RSSThe Hives
- Veni Vidi Vicious [Sire/Burning Heart/Epitaph, 2002] A-
- Tyrannosaurus Hives [Interscope, 2004] ***
- The Black and White Album [A&M/Octone, 2007] ***
- The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons [Fuga, 2023] B+
Consumer Guide Reviews:
Veni Vidi Vicious [Sire/Burning Heart/Epitaph, 2002]
These Swedes know the great selling point of the Voidoids was the guitars they can't come near, not the vocals they irremediably recall. How dumb--if it was that easy some emo kids would do it. The Hives explode where a hundred other punk bands are proud to rock. If they're not openhearted like Rancid they're also not cute like Green Day, who dominated that punk revival anyway, and I'll take their wage-slave rants over the Strokes' ass-man ennui any day. Really, so what if Max Martin writes 'em? A-
Tyrannosaurus Hives [Interscope, 2004]
Don't care about "going down no in no history," thus wiser than those who think it matters that they won't (only they may) ("Walk Idiot Walk," "No Pun Intended"). ***
The Black and White Album [A&M/Octone, 2007]
Approach the debut's perfectly conveyed and controlled illusion of headlong desperation, then lose their cool ("You Got It All & . Wrong," "Well All Right!"). ***
The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons [Fuga, 2023]
Spear carriers for the punk verities when they invaded from Sweden in 2002, this g-g-b-d lost a dollop of a certain something that might have been purity and might have been novelty on 2004 and 2007 follow-ups. Then they disappeared, supposedly because legendary songwriter Fitzsimmons had died but in fact because actual songwriter Nicholaus Arson was ailing. That Arson and his henchmen should return after 15 long years does inspire one to wonder how he was ailing, but never mind that, because while permitting themselves not the hint of a change of pace they make it their business to remain more or less catchy while never slowing down, almost as if "Rigor Mortis Radio" remained as much a lifestyle option as "hitting the weekend like a cake shot out of a gun" in a world of "a million boys in love with a dozen girls." B+