The Darkness: One Way Ticket To Hell... And Back - 11/29/05
 

from NME:

The Darkness - album details revealed

The group's second album is called...
The Darkness have named their new album 'One Way Ticket To Hell... And Back'.

The record, the band's second, will be released on November 28 and is preceded by a new single 'One Way Ticket' two weeks earlier (November 14).

The album won't feature any music from ex-bassist Frankie Poullain, who left the band earlier this year. Instead, guitarist Dan Hawkins has helped out in the studio on bass duties.

Poullain's full-time replacement is Hawkins' ex-guitar tech Richey Edwards. The group have worked on almost 40 songs for the LP, which were then edited down to approximately 15 which are being considered for the final release.

Yar. I dasn't know how 't can be better than th' first one (an' th' singles), but I be lookin' fore t' 't!

Did someone switch the keys around on your computer as a cruel joke? :p

I'm actually looking forward to this..the first one was fun and very, ummm....droll in it's self-deprecation.

Yar! 'Tis national talk like a seafarin' hearty (pirate) day, ya lily livered bilge rat!

Tracklisting:

1 One Way Ticket
2 Knockers
3 Is It Just Me?
4 Dinner Lady Arms
5 Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
6 Hazel Eyes
7 Bald
8 Girlfriend
9 English Country Garden
10 Blind Man

is it produced by mutt lange?

Enjoyed the last album. Will probably pick this up.

Well the song titles give me hope that they're not going to go completely serious and that they can still be fun.

Sophmore slumps and losing their bassist had me worried there for a moment.

Bound to be a huge success if so...

I don't believe so. Would be great if he was, but I heard "no" quite awhile ago.

They worked on 40 songs and we only get 10? That kinda sucks. Looking forward to this one though.

can anyone confirm if this is true? that would be great if it is.

SPRINGFIELD, MO Friday May.7.2004 /FantasyMusicLeague.com/ --
Rock weekly magazine NME reported that veteran producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange will produce The Darkness' next album. Lange seems a natural choice to work with the band on the follow up to "Permission to Land." The Darkness names AC/DC as a major influence, and Lange produced numerous AC/DC's albums including "Highway to Hell" and "For Those About To Rock We Salute You." He also produced records for many other artists including Def Leppard, with whom The Darkness toured.

That was debunked about a month later.

From blabbermouth.net:

THE DARKNESS: No Plans To Work With Producer 'MUTT' LANGE - June 5, 2004

Contrary to published reports, THE DARKNESS will NOT be utilizing the services of legendary producer Robert "Mutt" Lange (AC/DC, DEF LEPPARD, BRYAN ADAMS, FOREIGNER) on their upcoming sophomore album. Some Internet sources have gone as far as to quote the members of the band as saying that the follow-up to last year's gold-certified "Permission to Land" has already been completed and is scheduled for release later in the year.

"No, no, we're not working with Mutt," THE DARKNESS singer Justin Hawkins told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. "We're actually not going into the studio to record until December, so an album won't be out until middle of next year."

Asked if THE DARKNESS have a newfound credibility now that they've joined the prestigious ranks of Elton John and Kate Bush by snaring "Songwriter of the Year" at England's Ivor Novello Awards a couple of weeks ago, Hawkins said, "I think no matter how many awards we win, no one will take us seriously. But the songwriting award is good because you can't hear a cat suit, and it allows the band to be stripped down to what really matters."

In other news, THE DARKNESS recently took part in an interview and performance of "I Believe In A Thing Called Love" on Sessions@AOL. Watch both at Netscape.com.

Eager to hear the new one.

Talk about over-hyped wastes of space. Do we really need another British band aping the look and sounds of the past to get a few bucks? Gosh, if this doesn't show how bad the British music scene currently is then I don't know what does.

Yes, yes we do. Have you seen the Top 10 Billboard list lately? Of course we do. We need more ROCK!

I'd like to hear more male on male lyrics in songs about getting it on with female groupies. ;)

New single "One Way Ticket" can be heard on MySpace.
http://www.myspace.com/thedarkness

Hmmm...it's just ok. It's definitely nothing that will take them to the next level commercially. Hope there is much better stuff on the album.

Not bad, but I think the solo sucks! Would've like more of the production from "Permission To Land". This sounds pretty slick. Then again, I'm hearing this over the 'net on some pretty crappy speakers.

At least they're still "ROCK". I still can't wait to get this album.

They were on Letterman's show last night

I love this album, overall I'm enjoying it more than Permission to Land.

While I Never thought I'd feel this way, I'm actually quite enjoying this album. It's far better than their debut in just about every way, shape and form. From sound to songwriting and production (the great Roy Thomas Baker) - it's a true winner!

There's also a great article with the band in the latest issue of SPIN - and anyone who want's some good info on the band/album should really read it.

Didn't necessarily buy into the HYPE that was the first album. But, if the rest of this disc sounds like the song they did on Dave, then i'll give it a spin. [Working with Baker is a MAJOR plus in my book, too]