The Darts never let up. Their standout track “Love U 2 Death”—a haunting, high-stakes slow burn—was featured in the hit series Peaky Blinders, introducing their unmistakable sound to a global audience. Now, the full album it came from, I Like You But Not Like That (Alternative Tentacles, 2019), stands as a defining moment in the band’s evolution: cinematic, fierce, and bursting with sync potential.
Recorded with Bob Hoag (The Format, Dear and the Headlights) and co-produced by Nicole Laurenne, the album captures The Darts at a creative peak. It’s grittier than their earlier work, with a darker edge and a mood that leans into noir territory without ever losing their signature swagger.
From the opening blast of “Breakup Makeup”, listeners are pulled into a world of fuzzed-out riffs, pulsing bass, and that instantly recognizable Farfisa organ. On “Love U 2 Death”, The Darts pull off a slow, tense build that erupts into a storm of emotion—no surprise it landed on a global hit like Peaky Blinders.
With Nicole Laurenne on vocals and Farfisa, Christina Nunez on bass and backup vocals, Meliza Jackson on guitar, and Rikki Styxx on drums, the lineup delivers pure, unfiltered chemistry. Tracks like “Don’t Hold My Hand” and “My Way” dig deep into garage rock, punk, surf, and even moments of pop noir, all while staying intensely raw.
“This record was about putting it all out there—every feeling, every scar,” Laurenne told Gearhead HQ. “There’s rage, sadness, sex, defiance—and we wanted every bit of that to bleed through.”
Critics backed it up. Louder Than War praised the record as “a full-body garage psych rock ‘n’ soul experience,” while Punknews called it “no-nonsense garage with hooks, punch, and personality.” KFJC described it best: “Tough, sexy, sassy, and smart.”
I Like You But Not Like That isn’t just a garage rock record—it’s a mood, a lens, a world. It’s cinematic by nature, making it perfect for supervisors looking to inject texture, power, or emotional edge into any scene.
Hunnypot is proud to be The Darts’ official sync representative. With a Peaky Blinders placement already under their belt among others, this is a band with proven impact and undeniable placement power.
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"The Darts are a contemporary take on a nostalgic sound and prove there's more life than ever in a global scene often overlooked. I Like You But Not Like That is a solid album from front to back." GEARHEAD®
"The Darts don’t need to scream their message—they often drop a song’s core essence as an aside between new-wave-meets-Misfits keyboards and bashing drums, and that’s why this release, while rooted in ‘60s jammers, is not only more than meets the eye, but a rare form of nuance which is rarely achieved." Punknews.org
"Though The Darts' sound is often referred to as garage punk, to me it’s more reminiscent of the early Yardbirds, with strong bass-doubling riffs, a good example being the title track (possibly my favorite)." spidey.kfjc.org
"The songs all seem to center about relationships (but then again, don't they all?), with quick solos popping up here and there (organ, bass, guitar). The songs range from 2:03 ('Japan') to 4:37 ('Love U 2 Death') and are economically arranged. Short enough to make their way onto any playlist." spidey.kfjc.org
"The big takeaway from I Like You But Not Like That is the catchy factor within the songwriting and also proof that The Darts are consistent in writing catchy, good material consistently." GEARHEAD®
