Review: The Hives
Matt McRae
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
The Hives
The Black and White Album
The Hives have returned with their all-new studio album, The Black and White Album. The Hives hail from Fagersta, Sweden. The five-piece Swedish garage-rock band began in 1993. They have experienced success at home and abroad. However, it was 1997 before they actually produced a full-length album. Later, they hit stride with the hits "Hate to Say I Told You So" and "Main Offender."
Earlier in 2007, The Hives lent their help with hip-hop artist Timbaland's new album, Shock Value. On Nov. 13, they released their new album.
The Black and White Album is a mash-up of sounds that create one musical experience. They received help from Pharrell Williams on "Well All Right!" and "T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S." The B&W Album varies in sound through the whole album, while still keeping in the same Hives sound. The album even seems to have a Toni Basil "Mickey" moment on the song "Try It Again." One of the best things that the Hives have going for them is the presence of lead singer Howlin' Pelle Almqvist, which is extremely evident in the track "Well All Right!" It has the sound of the old sock hop bands and a televangelist service all wrapped into one wild ride.
The album has some rather strange moments. One of the strangest moments in the whole album is the haunting track "A Stroll Through Hive Manor Corridors." With the absence of lyrics, it literally seems like a trip through a psychedelic haunted house. Also, the track "Giddy Up" sounds like a mixture between a Justin Timberlake and Junior Senior song.
Many tracks of The B&W Album are driven by the bang of the drums. The drums create a driving rhythm that is prominent in a large portion of the entire album. This driving force helps to keep the album alive.
The Hives really hit their mark with "You Got It All…Wrong," "Tick Tick Boom" and "Square One Here I Come." The track "Return the Favour," while sounding very reminiscent of the early punk rock days, is also worth a listen. Though it is The Black and White Album, it is rather colorful and, overall, not that bad of an album.
B-
An avid music and game enthusiast, Matt McRae is the photography editor of The Chanticleer. He can be reached at (256) 782-8521 or at chantyphoto@gmail.com. You can read his weekly music blog at mattonanisland.blogspot.com.
The Black and White Album
The Hives have returned with their all-new studio album, The Black and White Album. The Hives hail from Fagersta, Sweden. The five-piece Swedish garage-rock band began in 1993. They have experienced success at home and abroad. However, it was 1997 before they actually produced a full-length album. Later, they hit stride with the hits "Hate to Say I Told You So" and "Main Offender."
Earlier in 2007, The Hives lent their help with hip-hop artist Timbaland's new album, Shock Value. On Nov. 13, they released their new album.
The Black and White Album is a mash-up of sounds that create one musical experience. They received help from Pharrell Williams on "Well All Right!" and "T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S." The B&W Album varies in sound through the whole album, while still keeping in the same Hives sound. The album even seems to have a Toni Basil "Mickey" moment on the song "Try It Again." One of the best things that the Hives have going for them is the presence of lead singer Howlin' Pelle Almqvist, which is extremely evident in the track "Well All Right!" It has the sound of the old sock hop bands and a televangelist service all wrapped into one wild ride.
The album has some rather strange moments. One of the strangest moments in the whole album is the haunting track "A Stroll Through Hive Manor Corridors." With the absence of lyrics, it literally seems like a trip through a psychedelic haunted house. Also, the track "Giddy Up" sounds like a mixture between a Justin Timberlake and Junior Senior song.
Many tracks of The B&W Album are driven by the bang of the drums. The drums create a driving rhythm that is prominent in a large portion of the entire album. This driving force helps to keep the album alive.
The Hives really hit their mark with "You Got It All…Wrong," "Tick Tick Boom" and "Square One Here I Come." The track "Return the Favour," while sounding very reminiscent of the early punk rock days, is also worth a listen. Though it is The Black and White Album, it is rather colorful and, overall, not that bad of an album.
B-
An avid music and game enthusiast, Matt McRae is the photography editor of The Chanticleer. He can be reached at (256) 782-8521 or at chantyphoto@gmail.com. You can read his weekly music blog at mattonanisland.blogspot.com.
Be the first to comment on this story