One_Way_Ticket_to_Hell..._and_Back
One Way Ticket to Hell... and Back
2005 studio album by The Darkness
One Way Ticket to Hell... and Back is the second studio album by the British rock band The Darkness. It was released on 28 November 2005 through Atlantic Records, reaching number 11 on the UK Album Chart and eventually attaining platinum status in the UK. Three singles were released from the album. The lead single, "One Way Ticket", reached number 8 on the UK Singles Chart, as did the second single "Is It Just Me?"
| One Way Ticket to Hell... and Back | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 28 November 2005 | |||
| Recorded | 2005 | |||
| Genre | Hard rock, glam rock | |||
| Length | 35:04 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Producer | Roy Thomas Baker | |||
| The Darkness chronology | ||||
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| Singles from One Way Ticket to Hell... and Back | ||||
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| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 68/100[1] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Alternative Press | [1] |
| Entertainment Weekly | D+[3] |
| The Guardian | [4] |
| The Observer | [5] |
| Pitchfork | 6.5/10[6] |
| PopMatters |   [7] |
| Rolling Stone | [8] |
| Spin | A−[9] |
| Tiny Mix Tapes | 0/5[10] |
The album was produced by Roy Thomas Baker, best known for his work with Queen, a major influence on The Darkness. Bassist Frankie Poullain left the band during the early stages of production on the album, with most bass parts on the album played by Dan Hawkins. Poullain has said that "Hazel Eyes" is his favourite track on the record, citing, "I defy anyone after a couple of beverages to listen to "Hazel Eyes" standing up and NOT get the Michael Flatleys." Poullain was already familiar with six of the ten songs on the album, playing "Hazel Eyes", "Dinner Lady Arms", "Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time" and "English Country Garden" on tour with the band before his departure. He also co-wrote four of the tracks featured on the album. The working title for the album was The Painstaking.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "One Way Ticket" | J. Hawkins, D. Hawkins, Frankie Poullain | 4:26 |
| 2. | "Knockers" | J. Hawkins, D. Hawkins, Poullain | 2:43 |
| 3. | "Is It Just Me?" | J. Hawkins, D. Hawkins, Poullain | 3:05 |
| 4. | "Dinner Lady Arms" | 3:16 | |
| 5. | "Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time" | J. Hawkins, D. Hawkins, Poullain | 3:34 |
| 6. | "Hazel Eyes" | 3:25 | |
| 7. | "Bald" | J. Hawkins, D. Hawkins, Ed Graham | 5:31 |
| 8. | "Girlfriend" | 2:33 | |
| 9. | "English Country Garden" | 3:06 | |
| 10. | "Blind Man" | 3:25 |
All tracks are written by Justin Hawkins and Dan Hawkins except where noted
- "Wanker" (B-side to One Way Ticket) (J. Hawkins/D. Hawkins) – 3:07
- "Grief Hammer" (B-side to One Way Ticket) (J. Hawkins/D. Hawkins) – 3:12
- "Shake (Like a Lettuce Leaf)" (B-side to Is It Just Me?) (J. Hawkins/D. Hawkins) – 3:18
- "Shit Ghost" (B-side to Is It Just Me?) (J. Hawkins/D. Hawkins) – 3:10
Reviews for the album were mixed. Q magazine proclaimed it the 22nd best album of 2005. However Planet Sound remarked how it was the "world's most expensive penis joke", regarding the costly delay of the album, and hyper-masculine themes throughout. In an interview with The Sun, Dan said that it cost £1 million to make.
- Justin Hawkins – Lead/backing vocals; lead/rhythm guitars; piano; Hammond organ; Mini-moog; synths; sitar
- Dan Hawkins – Rhythm/lead guitars; bass guitars; tubular bells; marching drums; tambourine; triangle; backing vocals
- Ed Graham – Drums
- Richie Edwards – Bass guitars; backing vocals
Additional musicians
| Chart (2005–2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[11] | 25 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[12] | 44 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[13] | 83 |
| Canadian Albums (Billboard)[14] | 43 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[15] | 85 |
| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[16] | 31 |
| French Albums (SNEP)[17] | 132 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[18] | 32 |
| Irish Albums (IRMA)[19] | 20 |
| Italian Albums (FIMI)[20] | 27 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[21] | 29 |
| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[22] | 76 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[23] | 22 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] | 48 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[25] | 11 |
| US Billboard 200[26] | 58 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[27] | Gold | 35,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[28] | Gold | 100,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
- "One Way Ticket To Hell... And Back Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
- Phares, Heather. One Way Ticket to Hell... and Back: The Darkness at AllMusic. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- Endelman, Michael (2 December 2005). "One Way Ticket to Hell... And Back Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
- Petridis, Alexis (25 November 2005). "The Darkness, One Way Ticket to Hell ... and Back". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
- Boden, Sarah (15 October 2005). "The Darkness, One Way Ticket to Hell ... and Back". The Observer. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
- Mitchum, Rob (28 November 2005). "The Darkness: One Way Ticket to Hell... and Back". Pitchfork. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- Marchese, David (14 December 2005). "The Darkness: One Way Ticket to Hell... and Back". PopMatters. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- Fricke, David (28 November 2005). "The Darkness: One Way Ticket To Hell... and Back". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2 October 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- "The Darkness Music Review". Tiny Mix Tapes. Archived from the original on 18 March 2006. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
- "Australiancharts.com – The Darkness – One Way Ticket to Hell". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- "Austriancharts.at – The Darkness – One Way Ticket to Hell" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- "Ultratop.be – The Darkness – One Way Ticket to Hell" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- "Top 100 Albums". Jam!. Archived from the original on 12 December 2005. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - "Dutchcharts.nl – The Darkness – One Way Ticket to Hell" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- "Darkness". Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- "Lescharts.com – The Darkness – One Way Ticket to Hell". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – The Darkness – One Way Ticket to Hell" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- "Ireland Top 100 Albums: December 1, 2005". Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- "Italiancharts.com – The Darkness – One Way Ticket to Hell". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- "Norwegiancharts.com – The Darkness – One Way Ticket to Hell". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- "Spanishcharts.com – The Darkness – One Way Ticket to Hell". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- "Swedishcharts.com – The Darkness – One Way Ticket to Hell". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- "Swisscharts.com – The Darkness – One Way Ticket to Hell". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- "The Darkness Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2006 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- "British album certifications – The Darkness – One Way Ticket to Hell... and Back". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
