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The Hives, Tyrranosaurus Hives
What's the buzz? Tell me what's a happenin'!

Producer: Pelle Gunnerfeldt
Label: Interscope Records

Reviewed by William Miller

The Hives have turned not giving a s**t into an art form.

Fashioning themselves as the ultimate purveyors of garage rock- a genre built on sheer "anything goes" attitude rather than technical skill - these Swedes synthesize forty years of barely in tune guitar raveups.

And what a mix it is - picture the New York Dolls produced by early era Rolling Stones producer Andrew Loog Oldman. Season with the Kinks, the Stooges, Television, add water.

Then of course, there's the group's visual "presentation". Depending on your historical preference, the band is either decked out in mid sixties rock band matching outfits or late seventies new wave mid sixties appropriated matching outfits. These guys are so post- everything, they've lapped themselves.

Tyrannosaurus Hives is just as sweet as their previous platter, Veni Vidi Vicious (retitled and reprogrammed later asYour New Favorite Band). With nary a song going over 3 1/2 minutes, the Hives do their thing and get out before a flash of tedium can creep in. Need a quick buzz and no coffee in sight? Pop this CD in to help you through the working week.

Amphetamine Rock if you will.

The Hives are able to sustain the momentum for most of the album even if there is a noticeable dip in song quality toward the end. For a basic rock combo, the Hives offer a surprising wide palette of guitar textures every bit as engaging as the richest ambient soundscape. "A Little More for Little You" is a good example of this and incidentally, the best tune on Tyrannosaurus Hives.

The big problem facing the Hives is the same dilemma the Stray Cats faced twenty years ago - you can only cruise on pastiche for so long. The strings laden "Diabolic Scheme" does attempt to answer this question, but with middling success. Can the Hives come up with anything original or will they continue making the same album for the rest of their careers?

If they atleast make them with the same energy and excitement as Tyrannosaurus Hives, well... who gives a s**it?!

Visit The Hives's Official Website to hear Tyrannosaurus Hives.

Rating: (3 out of 4 stars)