I love you, but I've chosen rehab: Darkness singer checks in

[takes the mini JD bottle and rolled up fiver out of the little Justin voodoo doll]

My work here is done.

...their singer still plays.
I saw him solo a little while ago.

...and Justin doesn't half talk some crap in interviews.

BUT.

The level of derision a band whose sole mission is to try and entertain, paying no attention whatsoever to any notions of 'cool', has been astonishing. And suggests that maybe some people's thinking is more influenced by NME than they'd dare to admit. Justin wouldn't speak to them, so they crucified him the minute there was a turn in the band's commercial fortunes. Before that, they featured them in every way possible without alluding to the fact that none of this was based round any kind of direct input from the band. Oddly enough, the same's happening with Radiohead at the minute. Thom's not talking to them, so how have they made a cover story out of them? See this week's copy (but read it off the shelf then put it back like I did)

I've digressed somewhat from the original point but anyway... I really like them. Get well soon Justin.

The Darkness were a much-needed shot of FUN at a time when everyone else was taking themselves far too seriously. And who knows - perhaps they will be again.

The first Darkness album's an air guitar classic.

ROFLOFagus.

I much prefer the first album but I agree with you on the sound - sounds amazing through my 5.1 system (as most albums do). But I found the songwriting to be more uneven. First album had practically no filler whereas, for me, the second album has 2-3 skippers on it.

Mind you they sounded brill live. Oh and I think they chose the wrong singles ("Girlfriend"/"Is It Just Me?" are two of the weakest tracks on the album IMO)

Cheers
9L

I think Is It Just Me? is actually a pretty great song, and was the right follow-up to One Way Ticket.

but I agree with you on 'Girlfriend'. I like the song in the context of the album, but having that as 3rd single seemed like overkill of 'pop-Darkness'.
A little bravery and the release of something like English Country Garden would have gone some way to re-establishing that "what the fuck?!" response from casual observers to hadn't bothered with the album yet because the singles they'd heard already made them think this album was a re-hash of the first one.

'course... that's all easy for ME to say at this safe retrospective distance.

but there is something missing from the 2nd album...

i blame stupid people snorting cocaine....