Opinions on The Darkness - Page 2

pawel · #16 12-09-2003, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarWizard

In my store....(My) .... they seem to like talent..

Your store must be a magic one...

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarWizard

I gave the Darkness a chance.... I don't think they completely suck.... but IMHO they won't make it as far as Oasis.

Agreed. But from what I heard of the Darkness, they write surprisingly good tunes...

pawel · #17 12-09-2003, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hexa-db

If I want humour with my metal, I'll listen to LAWNMOWER DETH

I go with Anal C**t, but that's an acquired taste

welshpete · #18 12-09-2003, 01:19 PM

So lots of ranting about bands with a sense of humour.

Ok so think "Little green Men" and "Ya-yo-Gakk"
Anybody here like the guy who released those songs?

There's this guitarist call Paul Gilbert - he is a good guitarist but you can't tell because most of his songs use silly lyrics - think "Individually Twisted", "Lancelot Link", "Girls Watching".

Any/Every/All rock bands use that naughty f word....guess that means they can't write lyrics.

How about Frank Zappa - guess he was UNTALENTED because he uses humour in Music???

Kiss, Ac/dc, Aerosmith - all the same....anybody like any of these bands.....funny that..

Queen (probably the one band who are constantly in my top three) were just the same - guess that Freddie Mercury guy sounded "ridiculous" singin falsetto. And lyrics-wise, well what nonsense some of it is, right?

The Darkness are just tipping their hat to their influences, without being a straight rip off. They write fun, hook laden, guitar driven rock music, ok they scattered a few naughty words in.

Right. Inside knowledge time.

Untalented. Sorry, but wrong.

A friend of mine was an assistant engineer on the recording of some of the tracks, and he was amazed at the ability of the guys in the band. Most of the stuff that went on the release is first and second take stuff - including the vocals and the guitar solos.
They have played 300 odd gigs per year over the past few years - to think they are (a) a flash in the pan or (b) an overnite sensation is just plain wrong.

Music should stir emotion. Happiness is an emotion. The Darkness are great at that. "Holding my own" is a seriously good ballad too.

Turn off the cynicism and LISTEN!

Pete

Anton · #19 12-09-2003, 01:52 PM

The darkness are pretty cool! , I dig the guitarists solo's , the one in I believe in a thing called love is cool

GuitarWizard · #20 12-09-2003, 01:58 PM

Pete,

No one in my area has had to listen to this cd more than me..... "Stuck in a Rut" is playing right now as I type this.

We are trying to play it....so we can sell some of the 12 cds we pre-ordered.

But, I am convinced that because we are playing it, is why its not selling.

Everyone that walks in simply says "That's horrible".

Bands like Queen and AC/DC had funny stage antics, but Brian May, Freddie Mercury, and the Young brothers take their craft very seriously.

Angus Young and Freddie Mercury are the real deal.....Freddie was going to be Freddie...no matter what you thought of him. I don't think Malcom and Angus sit up at night "hoping teenagers like their new album".

The Darkness, to me, is to Queen.....Like the Backstreet boys are to The Jackson 5.

Oh yeah, and Pete.....Queen, nor AC/DC have ever said the F word on any recorded studio albums.

The F word does not offend me, in some cases it enhances the song.....however, as anyone with ears will agree.... the Hawkins brothers scream the word....just to scream the word... There is nothing to enhance on this album...."Holding MY own" is the only song on the album that suggests these guys have a future..... but that future maybe as a Queen/Rocky Horror Picture show cover band.....as the opening of the song "Holding My Own" even rips off Freddie's voice inflections.

Nothing wrong with falsetto singing.... God I love Queen records where Fred soars high. But Justin Hawkins is not Freddie Mercury. And I suggest anyone to sample this cd....and tell me the singing is not irritating.

I have to shut this cd off when I am talking to someone, or making an order.....its that irritating.

We all like different things I guess..... I can't stand Frank Zappa's music, so that was a bad example to use for me.

However, Queen, AC/DC, Kiss, and Aerosmith are all timeless....to even type or compare "The Darkness" to any of these bands is a pure insult.

**cerealk** · #21 12-09-2003, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarWizard

Oh yeah, and Pete.....Queen, nor AC/DC have ever said the F word on any recorded studio albums.

AC/DC Back in Black

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarWizard

However, Queen, AC/DC, Kiss, and Aerosmith are all timeless....to even type or compare "The Darkness" to any of these bands is a pure insult.

to compare bands with 30 year careers to one on their first album is questionable

GuitarWizard · #22 12-09-2003, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cerealk

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarWizard

Oh yeah, and Pete.....Queen, nor AC/DC have ever said the F word on any recorded studio albums.

AC/DC Back in Black

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarWizard

However, Queen, AC/DC, Kiss, and Aerosmith are all timeless....to even type or compare "The Darkness" to any of these bands is a pure insult.

to compare bands with 30 year careers to one on their first album is questionable

Cerealk - I probably listen to Back in Black...twice a week.... and if Brian says the "F" word....then I thought it was something else behind his husky growl...because I can't recall.

Saying it once in a 30 yr career, and 15 times per song is 2 different things.

I agree, to compare one album with 30 yr career bands is questionable.... but several of us seem to be doing that, plus thats all we have to go on with these boys.... there won't be 10 yr career , much less a 30.

The bottom line is this: To the guys who asked up above that they were thinking about buying this....go buy it.....and let us know if you feel you got your money's worth....let us know if this is something you think you will listen to quite a lot.

Just so you know, you will be on track 3 before you even hear anything with a catchy hook....this album no doubt has its moments... but there are a lot of stink bombs on it as well.

If you don't mind waiting a few days for shipping, I'd be more than happy to sell some of my store's copies of this to anyone at a very good price....as playing it constantly for the last month has resulted in not one sale of this cd.

**cerealk** · #23 12-09-2003, 02:35 PM

I can tell you where in the song he says it, it is very subtle

I think we can only guess as to what happens in the future for The Darkness in terms of career.

Werent the above comparisons with the 70s bands in terms of style rather than longevity of career?

Incidentally I dont think you can tell about the length of their career from sales of CD's from a shop in Lima, Ohio.

Soup Kitchen Studios · #24 12-09-2003, 02:51 PM

...especially one full of goth kids buying SRV CDs. That's not exactly where the industry is at the moment.

I have only heard the Darkness' latest single, but I loved it. Made me giggle and it grooved too. I will check out more.

Don't you think Queen and AC/DC would have cursed more if they started making music in the 90's. I mean, it's more socially acceptable to use that kind of language now. We are becoming a more explict culture... in all forms. It's not a matter of shock anymore, it's just how "normal" people talk. I'm not saying it's a good thing, but it's true.

GuitarWizard · #25 12-09-2003, 03:20 PM

CD sales are Cd sales.

I have a biggest store in the area.... and my numbers are always right on target with Billboard.

Let me promise you CerealK, sales of a cd in ANY location in the USA will determine the success of a band more than sales anywhere else.

The Darkness is trying to win over the USA..... like The Beatles and The Stones and Queen did so many years ago.... The UK will have an album topping out the charts, that USA wouldn't dare have in their top 40.

Yet, every album that tops the USA chart, will top out on UK as well.

I'm not trying to start a "My country is better than yours war".... I love England!....but in the world of music and fashion.... most of the world is waiting to see how the USA responds first....then they follow suit.

That is why "music experts" such as Simon Cowell reside in the USA....because here is where it counts most. As Cowell told Rolling Stone "There is talent all over the globe, but if you don't make in the States...your nothing".

The Darkness debuted at #1, and it has been one of the most disappointing debut's in recent history.

Pink's new cd, which was released a good 10 weeks after the Darkness, has already sold twice as much.

Sales do not equal what you like "personally". I am telling anyone who hasn't spent the money on this cd.... The Darkness is an aquired taste. My favorite bands, are these guys favorite bands....and I while appreciate their taste in music, I must say, they are , at best a diamond in the rough.

More than likely though, if previous bands sales reflect their future, they will have another release in a year or 2 that will flop, and they will probably dis band, and that will be about it.....10 years from now, you'll see this cd in a store....your friend will say "Who's that?"....and you'll reply "They had that one song in the early 2000's, the guy sings irritating high".

Please do not think that my store in the mid-west sells mostly "country cds"
On the contrary, 90% of the time, the kids in my Ohio store are buying items before its cool in another store I am affiliated with in Boston, Mass.

Jem7RB MK · #26 12-09-2003, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawel

Quote:

Originally Posted by hexa-db

If I want humour with my metal, I'll listen to LAWNMOWER DETH

I go with Anal C**t, but that's an acquired taste

Rock on both bands,I lost count of the amount of times i've seen Lawnmower deth ... Sumo Wabbit SUMO WABBIT

Sorry i'll get me coat

Rob

**jono** · #27 12-09-2003, 05:15 PM

I'm sure that the world looks to the USA for music, I'd say it looks to Milan and Paris and London more than it looks to the USA for fashion though. I could be wrong though I'm sitting here in a 10 year old college hoodie

I'd also agree that record sales in the USA can bring an artist more cash and thus bigger deals than sales anywhere else and thus on a world scale are far more important than sales in the UK. However many bands and artists can happily survive based on UK sales alone.

As for the Darkness, I don't like them, I think the bloke's voice is for want of a better term... "irritating" and as such I can't bring myself to listen all the way through a whole song if I can avoid it.

A friend of mine's sister grew up with the Hawkins blokes, and she remembers justin's britpop "Pulp" wannabe phase, I'm sure these guys do have talent, and I know that Justin is actually supposed to have been quite a big Vai fan!!! I just don't like the stuff I've heard on the radio or TV.

But then I actually like J.Lo's music so what do I know

**cerealk** · #28 12-09-2003, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jono

But then I actually like J.Lo's music so what do I know

yes well....

Jem7RB MK · #29 12-09-2003, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cerealk

Quote:

Originally Posted by jono

But then I actually like J.Lo's music so what do I know

yes well....

You both know it's her arse your interested in

Rob

hamand · #30 12-09-2003, 07:26 PM

Well I ain't afraid of The Darkness, I actually like them. Get Your Hands Off My Woman is bloody genius.

They obviously love what they're doing, and I think it's very interesting that they've been doing the glam rock vibe for a while now, and enjoying every minute of it. Now they've become media darlings, I adore the fact that they've stuck to their style of music and look. They have a massive respect for rock. I don't want pop nonsense at all, and I don't want angst driven indie all the time. I want to play air guitar along to songs with very little meaning to them.

And heaven knows we need a frontman with some real charm and character. He's a pretty fine guitarist too.

Yes, there are a fair few hair bands who aren't parodying 80s hair bands and they haven't hit the big time. That's the nature of things. All I know is that I'm hearing at least three solos in I believe in a Thing called Love...and that's gotta be good.