Four blokes who rock, baby!

[Jackonicko]

OK, it's official. We're back in about 1973. Dinosaur/pomp/glam rock is back.
Radio 1 DJ Jo W: "Can you sum yourselves up in five words?"
Justin Hawkins (lead guitar and vox): "Four blokes who rock, baby!"

It's official! It's OK to act like Spinal Tap, wear a spandex catsuit (preferably in animal print fabric and slashed to below the navel), and to have a tragically bad barnett.

OK, it's not OK to do any of those things, but no-one seems to have told Lowestoft rockers The Darkness, who rocked Glastonbury and Guilfest and who have been described as "the greatest rock'n'roll band of the last twenty years" by Kerrang.

Their new album (released Monday) ...... their first album....... is a clever mix of Deep Purple meets T Rex meets Humble Pie meets US-type AOR, but which actually manages to sound sincere and (god help me) fresh and actually very good.

The standout tracks are, IMHO, "Growing on Me" and "I Believe in a Thing Called Love".......

But if the record is good, as live performers they are bloody awesome.

I'm just still not sure whether they're real or a brilliant spoof......

[Jackonicko]

Anyone else out there bought it, or even heard it yet?

A nice touch is that they're on the Atlantic label.........

[Bob]

Jacko,
I take it you're a Darkness fan now? ;)

I saw them backstage at Glastonbury (on the telly mate, not in the flesh) and they almost came across in the same tongue in cheek style as those dinosaurs of rock Spinal Tap (haven't they got a new drummer;)) - they made a big thing about being the best thing to come out of Lowestoft!!

I don't care if they are real or a spoof, it's just nice to hear good old fashioned rock back on telly.

I had a look for their album today but it is a bit thin on the ground - good sign? everyone buying it??

[Bob]

Well, Jacko, I took your reviews on this site and put them to the test - I picked up The Darkness for ?10 in FOPP Records and it is a fun album!!!
Air guitar rating of ****! (Thats four stars, not a wee sweary!)

Tried ripping it but the first track -

"A nimbus of blue light surrounds a crimson paw,
As he takes another fatal swipe
At the Blytheburgh Church Door...."
(are we sure they aren't the new Spinal Tap?)

- hasn't ripped at all - it shows a file size of 50.6k.
You said it ripped OK for you - even the first track?

[Jackonicko]

A ripped version is in the post, Bob, or will be when the heat permits leaving this air conditioned sanctuary. That's legal now you own it, of course, though the copy of Second Coming may not be......

My next 'Tip for the Top' is Kokopelli by Kosheen, out today.

[Bob]

Your package arrived safely and The Darkness blasted their way up the M1 - the album is great fun for trying to pick out influences for various riffs and breaks - and the tight catsuits must account for the singers vocal range!!

I have Kosheen's previous album - a bargain at ?7 - so I'll have to listen to the new one.
I must get a bigger iPod - I can only fit so many tunes on this mere 5gb'r!!

Many thanks.

[Jackonicko]

Ah, but now you're morally obliged to post a review of Second Coming.....