Kevin Bronson on March 1st, 2010

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Back in the early part of last decade, a group of sharp-dressed guys who called themselves the 88 started playing their roughed-up power-pop around town. Some reviews, especially of their first two albums, fingered the Kinks as an influence. The 88 may have lost the suits that were their trademark early on, but the quartet went on to get some attention, sign to Island Records and watch as music supervisors dipped into their catalog time and again to weave their relentlessly catchy songs into television and film.

• ||| Download: “This Must Be Love”

Recently, as Keith Slettedahl [above], Adam Merrin, Anthony Zimmitti and Todd O’Keefe began working on their fourth proper album, they were invited to tour with Ray Davies – as the elder Kink’s opening band and, for part of his set, as his backing band.

The 88 also has a new album – kind of. The independent, iTunes-only release is titled “This Must Be Love,” a pop-leaning collection that, Slettedahl says, is “more on the quiet side” and is “not a real 88 band record.” I’ll let him explain – before the 88 set off for the snowy East Coast and the start of the tour this past weekend, I got this update from Slettedahl:

Do how did the 88 come to tour with Ray Davies?

Keith Slettedahl: Our former booking agent was made aware that he was looking for a band and thought we’d be the perfect fit. I’m still pinching myself.

Good thing you didn’t diss all those Kinks comparisons early on, huh?

It’s so funny because we’ve talked about it so much. He’s mentioned four songs, and we’ve learned those. But we’ve also practiced 25 others out of the love for the songs. I can’t say it’s a dream come true, because it’s something I never even really dreamed.

And there’s a new 88 album out – you guys kinda released that under the radar.

KS: “This Must Be Love” is not a real 88 band record. I started it at home by myself on the tail end of touring for “Not Only … But Also” as just kind of an escape for me. Then it just gathered steam. I’d take the songs to Adam, and he was enthusiastic about them, and a lot of people ended up playing on it, including Todd and Anthony and Ellie Wyatt, who did some strings from over in the U.K. – I sent her the files and she’d send them back.

So the members of the 88 play on the album but …

KS: There’s something that happens when the four of us are in a room together, and that’s not this record. There’s a way we work when we write songs together, and that’s not this record.

Is there a real 88 album in the works then?

KS: We’ve recorded the basic tracks for about 15 songs, and we still need to sing on them. That will be on the back burner until we get back from tour.

More vintage 88 pop, or … ?

KS: It’s probably the freest stuff we’ve ever done … and that’s the result of hours and hours of the band just getting together and having fun. It’s so easy to take for granted, just playing together and having fun. But every time we enjoy ourselves, all these opportunities manifest themselves. That’s not a theory, that’s practice. And I have to stay focused on that.

||| Live: The 88 perform with Ray Davies on March 24 at the Grove of Anaheim and on March 25 at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills.

||| “This Must Be Love:” Recommended.