British Whale - This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us

British Whale is Justin Hawkins from the group the Darkness and this is his first solo venture. The title track 'This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us' is a cover originally done by the Sparks. The title track is backed by 'America, 'a collaboration with Chas Bayfield (E-Wing, The Christian Playboys) plus Video & Making-of the Video footage. Atlantic. 2005. Album Description

The Description is Not Necessarily the Product

My wife is a big fan of Phil "the Power" Taylor, perhaps the best darts player in the world. He is featured on the cover of the cd and in the video. So when the product description stated that this item included the video, I ordered it as a gift. Unfortunately, the video does not appear to be there. So Phil Taylor fans are probably better off going through amazon.uk and getting the DVD from there. I have not yet listened to the music, but at least the cover is great. December 20, 2005

The worst single of 2005?

It's a tough call, what with some of the slop that's been released this year, but I think old Gollum teeth here manages it. It's a remake of the old Sparks song, and some people seem to think just because it has the two guys from Sparks in the video it's some kind of seal of quality, like its got their approval. Let's be honest here, these old coots might as well have "will appear in snuff movies for cash" pinned on their chests.

It's really quite sad just how dated and awful Justin Hawkins already is. I'm mighty glad I didn't follow the rest of the sheep and buy "Permission To Land", calling it "album of the year" or whatever, because hooo boy, is he sounding tired now. I imagine that LP won't have many repeat listens to it through the years.

Anyway, one album in and already Hawkins sounds like a weak self-parody. It actually sounds like a radio DJ doing one of those spoof songs, it's THAT weak. Justin Hawkins, ladies and gentlemen - the single biggest (bad) one trick pony in ten years.

The new Darkness LP is out in a few months time, after months of troubled production and band fallouts and members leaving. Something tells your old pal The Curmudgeon that's it not going to be the mass unit shifter Hawkins is hoping for. But expect it to get the old one star treatment from The Irresponsible Hate Monger all the same.

The_Curmudgeon_Hates_You@yahoo.co.uk October 23, 2005

A Little More Darkness

The new Darkness record has been too long delayed. Producers have been hired and fired, bass players have left, and in the meantime we've only got their new re-recorded version (By Roy Thomas Baker) of "Take Your Hands Off My Woman...Again" to show for it. Being a Darkness fan had been very frustrating in 2005.

However, Justin knew that, and recorded some solo material under the excellent name British Whale (who have an equally excellent logo)! "This Town..." is Justin's first single under the British Whale flag, and what a joyous single it is.

If you don't know this song by Sparks, perhaps you're one of the Faith No More fans who picked up their version of this great track. As Justin hinted on tour with his "gui-board" keyboard, it's all about the 80's here. The second track, "America" is more of this, with that 80's sound and production, and layers and layers of vocals. Fantastic!

I wish there was a third track on this single, now we all just want to hear the album itself even more. September 7, 2005

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