ArchangelX
04-02-2006, 11:05 AM
The Darkness: One Way Ticket to Hell...And Back
Band Members: Justin Hawkins (lead vocals, lead guitar, piano/synth), Dan Hawkins (guitars, bells and triangles), Ed Graham (drums), Ritchie Edwards (bass guitar).
A fantastic sophmore effort from one of the best rock bands to come out of the UK in a long while. I love this band, because they take it back to the old school while giving their rock a freshness that's needed in this day and age of cookie-cutter mainstream "punk" rock. Their first album "Permission To Land" is still in my CD player in my car if that gives you any indication of how much I enjoy this band. And I'm not the only one...with 110 reviews and a rating of 4 stars outta 5 on Amazon.com, apparently, this band has struck a nerve in the good way. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/B000BP86OG/ref=cm_cr_dp_pt/102-2738927-0797747?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=5174&s=music
This album really branches in style, with alotta straight rock intermixed with some ethnic music qualities, such as sitars! The entire album emotes feelings of AC/DC, Queen, and the rest of the huge rock bands of yesteryear.
The album starts off with a kick azz intro to the song "One Way Ticket To Hell...And Back", and then it never lets up...within the first minute Justin Hawkins simply blows up the album with his phenomenal vocal reach...and really puts the pipes to work.
The second song, "Knockers" is a grade-school romp, with some catchy verses that'll keep you tapping your feet until the next MEATY song comes on which is "Is It Just Me?" which has some of the best guitar licks of the record...with an incredibly good, crunchy backbeat.
This leads us into a prominent change...a great up-tempo ballad/rock song called "Dinner Lady Arms"...and the chorus is just amazing...this song really gets you going..."Put your AAAAAArrrrMMMMsss around me". Simply good stuff, the guitar in places reminds me almost of old skool Def Leppard lyrics...it has that driving sound that just gives you goosebumps. Very good work with the drums and the syncopation of certain lyrics, it makes you nod your head with every beat of every word.
The ballad "Seemed A Good Idea At The Time" slows it all down, with some great chorus'd vocals, and strings backing the track. If I could compare it to anything, I'd say it's very reminscent of an Ozzy Osbourne ballad, except not as dark, and a bit more cheery.
Hazel Eyes is next after this, and man...what a change instyle! Probably one of the catchiest riffs you'll hear all year...Justin's vocal range is simply incredible, to the point where's actually in tune with guitar riffs!
But probably one of my favorites is "Bald", an epic, grandeur, cruncher that really shows what the band is capable of...it's got everything...a great intro that leads into some good riffage, a great chorus showing off Justin's vocals, that leads into a nice slow section which builds momentum again until ripping it back into the main chorus again. You can just imagine these guys tearing it up on stage with this track, and from what I've heard, their live show is pretty kickazz. It's a long track at 5:31...good stuff all the way though. :bigthumbup:
"Girlfriend" brings it back down to earth...with some rock/boogie mixed in with those classic Queen-inspired vocals again. The chorus here is fantastic...another of my favorites. Some crazy synth piano really changes the tone of the music.
The next two songs are incredible examples of songwriting..."English Country Garden" is the quirkest song on the album, I'd say. Tons of layering in the vocals, a very fast beat..and what I think are the best guitar solo'ing on the album, it's epic, short, and sweet.
For it's last song, "Blind Man" leads you with a soft, preachy, intro mixed in with some bass & piano...a slow paced song...man...what a listen. If you don't think "Queen" when you hear this...we're not on the same page...it's a decent song, but pretty much exists only as an outro for the rest of the album.
So, all-in-all, a very capable rock effort by one of the best, if very lonely, rock bands on the planet right now. If you like the 70's, and 80's style of rock over the current generation of Avril Lavigne rock wannabes, then this is the album for you. My only complaints is that it's a very short album clocking in at 35 minutes, and that one or two songs could have been much longer and deeper in substance. I believe anyone in their 30's and 40's will absolutely LOVE this album, and anyone younger should pick this album up just to hear what it's like to actually be able to PLAY a guitar.
Sorry, I'm kinda bitter...I love rock solos. :D
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000BP86OG.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
Band Members: Justin Hawkins (lead vocals, lead guitar, piano/synth), Dan Hawkins (guitars, bells and triangles), Ed Graham (drums), Ritchie Edwards (bass guitar).
A fantastic sophmore effort from one of the best rock bands to come out of the UK in a long while. I love this band, because they take it back to the old school while giving their rock a freshness that's needed in this day and age of cookie-cutter mainstream "punk" rock. Their first album "Permission To Land" is still in my CD player in my car if that gives you any indication of how much I enjoy this band. And I'm not the only one...with 110 reviews and a rating of 4 stars outta 5 on Amazon.com, apparently, this band has struck a nerve in the good way. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/B000BP86OG/ref=cm_cr_dp_pt/102-2738927-0797747?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=5174&s=music
This album really branches in style, with alotta straight rock intermixed with some ethnic music qualities, such as sitars! The entire album emotes feelings of AC/DC, Queen, and the rest of the huge rock bands of yesteryear.
The album starts off with a kick azz intro to the song "One Way Ticket To Hell...And Back", and then it never lets up...within the first minute Justin Hawkins simply blows up the album with his phenomenal vocal reach...and really puts the pipes to work.
The second song, "Knockers" is a grade-school romp, with some catchy verses that'll keep you tapping your feet until the next MEATY song comes on which is "Is It Just Me?" which has some of the best guitar licks of the record...with an incredibly good, crunchy backbeat.
This leads us into a prominent change...a great up-tempo ballad/rock song called "Dinner Lady Arms"...and the chorus is just amazing...this song really gets you going..."Put your AAAAAArrrrMMMMsss around me". Simply good stuff, the guitar in places reminds me almost of old skool Def Leppard lyrics...it has that driving sound that just gives you goosebumps. Very good work with the drums and the syncopation of certain lyrics, it makes you nod your head with every beat of every word.
The ballad "Seemed A Good Idea At The Time" slows it all down, with some great chorus'd vocals, and strings backing the track. If I could compare it to anything, I'd say it's very reminscent of an Ozzy Osbourne ballad, except not as dark, and a bit more cheery.
Hazel Eyes is next after this, and man...what a change instyle! Probably one of the catchiest riffs you'll hear all year...Justin's vocal range is simply incredible, to the point where's actually in tune with guitar riffs!
But probably one of my favorites is "Bald", an epic, grandeur, cruncher that really shows what the band is capable of...it's got everything...a great intro that leads into some good riffage, a great chorus showing off Justin's vocals, that leads into a nice slow section which builds momentum again until ripping it back into the main chorus again. You can just imagine these guys tearing it up on stage with this track, and from what I've heard, their live show is pretty kickazz. It's a long track at 5:31...good stuff all the way though. :bigthumbup:
"Girlfriend" brings it back down to earth...with some rock/boogie mixed in with those classic Queen-inspired vocals again. The chorus here is fantastic...another of my favorites. Some crazy synth piano really changes the tone of the music.
The next two songs are incredible examples of songwriting..."English Country Garden" is the quirkest song on the album, I'd say. Tons of layering in the vocals, a very fast beat..and what I think are the best guitar solo'ing on the album, it's epic, short, and sweet.
For it's last song, "Blind Man" leads you with a soft, preachy, intro mixed in with some bass & piano...a slow paced song...man...what a listen. If you don't think "Queen" when you hear this...we're not on the same page...it's a decent song, but pretty much exists only as an outro for the rest of the album.
So, all-in-all, a very capable rock effort by one of the best, if very lonely, rock bands on the planet right now. If you like the 70's, and 80's style of rock over the current generation of Avril Lavigne rock wannabes, then this is the album for you. My only complaints is that it's a very short album clocking in at 35 minutes, and that one or two songs could have been much longer and deeper in substance. I believe anyone in their 30's and 40's will absolutely LOVE this album, and anyone younger should pick this album up just to hear what it's like to actually be able to PLAY a guitar.
Sorry, I'm kinda bitter...I love rock solos. :D
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000BP86OG.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg