i really dont know what to think about the darkness. the album is great fun to listen to but lets face it, j hawkins seems to be a total knob. i dont know him personally but the way he comes accross in interviews doesnt help me like him any more. i got into the darkness quite early on before they got big. i was at their last gig at king tuts but had their ep a few months before it was released on a cdr (i used to live with a relative of the bassist).i bought the ep when it was released off the website and i just sold it (signed) on ebay for 135 because i think the bubble is going to burst very soon. i dont think they are a joke band but their act is wearing quite thin. its obvious that they're having fun which is great and they are getting people into queen and ac/dc which is definietly a positive. i think it was an absolute scandal that they walked away with best british rock at the brits. say what you want about stereophonics but i think they're fucking ace and the new album is on a par with their first (which was untouchable in the brit-pop indie period of the 90's). feeder have had two amazing albums (polythene and yesterday went too soon) and two commercialy successful and very strong albums (echo park and comfort). muse have always been super good (even though showbiz attracted somne unfair radiohead comparisons) but for the darkness to win against these bands was a total joke. don't quite know what the purpose of that rant was but it feels good to get it off my chest.