Sweden’s ‘favourite’ quintet is all suited up in black and white school boy uniforms for the American premiere of their best comeback yet,’The Black and White Album.’ The Hives highly anticipated fourth album has just dropped and the critics, including myself, are raving.
The Hives, who were part of the class of 2002 new rock revolution along with now highly acclaimed bands The Strokes and The White Stripes, are beginning to catch up in the race to stardom. With a little help from Modest Mouse producer, Dennis Herring, and Neptunes hip-hop/skate punk, Pharrell Williams, The Hives are back on the map. Together, the producers helped the band to record between 20 and 30 songs, including the hit single, ‘Tick Tick Boom.’ Sadly, only 14 tracks appear on the album.
The first track and coincidently the first single, ‘Tick Tick Boom,’ holds true to the band’s garage rock nature. The repetitive chorus of the words ‘tick tick tick’ speeds up to an explosion accompanied by the band screaming boom, which is perfect for gamers who can hear this track on Madden NFL ’08. The best part of the song, however, comes when Pelle says ‘check it’ and the song transitions to a slower beat that progressively builds with the steady drum of ‘Dangerous’ Chris.
The Hives keep the momentum of excitement building with track four’s feel-good beat, ‘Well All Right.’ Howlin’ Pelle shines, putting his name into action as he wails ‘heeyyyy, yeah!’ at the start of the song. As the band chants, ‘Well all right! I know just what you mean,’ you have to fight back the urge to raise your hand up in a clenched fist and riot along.
Pharrell’s robo-sounding beats throw the album into an 80’s flashback on the seventh track, ‘T.H.E H.I.V.E.S’, with a chorus that has the band spelling out their own name, is reminiscent of the Men Without Hats hit single, ‘The Safety Dance.’ Unfortunately, the lyrics to this song boast about the bands return ‘for the fourth time coming, cause if you don’t know we’ll make it very clear,’ not some clever lyrics for a club dance routine to practice with your friends.
‘Black and White’ does take a quick strange venture into the world of instrumentals on ‘A Stroll Through Hive Manor Corridors,’ combining a keyboard, guitar melody eliciting the feeling of taking a moonlight walk through a dark, foggy park in the middle of the woods. ‘Puppet on a String’ also takes a dip into instrumental land as whispers of ‘like a puppet on a string you hold on tight’ echo amongst the pop of snapping fingers.
‘You Dress Up For Armageddon’ is one of the most underrated ‘Black and White’ tracks. The song’s catchy lyrics in tune with the pleasing dynamics of Howlin’ Pelle’s voice, make for an easy track to fall in love with.
‘The Black and White Album’ moves the Hives one step closer on the ladder towards garage band stardom. Pelle and the gang keep things light, as they continue to perform amusing, captivating shows on their current European tour.
The band will be back to the States in February, and if their live performances are anything like their latest album, it won’t be a show to miss.
