The Hives - The Black And White Album (2007)

Review by Dani Reese

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The Hives are back!

After a 3 year break, the ranting Swedes return with the release of their fourth full length album “The Black and White Album”.

They jump straight in with Tick Tick Boom which is one mighty impressive song. Reminiscent of I Hate To Say I Told You So, it’s more of a classic Hives track, a sound consistent in the album, but as it progresses there’s definitely some growth.

This album is a bit of a fusion of all the Hives previous albums as some carry on particular Hives characteristics; Pelle’s screaming, constant energy, wild lyrics, but they’ve also some new tricks up their sleeve.

A Stroll Through Hive Manor Corridors I’m convinced is placed round the middle of the album to give them a break when performing. It’s a haunting, slow instrumental which is nice change of pace for the first 30 seconds but gets a little old after a while and you just want the action to start again.

But never fear! The next track Won’t Be Long answers my prayers and we’re back in full swing. However, I’m not a fan of the next track - one of Pharrell Williams', T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S. - which just lacks excitement and falls flat in album full of wow.

His other track Well All Right! (heard earlier on the album) is an improvement with a random break in the middle with Pelle having a little country/western monologue. Although I admire Pharrell’s other work, he seemed to simplify the track’s he produced on this album. The songs on the previous Hives albums are denser, more energetic and generally classic.

Giddy Up! is very Devo-esque but by no means a top track. One of my favourites is You Dress Up For Armageddon simply for its chorus, its fantastic! The verse’s are subdued but the chorus explodes with some crashing and heavy guitar work, basically a crazy song that is just way too much fun to miss and would be fantastic to see live.

While three or four tracks fail to impress, the other eleven prove to be pure Hives, some with a little extra ‘somptin somptin’.

In the words of Howlin' Pelle Almqvist “They say the definition of madness is doing the same thing and expecting a different result”. The Hives certainly dish out a fair bit of madness and have done enough different to allow you not to expect the same result.

Complete awe at their genius.

ALBUM RATING: 3.5 out of 5

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