ARTIST: Tickets, The ALBUM: The Tickets LABEL: Brewery Records SERIAL: BR0172 YEAR: 2006 COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: LINEUP: Bryan Shaddix - lead & backing vocals, lead guitar * Donald Mabbott - lead vocals, rhythm guitar * Brian Martin - rhythm guitar, backing & lead vocals * Andy Winston - bass * Tim Strope - bass, backing vocals * Marcos De La Cruz - drums, backing vocals TRACK LISTING: 01 Our Two Hearts * 02 Dream About Me * 03 Way Down Here * 04 Everything * 05 How The Good Things Come * 06 I Don't Belong * 07 Heartland * 08 The One That I Loved * 09 Nothing Else I Can Do * 10 Last Dance For You * 11 She Got Away * 12 Yesterday's Girl * 13 Way Down Here (Alternate Vocal) * 14 I Don't Belong (Alternate Vocal) RATING:

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Background
It's been a while since I've reviewed a power pop album so without further ado I present The Tickets. Formed in California's Orange County in 1985; the band was in existence for ten fun-filled years, packing them in at L.A. clubs playing crowd-pleasing covers by Nick Lowe, The Replacements, The Knack, Marshall Crenshaw and XTC while working on their own skinny-tied influenced material. In 1986 a single was released 'She Got Away' written by none other than Katrina Leskanich of Katrina & The Waves and in 1990 the band put out a full-blown cassette only album 'The Tickets Make A Record'. A big collectible, the tape, the single and couple unreleased tracks were smartly compiled by Brewery Records for this self-titled CD.

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The Songs
Sometimes archive releases of this nature can be scatter shot in the quality department but this is a marvelous set sounding very British on opener 'Our Two Hearts' and a whole lot like Squeeze on 'Dream About Me'. A great start and 'Way Down Here' recalls a jangle happy Tommy Tutone while slowing down the pace 'Everything' is pure early 80's Elvis Costello when he was cool before becoming the pudgy and full of himself bore he is today. Never afraid to wear their influences on their sleeves for a good time, The Tickets further into the original tape give up more Squeeze styled goodness with 'Heartland' and 'Last Dance For You' will surely bring to mind the back to basics Beserkley era Greg Kihn although my favorite cuts are the aforementioned 'She Got Away' and the 45 B-side 'Yesterday's Girl', both classic power poppers that shouldn't be missed.

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In Summary
Again, a nice package with photos of the band from long ago displayed inside the CD tray and yes, it's still in print although nothing's forever so pick it up while you can.

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Posted by Eric on January 08, 2013 · 0 Comments · 193 Reads ·