The Darkness - Permission to Land poll

“When Permission to Land landed, twenty short years ago, we were bathed in shock and awe. As if by magic, Rock wasn’t dead! Fun wasn’t banned! And Spandex was almost acceptable again…

Well, guess what? Twenty years on, the same rules apply. So please to squeeze yourselves into those inappropriate leggings, back-comb your mullet, splash on a big handful of attitude, and come celebrate with us! We promise everything and we deliver, every time. Bring on the next twenty!

The Darkness. The best. For you. Forever.”

It's a shame because the music mostly stands up fine without the very annoying shtick

This is true. Shame they had to lean into it so much to get recognised, but I wonder if they hadn't, would anyone have taken notice? This is a solid record through and through

It came out at a time which, unlike the years to follow, this whole type of thing would only be embraced by the mainstream with sense of archness and irony.

I remember being in a record store with a crush when this came out and playing “Friday night” for her and the smile that came across her face. What else is music for?

I had to listen back today to remind myself. There's very little filler here in that every song is memorable even decades after. If I have to choose one though it would have to be "Givin Up"

Stuck in a Rut is so fucking good.

Friday Night is so cute <3 <3

Voting “growing on me” though BEcuase it’s a such a fun one to play on guitar

This isn't normally my style but the singles were/are guilty pleasures of mine.

^This was a common stance, mine included.

It came out at a time which, unlike the years to follow, this whole type of thing would only be embraced by the mainstream with sense of archness and irony.

which was odd because those 70's/80's hair metal bands were still very popular in 2003! like imagine if the whole DFA/"dancepunk" thing happened but with the understanding that everyone had to sing like Weird Al on "Dare To Be Stupid"

Right. But not popular in certain circles. I for one remember seeing it prominently on display up front at Other Music, where I happily followed along and bought a copy right away.

This Christmas song is fun, never heard it before.

its christmas canon for me

dude's falsetto annoyed me simply cos I felt like it should be dirtier than operatic given the music they were playing, but "Love is Only a Feeling" is my fav, and "Friday Night" sounds like an 80's Jackson Browne b-side.

good album. as in all cases, the big single the least interesting thing here.

besides trolling Geir, the early 2000s threads on The Darkness also drew me to ILX in earlier incarnations to keep arguing w/ people that Darkness didn't sound like Queen just because dude sang w/ a falsetto

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

zzz

hmm either Get Your Hands Off My Woman (love the bit where he turns into Robert Smith) or Love Is Only a Feeling. Both mid-league classics from the old childhood

I saw them play when they made their tentative comeback, somewhere around ... 2013? It was a really fun show, but toward the start Justin made a big stink that the crowd wasn't close enough to the stage and was just kind of hanging back. He leaned down to talk to someone in the crowd, then went back to the mic and apologized, because apparently there was a huge puddle of vomit front and center, and that's why no one was standing there.

I saw them that year too. Still one of the only times I've seen an entire album done live although I can't remember if it was in order. Crowd drifted for a short while around the middle and came alive when Justin randomly appeared in the centre of the audience.

Voted for the big single because I have yet to grow tired of it. I live for when he shouts “GUITAR!” before the solo. So dumb, so good.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.