38. The Darkness – “Easter is Cancelled”

Over the years this list has featured veteran acts producing the best albums of their carrier and also a number of “bloody hell didn’t expect to see another album from them” moments. This entry gets its own category, namely the “Really……” award. The Darkness have all the credibility of a “why my son forgot his kit” note from Boris Johnson. There will be scoffs over their inclusion and there will be eyebrows raised over their very existence. The fact of the matter is that the Darkness were a band in the right place at the wrong time. Their brand of playful heavy rock seemed so alien and so post-modern in 2002, when now it is common place. They fit 2019 far more than they did in the early noughties. They are no longer a novelty means that we can actually revel in what a great rock band they are. This is a brilliant, energetic collection of sugary sweet Queen-esque rock tracks. It’s great! Throwaway and full of saccharine but such such good fun. So put your presumptions aside and just enjoy.