Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Will be a future Classic, 13 May 2006
OK, I hoenstly can't understand how so many people hate this album. My conclusion is no one really associates rock with fun anymore. This album is FUN from begining to end. You put it on and all way through you can enjoy it and rock out.
Compared to other 2005 rock releases such as the Foo Fighters' 'In Your Honor' or Audioslave's 'Out of Exile' (both excellent rock albums) this album stands out simply for the creativity and imagination that has been put into it. Roy Thomas Baker has really worked magic on this album giving the band a new dimension, which is very notable compared to Permision to Land(again another excellent album).
The thing about One Way Ticket is it's more than excellent. It's an instant Classic. Easily one of my alltime favourites. 35mins (yes 35mins only) of pure genius. The band have admitted this is more of a vinyl album with 5 tracks on each side. Listening to the album you realise why.
Side 1 (the pure rock side)
One Way Ticket starts off with panpipes, no idea why, but its brialliant. The only thing I don't like about this song is that dreadful cowbell. But otherwise this was the perfect first single for this album. It's got those winning rock elements that worked wonders on their debut, but you can hear the new elements as well. More harmonised vocals and a sitar solo distinguish it from their other songs.
Knockers...i love the chorus to this. Great lyrics. Great vibe. I love the piano and guitar solo piece. Makes me smile everytime I hear it.
Is It Just Me?...has to be one of their best songs so far. Possibly one of the best guitar solos in rock history. The guitar and bass riff is also really cool. Really pumping, and gives the song a great drive. I think this song is a great example of keeping the music simple yet complex enough to entertain and excite.
Dinner Lady Arms...starts of like vintage Leppard. But don't slag this off as being some rip off. The lyrics are beautiful in a quirky way, as The Darkness know how to be. Beautiful overall layered sound. I was really surprised with this one, this is where the album starts verging away from Permission to Land.
Seemed Like a Good Idea...in my opinion this is one of the best power ballads of all time. I would have never imagined The Darkness using an orchestra, but this sounds glorious. Such a powerful chorus, you can't help but try and scream out the melody. Even though you probably will never hit those notes. I love those jazzy piano chords stuck here and there. This is a power ballad like you've never heard it before. And ''Across a thousand miles of broken glass on my hands and knees'' is the lyric that gets me most. How romantic...ahhhhhhhh *sighs*
Side 2(the experimental side of the album)
Hazel Eyes...starts off with a Brian May-esque lick, really cool. The lyrics are so original and wacky they make you laugh. Great balsy bass. And there are so many sounds in this song. Ebow guitars, a mandolin i believe or a guitar made to sound similar to one, bagpipes, marching drums, triangle. The best Celtic rock song ever. Also introduces a new word to your vocab...HAZELERER. You can't beat that.
Bald...don't really like this one. I think it could have been used so much better. It's mostly the lyrics that ruin this one. I definetly udnerstand Justin Hawkin's humour in his lyrics. But this could have been a sort of Love on the Rocks pt.2. and instead it's more like the Darkness taking the piss out of AC/DC's Hell Bells. Still great guitar work and vocal melody. Definetly grows on you more with each listen. Shame about the lyrics.
Girlfriend...lololol. One of the coolest songs on this album. On first listen I was like WTF. But the more I heard it I became adicted to it. The orchestrations in this song are mind blowing. Especially considering this is a rock song, and it rocks well. It is simplicity that's the key here. This has to have the best synthesiser solo ever(and not only on a rock album). Clocks in at 2.31 and you just want to play it again again. Girlfriend I Love You...soooooooo much.
English Country Garden...their most Queenish song. Actually I think this is the only Queenish song the Darkness have, despite so many people slagging them off for sounding too much like Queen. Again great lyrics and a great guitar solo. First song the Darkness have used the piano as a main instrument. Works really well. Maybe the begining of whats to come on future albums. Again another best in the rock world...best rock song to use a French word. Jardin Jardin Jardin Jardin wooooh!
Blind Man...maginificent is the only word to describe the closing song of One Way Tikcet. The orchestra is used again for beautiful effect. Beautiful lyrics. No drums, no guitars(well no distorted guitas at least)...just an orchestra and lots of harmonised vocals. A not straight forward chorus that grows so well on you with each listen. Pefect album ending.
If this isn't a modern classic rock album then at least it should get the status of being one of the most Underated Classic Rock Albums.
Enjoy
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
...Ticket To Hell...will take you to Heaven...and back., 4 April 2006
The Lowestoft quartet are possibly one of the biggest bands around at the moment, yet they still struggle with the accusations that they are not serious, or that they are a Spinal Tab-esque joke band. On the evidence of this latest offering from Justin and the boys you would have to wonder...WHY?If you like your modern heavy rock/heavy metal music to be a load of screaming down a microphone along to thrashing instruments that don't really make a tune, more of a racket, then this album probably isn't for you. If you dream back to the good old days of the seventies when rock acchieved perfection, with the likes of Queen, T-Rex, Black Sabbath etc etc, then you will not be dissapointed with this disc. Staying with the formula from their previous album, Permission To Land, of keeping the album short like you used to get on an L.P, One Way Ticket...follows the same guidelines. The first four tracks are superb hard rock tracks that are all supremely catchy and singable at the same time. The title track and Knockers in particular are possibly the best tracks that the group have offered so far. Track 5, or in L.P terms, end of side 1, is the customary ballad. Again, it is possibly one of the best slower tracks that they have done. On to side 2. Just like the first half of the disc, the first four tracks are again hard rockers. They are not quite as good as the previous tracks but still very good. Bald in particular is a witty offering that will have you sniggering whilst you rock out! Track 10 is the closing ballad and maybe the weakest track on the album. That does not make it a bad song, just a little down on the previous high quality of songs on the disc. This album was always going to be a make or break album for the boys, and a lot of people would argue that it is certainly a more mature sounding offering from The Darkness. The foul mouthed profanities found in the first album are mostly absent from One Way Ticket...and Justin Hawkins spends less time trying out his falsetto voice, instead using his high pitched delivery more sparingly and to greater effect. The legendary producer Roy Thomas Baker deserves a mention as well; having worked with some of the best bands in the world, such as Queen, you certainly get the impression that he brought the best out of the group. Another point to note is the change in bassist. Out went Frankie Poullain and enter Richie Edwards. Normally a change in bassist would not cause too much problems, however if take a look at the writing credits, Poullain co-writes many of the best tracks on the album, so it will be interesting to see if the songwriting quality takes a nosedive on album number three. In conclusion, this album has a modern fresh sound that also sounds like it would be in place in the seventies, which is no bad thing. The music world has been crying out for a band like this to show all of the 'pretty boys and girls' infesting our charts today how it is really done. As for the tag of 'Joke Band'; well if these guys are jokes, then please keep the laughs coming fellas.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
PLEASE......Don't take Rock music too seriously!!!!!!, 21 Feb 2006
If you are or have ever been a fan of AC/DC, Queen, Rainbow, Kiss, Aerosmith or any other O.T.T. Rock act of the last 30 yrs (Oh OK, Spinal Tap too...) then this LP will not fail to give you a giggle, and long overdue relief from the dreary, non melodic, sampled, Rap, hip hop and so called R&B 'pop' songs that the 'music' industry has bombarded us. I was unsure after reading reviews in the press and hearing comments from friends but I gave it a go anyway. AND I LIKED IT! As is the case nowadays it's old school, it's retro, but it's good. Your kids will like it and so will your Gran. It's easily on a par with there 1st LP, if anything, slightly more experimental. Expect feedbacks, chugging guitars, ultra sonic harmonies, tubular bells, brass bands and bagpipes, MARVELLOUS. Thank you and...
GOOD NIGHT AMAZON !!!
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--the dangers of cocaine abuse--rattles along with a preposterous amount of cowbell and a guitar-shaped swimming pool of cunning puns: "I’ve always tried to keep my vices under wraps", coos Hawkins, with the mock-innocence of a mischievous choirboy. 
