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The DarknessOne Way Ticket To Hell... And Back Atlantic/Warner When The Darkness stormed the scene barely two years back they were a musical bitchslap reminding us that music was supposed to be fun. While the music world was either revisiting the Velvet Underground or looking for a 'Kid B', Justin Hawkins wore jumpsuits, feather boas and pranced around stages squealing 'Get your hands off my woman, motherfucker!' High camp and low art maybe, but undeniably fun. After a tumultuous few years, we could have excused - or even expected - 'One Way Ticket To Hell... And Back' for being a let-down. In fact, they sound bigger and better - thanks in no small part to the production of Roy Thomas Baker (Queen, Bowie, The Stones) - and appear happy to let the music do the talking. The sound is fleshed out with strings, sitars, flugelhorns, panpipes and more. Tellingly the band felt they "didn't have any choice but to make a record this good." In terms of hooks, 'One Way Ticket To Hell...' doesn't disappoint. These are classic pop songs given a big rock sheen. Hawkins' voice is even more pronounced than previously, but the music keeps up with him - just. Is It Just Me? is their most immediate song yet, but there is plenty of competition. Knockers, Bald and One Way Ticket are breathing right down its neck. The ballads are the weaker tracks, definitely over-written and probably over-produced; but still fun. That The Darkness have come up with an album as strong as this after their unexpected success very nearly fractured the band is a testament to how seriously they take their music. If you didn't dig 'em first time round, nothing here will change your mind. If you did, you're in for a treat.  |
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