The Hives are Vigilante Carlstroem, Dr Matt Destruction, Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist and Chris Dangerous. Oh come on, with names like that of course they’re going to be brilliant.
Acting as a sort of introductory record for new fans, ’Your New Favourite Band is a compilation of the bands earlier work. The songs are taken off the albums Veni Vidi Vicious, *Barely Legal *, the a-k-a I-D-I-O-T EP and the Hate To Say I Told You So single.
Clocking in at just under twenty-nine minutes, it’s an album of energetic snappy punk songs. The Hives method of takingAt The Drive-In’s garage rock, taking away the seriousness of it all, and adding Strummer-esque vocals proves to be a winning formula. Highlights include the unsettled angst of Main Offender’ and the corporate fretting of Die, All Right. And while obviously not an original sound, The Hives carry it off in such a cocky manner that it sounds incredibly fresh and exciting.
’Your New Favourite Band** is an album that has to be played loud with your best air guitar strapped on. And while probably not your new favourite band, they’re likely to be your favourite Scandinavian one.
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8Tom Carlin's Score