THE DARKNESS – Live at Hammersmith (2018)
British classic rockers THE DARKNESS are releasing today “Live At Hammersmith“, their new album capturing the band in sterling form at its London ‘Tour De Prance’ show at the Eventim Hammersmith Apollo on December 10, 2017.
“Live At Hammersmith” boasts the band’s back catalogue of five albums across 19 incendiary tracks. In true The Darkness spandex-clad fashion, the performance features huge riffs, mighty bass lines, and hair-raising falsetto.
The album does a good job placing the listener at the heart of The Darkness’ live experience. From the call and response chorus of “Get Your Hands Off My Woman”, the hooky sing along of “Given’ Up” or just general appreciative cheers and hand clapping, the presence of the crowd helps “Live at Hammersmith” live up to it’s name without being overbearing or distracting from the music.
The overall sound of the band is well captured, not to clean or slick, but right in your face. The guitars are big and crunchy, the low end laid down by Taylor and Poullian delivers a nice kick without sounding to muddy or booming and of course Justin Hawkins’ signature falsetto is soars above it all.
Though unlikely to convert anyone who isn’t already on board for The Darkness’ brand of over the top guitar driven rock, “Live At Hammersmith” is a tight collection of stand out cuts from the band’s previous five studio releases all in one package.
Personal favorites are the aforementioned “Get Your Hands Of My Woman” and “Friday Night” from the band’s platinum selling debut, as well as “Barbarian”, “One Way Ticket” and of course their infectious breakout hit “I Believe In A Thing Called Love”.
There’s also the swashbuckling “Buccaneers Of Hispaniola” and “Solid Gold” from 2017’s ‘Pinewood Smile’, here more hot than the studio versions.
“Live At Hammersmith” boasts 19 cuts – all around the 3 and a half minute mark – that are exactly what one would expect from the cock rocking quartet: catchy riffs, blistering solos, wailing falsetto and more than a little cheekiness.
Fun and good. Strongly Recommended
01 – Open Fire
02 – Love is Only a Feeling
03 – Southern Trains
04 – Black Shuck
05 – One Way Ticket
06 – Givin’ Up
07 – All the Pretty Girls
08 – Barbarian
09 – Buccaneers of Hispaniola
10 – Friday Night
11 – Makin’ Out
12 – Every Inch of You
13 – Solid Gold
14 – Stuck in a Rut
15 – Get Your Hands off My Woman
16 – Growing on Me
17 – Japanese Prisoner of Love
18 – Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End)
19 – I Believe in a Thing Called Love
Justin Hawkins – lead vocals, guitars, keyboards
Dan Hawkins – guitars, backing vocals
Frankie Poullain – bass, backing vocals
Rufus Tiger Taylor – drums, percussion
BUY IT :
www.amazon.com/Live-at-Hammersmith-Darkness/dp/B07C893FQ5
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