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The Hives Add Depth

But still find a way to bring their garage rock charm to <i>The Black and White Album</i>

The Hives

The Black and White Album

Released on Nov 30, -0001

We've all heard the saying, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." The newest release from garage punk gods, The Hives, certainly doesn't change the format of music that has worked so well for the band for years; but the boys did decide to bring some new sounds to the table, giving listeners a more (dare I say?) mature form of the ever entertaining spectacle know as The Hives.

It's no surprise this album gains multiple styles and layers compared to the original sound of the band, because a lot more time and money was spent on The Black and White Album. The pressure is on for The Hives, with their label breathing heavy down their necks to make this one a classic. But for a band that has been around the block and back a few times, The Hives handle the stress with charm and grace. Would you expect anything less from a band that outwardly claims that they are in fact the best band in the world?

The album kicks off with the bop along iPod+Nike friendly commercial tune, "Tick Tick Boom," and from the first explosion in the chorus (literally), The Hives hit the ground running, surging forward into the rah rah cheerleader infused "Try It Again." The Black and White Album contains tracks that have the standard solid Hives sound in songs like "You Got It All...Wrong" and "Won't Be Long," but the real surprise is the new sounds that accompany this release. On the last album, Tyrannosaurus Hives, only one track ("Diabolic Scheme") really stood out as sounding different compared to the usual sound of the band, but this release offers a whole new side of the band. From funk infused (thanks to the helping hand of Pharrell Williams) " T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S" to country twang "Giddy Up!" and vaudeville Fosse tinged "Puppet on a String," The Black and White Album really showcases the fact that The Hives can be more than a three minute in your face punk band.

Maturity is something we all must deal with in life, whether we'd like to or not. For The Hives, that time has come with The Black and White Album. They deliver us a group that is so much more than a one-dimensional high kicking band in all black and white like we saw years ago. The Hives have always been an extremely fun band, but now they have acquired more depth to their work with this release. Polished yet still rough around the edges (just like the band itself), The Black and White Album show a band evolving and testing new musical taste, while really elevating their music to the next level.

Posted by Lisa White on Nov 16, 2007 @ 12:00 am