Imagine a bunch of Swedes playing British rock with hints of garage sound, wearing black and white suits, naming themselves after an allergic reaction you can get from eating shellfish. You can stop imagining because the idea isn’t really hypothetical, it’s real.
The Hives’ new album, poignantly titled The Black and White Album, is a follow-up to 2004’s tremendously successful Tyrannosaurus Hives. Artistically, it’s pretty much the same-old Hives. However, on a deeper level, the band’s sound has evolved from short bursts of catchy energy to more extended measures that are still catchy, but with diversely driven riffs and more down-to-earth elements.
The most mentionable song that characterizes this is “Puppet on a String,” which incorporates a clapping sound, a piano and a creepy carnival-style theme.
Yet, “Tick Tick Boom” is the crown jewel of Black and White. Lead singer Pelle Almqvist commits to his usual backed-up yelling, blaring “‘Cause I have done it before/ And I can do it some more/ I’ve got my eye on the score/ I’m gonna cut to the door.”
Musically, it is fast-paced, putting together conventional speeding guitars with simple riffs, heavy drums and background vocals that restate what Almqvist screams out.
The first few songs on the album are a parade of the band’s traditional style, with songs such as “Well All Right” and “Won’t Be Long” bordering on ska with pop fusion. The latter part is reserved for more experimental concepts, using synthetic sounds or classic rock elements that sound like they should be competing with The MC5 or The Stooges.
The album is The Hives at their best and most pumped up yet. Though some hardcore fans may find it the same old experience as previous releases, new fans will be drawn in like moths to a Swedish lightbulb.