Writing a review of The Darkness is quite easy for me. Firstly, I am a long-time fan, and secondly, I consistently find the same pros and cons in almost every album. To be direct, I enjoy when the band is energetic, but I am not particularly fond of their melodic side, which is quite prominent in their new album, Dreams On Toast.
Justin Hawkins doesn't sing all the songs in his usual falsetto style, and the opener Rock n' Roll Party Cowboy, it's a very cool one, with great lyrics and unusual (for him) vocal lines. I really like this one and the robust Mortal Dread and The Battle for Gadget Land, fun to listen to. I add to this list even the track number 9, Walking Through Fire, probably the most typical The Darkness song, with a great chorus.
Unfortunately, there are many songs that I don't particularly like. For example, Hot on My Tail, Don't Need Sunshine, and Cold Hearted Woman don't really resonate with me, despite their Queen influences. And the closing track, Weekend in Rome, features beautiful orchestration and I find it quite original for the band, but I would have appreciated it more if it had been presented in a heavier context, because about half of the album is a bit too laid-back for my taste.
I like the fact that the album is short (33 minutes), and I really like the sound. Overall, the performance by the band is, as usual, very eclectic, dynamic, and overall quality, but in terms of songs, this is probably one of my least favourite albums by The Darkness.
Rating 60/100
Rock n' Roll Party Cowboy, Mortal Dread, Walking Through Fire.
Skip track: Hot on My Tail.