Permission to Land

The band was renowned for their live shows from very early on, and such was the popularity of the band, they had a Carling Homecoming gig booked for the London Astoria before they had even signed a record deal. Joe Taylor, Aled Jones and Paul Scaife at The Tip Sheet, a weekly magazine and CD insert for UK music industry insiders, first heard about the band through a post on The Tip Sheet message board, and featured "Love Is Only a Feeling" in January 2002. Record of the Day featured the song again around the time of SXSW in March 2003. "Friday Night" was to be featured next, but they were told the band was saving it for an album.{{cite web|title=Success Stories |publisher=Record of the Day |date=1 February 2006 |url=http://www.recordoftheday.co.uk/cgi-bin/content.cgi?page=success |access-date=27 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061011062103/http://recordoftheday.co.uk/cgi-bin/content.cgi?page=success |archive-date=11 October 2006 }}

According to A&R man Nick Raphael in an interview with HitQuarters, there was no initial clamour to sign the band: "There couldn't have been less of a buzz, and only two record labels showed any interest in them."[http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_Nick_Raphael_Interview.html "Interview With Nick Raphael"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160627091243/http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview%2Fopar%2Fintrview_Nick_Raphael_Interview.html |date=27 June 2016 }}, HitQuarters, 25 May 2005. He believes the reason for lack of interest was that "The business as a whole thought they were uncool. In fact, people were saying that they were a joke and that they weren't real." As part of Sony Music UK, Raphael had attempted to sign them but the band instead opted to go with Atlantic Records.

Permission to Land went straight up to number two on the UK Albums Chart upon its release on 7 July 2003, before going to number one and staying there for four weeks, eventually going on to sell over 1.4 million copies in the UK alone.

In October 2023, a deluxe edition named "Permission to Land… Again" was released to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the album. This edition includes B-sides, unreleased demos, and live tracks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedarknesslive.com/permission-to-land-again-20th-anniversary-deluxe-reissues-coming-in-october/|title=Permission To Land...Again! 20th Anniversary Deluxe Reissues Coming in October|first=The Darkness|last=News|date=6 July 2023}}

The band took inspiration for some of their work from the local north Suffolk area surrounding their home town, Lowestoft, including "Black Shuck", based on the legend of a dog which supposedly haunts the church of the nearby village of Blythburgh. "Stuck in a Rut" also mentions a set of roads known as the "Barnby Bends", and the "Acle Straight", both of which are prominent routes between Lowestoft and Beccles and Norwich and Great Yarmouth respectively. The band recorded an interview for MTV Japan, which discusses the inspiration behind these songs, as well as featuring self-filmed footage of their home town. This features on a bonus DVD included with the Japanese deluxe edition of the album.

{{Music ratings

| MC = 79/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/permission-to-land/the-darkness|title=Reviews for Permission To Land by The Darkness|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=7 May 2012}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/permission-to-land-mw0000692543|title=Permission to Land – The Darkness|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=7 May 2012|last=Phares|first=Heather}}

| rev2 = Blender

| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal|url=http://www.blender.com/reviews/review_1384.html|title=The Darkness: Permission to Land|journal=Blender|issue=21|date=November 2003|access-date=23 September 2016|last=Pemberton|first=Andy|page=110|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040808051055/http://www.blender.com/reviews/review_1384.html|archive-date=8 August 2004}}

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3Score = D{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2003/08/15/rating-contenders-britains-top-music-prize|title=Rating the contenders for Britain's top music prize|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=15 August 2003|access-date=7 May 2012|last=Brunner|first=Rob}}

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/jul/04/popandrock.artsfeatures|title=The Darkness: Permission to Land|work=The Guardian|location=London|date=4 July 2003|access-date=7 May 2012|last=Sullivan|first=Caroline}}

| rev5 = Mojo

| rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal|title=The Darkness: Permission to Land|journal=Mojo|issue=117|date=August 2003|page=98}}

| rev6 = NME

| rev6Score = 7/10{{cite journal|url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/the-darkness/7131|title=The Darkness: The Darkness|journal=NME|date=2 July 2003|access-date=7 May 2012|last=Wild|first=Tim|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630123420/http://www.nme.com/reviews/the-darkness/7131|archive-date=30 June 2016}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7Score = 8.4/10{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/2524-permission-to-land|title=The Darkness: Permission to Land|work=Pitchfork|date=9 October 2003|access-date=7 May 2012|last=Plagenhoef|first=Scott}}

| rev8 = Q

| rev8Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite journal|title=The Darkness: Permission to Land|journal=Q|issue=205|date=August 2003|page=104}}

| rev9 = Rolling Stone

| rev9Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/thedarkness/albums/album/298969/review/5941570/permission_to_land|title=The Darkness: Permission to Land|magazine=Rolling Stone|issue=932|date=10 September 2003|access-date=7 May 2012|last=Kemp|first=Rob|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001091401/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/thedarkness/albums/album/298969/review/5941570/permission_to_land|archive-date=1 October 2007}}

| rev10 = Uncut

| rev10Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal|title=The Darkness: Permission to Land|journal=Uncut|issue=76|date=September 2003|page=97}}

}}

The album received widespread acclaim by critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album earned an average score of 79, based on 19 reviews.

"Permission to Land will never be the album that The Darkness think it is," decided Classic Rock, "but, taken in the spirit that it is offered, it's certainly more fun than Use Your Illusion."{{cite magazine|first=Jon|last=Hotten|author-link=Jon Hotten|title=Black humour|magazine=Classic Rock #56|date=August 2003|page=90}} In July 2019, Decibel Magazine inducted Permission to Land into their Hall of Fame, stating that the album "that came to define hard rock in the early aughts sounds nothing like anything else that was released in 2003 – or the previous decade, for that matter".{{cite web |last1=Green |first1=Nick |title=The Darkness – "Permission to Land" |url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2019/08/15/the-darkness-permission-to-land/ |website=Decibel |date=15 August 2019 |access-date=2019-08-28}}

File:Justin Hawkins of The Darkness 01.jpg festival in Finland]]

The success of this album led to heavy touring for the band, including European portions of Metallica's Summer Sanitarium Tour 2003. They then went on to headline the Carling Festival in 2004. The band won three BRIT Awards in 2004 in response to the album, Best Group, Best Rock Group and Best Album. They also won two Kerrang! awards in 2004 for Best Live Act and Best British Band. The third single from the album, "I Believe in a Thing Called Love", was a substantial hit in the UK as was their tilt at the Christmas 2003 number 1, "Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)", which only just fell short, both singles reaching No.2 in 2003.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Boom%20Boom_slash_Christmas%20Slide%20ft%20India%20Beau |title=The Official Charts Company – The Darkness – I Believe in a Thing Called Love |publisher=Official Charts Company |date=13 December 2003 |access-date=15 March 2011 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/ |title=The Official Charts Company – Singles Chart for week up to 27 December 2003 |publisher=Official Charts Company |date=27 December 2003 |access-date=15 March 2011}}

In addition to its chart success, Permission to Land also provided the Darkness with two high-profile music awards; Best Rock Album at the 2003 Kerrang! Awards{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3172315.stm |title=The Darkness rock Kerrang! awards |publisher=BBC |date=22 August 2003 |access-date=16 April 2009 }} and Best British Album at the 2004 BRIT Awards (at which they also won the awards for Best British Group and Best British Rock Act).{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3497315.stm |title=Brits 2004: The winners |publisher=BBC |date=17 February 2004 |access-date=16 April 2009 }} Permission to Land was voted 49th in the 50 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century in Kerrang!. Permission to Land was later referenced in the song "Whichever Way You Wanna Give It" by lead singer Justin Hawkins' other band Hot Leg.

In 2005, the album was ranked number 356 in Rock Hard magazine's book The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.{{cite book|title=Best of Rock & Metal – Die 500 stärksten Scheiben aller Zeiten|year=2005|publisher=Rock Hard|language=de|isbn=3-89880-517-4|page=67}} The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.{{cite book|author1=Robert Dimery|author2=Michael Lydon|title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition|date=23 March 2010|publisher=Universe|isbn=978-0-7893-2074-2}} In 2016, Metal Hammer ranked Permission to Land sixty-third in their list of the 100 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century, calling it 'one of the greatest debut albums of all time'.'100 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century', Metal Hammer, Summer 2016, issue 286, p. 39.

{{Clear}}

{{track listing

| all_writing = Justin Hawkins, Dan Hawkins, Frankie Poullain and Ed Graham

| headline = Standard edition

| title1 = Black Shuck

| length1 = 3:20

| title2 = Get Your Hands off My Woman

| length2 = 2:46

| title3 = Growing on Me

| length3 = 3:29

| title4 = I Believe in a Thing Called Love

| length4 = 3:36

| title5 = Love Is Only a Feeling

| length5 = 4:19

| title6 = Givin' Up

| length6 = 3:34

| title7 = Stuck in a Rut

| length7 = 3:17

| title8 = Friday Night

| length8 = 2:56

| title9 = Love on the Rocks with No Ice

| length9 = 5:56

| title10 = Holding My Own

| length10 = 4:56

}}

{{track listing

| headline = European Christmas edition bonus track

| title11 = Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)

| length11 = 3:42

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Japanese deluxe edition bonus tracks

| title11 = The Best of Me

| length11 = 3:31

| title12 = Makin' Out

| length12 = 3:42

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Japanese deluxe edition bonus DVD

| title1 = History of the Darkness

| note1 = Documentary

| length1 = 20:00

| title2 = Get Your Hands Off My Woman

| note2 = Live at the Astoria

| length2 = 4:34

| title3 = I Believe in a Thing Called Love

| note3 = Live at Knebworth

| length3 = 3:52

}}

{{track listing

| headline = B-sides

| extra_column = Appearance(s)

| title1 = The Best of Me

| extra1 = B-side to "Get Your Hands off My Woman"

| length1 = 3:31

| title2 = How Dare You Call This Love?

| extra2 = B-side to "Growing on Me"

| length2 = 3:53

| title3 = Bareback

| extra3 = B-side to "Growing on Me"

| length3 = 3:07

| title4 = Makin' Out

| extra4 = B-side to "I Believe in a Thing Called Love"

| length4 = 3:42

| title5 = Physical Sex

| extra5 = B-side to "I Believe in a Thing Called Love"

| length5 = 3:34

| title6 = Out of My Hands

| extra6 = B-side to "I Believe in a Thing Called Love"

| length6 = 3:34

| title7 = I Love You 5 Times

| extra7 = B-side to "Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)"

| length7 = 3:43

| title8 = Planning Permission

| extra8 = B-side to "Love Is Only a Feeling"

| length8 = 2:30

| title9 = Curse of the Tollund Man

| extra9 = B-side to "Love Is Only a Feeling"

| length9 = 3:09

| title10 = I Had a Dream

| extra10 = unreleased outtake

| length10 = 2:53

| title11 = I Need You

| extra11 = unreleased outtake

| length11 = 3:57

}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

• Justin Hawkins – vocals, guitar, synthesizer, piano
• Dan Hawkins – guitar
• Frankie Poullain – bass guitar
• Ed Graham – drums

{{col-2}}

• Pedro Ferreira – production, mixing, engineering
• Mike Marsh – mastering
• Will Bartle – recording assistance
• Nick Taylor – mixing assistance
• Bruce Band – artwork
• Patrick Ford – photography

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Permission to Land}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Permission to Land|artist=The Darkness|type=album|relyear=2003|region=Australia|award=Platinum|certyear=2004}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Permission to Land|artist=The Darkness|type=album|relyear=2003|region=Canada|award=Platinum|certyear=2004}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Permission to Land|artist=The Darkness|type=album|relyear=2003|region=Denmark|award=Gold|certyear=2004|relmonth=7|id=7|source=chart|access-date=9 May 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=New Zealand|artist=The Darkness|title=Permission to Land|award=Platinum|certyear=2004|id=2004-04-23|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|relyear=2003}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|award=Gold|artist=The Darkness|title=Permission To Land|type=album|relyear=2003|relmonth=7|source=artist|access-date=July 8, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Permission To Land|artist=The Darkness|type=album|relyear=2003|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|number=4|id=5068-1833-2|salesamount=1,404,909|salesref={{cite magazine |url=http://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/official-charts-analysis-liam-gallagher-debuts-at-no-1-with-more-than-100-000-album-sales/070146 |title=Official Charts Analysis: Liam Gallagher debuts at No.1 with more than 100,000 album sales |author= Alan Jones |date=13 October 2017 |magazine=Music Week |url-access=subscription}} }}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Permission To Land|artist=The Darkness|type=album|relyear=2003|region=United States|award=Gold|certyear=2004|salesamount=710,000|salesref={{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KhQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA42|title=Hawkins Legs It Out of Darkness |author=Nicholas Browne |magazine=Billboard |page=42 |date= 18 October 2008 }}}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Europe|title=Permission To Land|artist=The Darkness|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=2003|certyear=2003|access-date=2 February 2020}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Metacritic album}}

{{The Darkness}}

{{Brit British Album}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2003 debut albums

Category:The Darkness (band) albums

Category:Atlantic Records albums

Category:Brit Award for British Album of the Year

Category:European Border Breakers Award–winning albums