The Hives: Raw Talent, Pent-Up Energy and Social Conscience

If you hadn’t already heard of “The Hives”, you’d swear they were the latest and greatest garage or punk act to come out of Manchester, England. Of course you’d be dead wrong. The Hives hail from somewhere you’d never think to look for good punk: Fagersta, Sweden. Whether it’s raw talent, the release of pent up energy from the dark, cold winters, or a little of both, The Hives’ Black and White Album is a hard rocking album which leaves you wanting more each time you listen to it.

The Hives – Tick Tick Boom

The album starts off right away with The Hives’ new single, “Tick Tick Boom.” If there was any question as to its popularity and playability, the fact that it’s already been included in the soundtrack for Madden NFL 08, a Nike ad campaign, and as sound filler for Monday Night Football should tip you off.

Of course, before allowing Nike to use “Tick Tick Boom” in it’s advertising the band researched Nike’s current factory practices to be sure that they were satisfactory with the band’s views and then still turned around and have donated all proceeds from that campaign towards anti-sweatshop efforts.

Finish Line Nike Hives Commercial

Right after “Tick Tick Boom” is “Try It Again.” This is what The Offspring and all the other post-Nirvana Garage Punk bands should have sounded like on a good day. It’s fast, it’s catchy, and it’s damn good. Truly a track you’ll want to get up and dance to again and again.

The Hives seem to go back a little from here with a combination of The Psychedelic Furs and The Clash in “You’ve Got It All… Wrong.” The hard rocking theme continues with “Well All Right!” and “Hey Little World.” Have you sweat enough on the dance floor yet?

It’s time for a little interlude then with “A Stroll Through Hive Manor Corridors.” Let The Hives’ organ playing (almost akin to some of the avant-guarde music by The Residents) wash over you as you take a deep breath and try and cool off. You’re going to need it.

All of The Hives pick up their instruments once more and dive right into where they left off with “Won’t Be Long.” From there, The Hives dive into a little bit of funk with Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist showing off his vocal range with a disco-esque falsetto on “T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S.” It’s kitschy. It’s catchy. It’s yet one more song that you’ll find yourself taping your feet to at your desk at work or wanting to get up and groove to at home.

After “T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S.”, The Hives “Return the Favour” by going back towards their original stylings for your listening pleasure. It’s only for a song though as The Hives pull themselves up by their bootstraps in “Giddy Up!” in a song reminiscent of early Squeeze. They bounce back over to their original sound once more though in “Square One Here I Come.”

“You Dress Up For Armageddon” brings the strong garage punk sound alive once more on The Black And White Album before The Hives almost go acapella on “Puppet on a String.” The only music there is a piano and some hand clapping for the rhythm. “Puppet on a String” is dark and broody; Elvis Costello would be proud of this song.

The Hives wrap things up with a “Bigger Hole to Fill” but certainly don’t let their sound fall off during this last song.

You’d think that the bouncing back and forth between musical stylings throughout The Black And White Album would detract from the album some but it doesn’t. In fact, it actually adds more to the energy of the album.

Tracks:

1. “Tick Tick Boom” – 3:25
2. “Try It Again” – 3:29
3. “You Got It All… Wrong” – 2:42
4. “Well All Right!” – 3:29
5. “Hey Little World” – 3:22
6. “A Stroll Through Hive Manor Corridors” – 2:37
7. “Won’t Be Long” – 3:46
8. “T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S.” – 3:37
9. “Return the Favour” – 3:09
10. “Giddy Up!” – 2:51
11. “Square One Here I Come” – 3:10
12. “You Dress Up for Armageddon” – 3:09
13. “Puppet on a String” – 2:54
14. “Bigger Hole to Fill” – 3:37