular part. Or indeed, the popular.
It's funny, you won't believe the hate mail I got for my review of the first Darkness record. I was told that "The Darkness are our saviours" (Ho ho ho, I'm sorry, that's very cute) and that I obviously don't appreciate "real" rock music. Well, if your definition of "real" is ugly nonces dressing up for cheap laughs with even cheaper songs, hiding behind crap lyrics with a grating falsetto well, guess what? You don't know what "real" rock music is either.
Right from the first single, it was clear The Darkness' days were numbered. "One Way Ticket.." is NO "I Believe In A Thing Called Love" (the ONLY thing this novelty band will be remembered for). It's a tired pastiche of every 80's hair band you've ever heard, only without any of the good bits you remember.
What's REALLY funny about The Darkness, though - is that Justin Hawkins clearly believed he was something extra special. The mammoth sales of the first album obviously went to his head, as his bloated ego took a swipe at other bands (real bands, mind you) and they claimed to be "the saviours of rock and roll - again!" Not quite this time, eh boys? Because this album didn't go to number one. It came in near the bottom end of the top ten and then sank without trace.
That's the trouble with these joke bands. Once the joke wears thin, where else can they go? Well, if the truly DIRE second single "Is It Just Me" is anything to by, it's a one way ticket to bargain bin hell - and they won't be coming back from that.
See The Darkness: Girlfriend
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUoYDJDiY6U
