Permission to Land
The Darkness · 2003
38 min · 10 tracks · hard rock
A flamboyant explosion of glam rock energy with soaring falsettos and infectious hooks that embraces the spirit of classic rock.
Top tracks — play these first
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Black Shuck Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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I Believe in a Thing Called Love — This track epitomizes The Darkness's exuberant style with its catchy chorus and vibrant guitar riffs, becoming their signature anthem. Its blend of humor and earnestness captures the essence of their glam rock revival.
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Get Your Hands Off My Woman — This song showcases the band's cheeky lyrical wit and energetic instrumentation, combining hard rock elements with a playful narrative that reflects their distinctive personality.
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Growing on Me — With its infectious melody and clever wordplay, this track highlights the band's knack for crafting memorable hooks while maintaining a tongue-in-cheek approach to romance.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends energetic glam rock with catchy hooks and humor, making it distinctive in its revival of classic rock.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy track, 'Black Shuck', and maintains a fast tempo for the first half before introducing slower songs like 'Love Is Only a Feeling'.
- Each song features prominent guitar riffs and soaring vocal melodies, often utilizing harmonies that emphasize the glam rock influence.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- quick, punchy listening bursts
- energetic mood boosts
- catchy hooks and melodies
- consistent upbeat pacing
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Debut album that established The Darkness's reputation in the rock revival scene.
- Themes
- glam rock revival· theatrical excess· early 2000s nostalgia
- Career context
- Released in 2003, 'Permission to Land' marked The Darkness's debut album, positioning them as a leading figure in the early 2000s rock revival. Following years of local performances and a couple of EPs, this album propelled them into mainstream success, showcasing their theatrical style and retro influences during a time when rock was often overshadowed by pop.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Queen· Electric Six· Steel Panther
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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I Believe in a Thing Called Love
The bridge shifts into an epic guitar solo followed by a triumphant return to the chorus, amplifying the song’s sense of invincibility.
Tracklist
- 1 Black Shuck Start here 3:22
- 2 Get Your Hands Off My Woman 2:46
- 3 Growing on Me 3:31
- 4 I Believe in a Thing Called Love 3:36
- 5 Love Is Only a Feeling 4:20
- 6 Givin’ Up 3:34
- 7 Stuck in a Rut 3:18
- 8 Friday Night 2:55
- 9 Love on the Rocks With No Ice 5:56
- 10 Holding My Own 4:57
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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