The Hives: Lex Hives (Disques Hives, 6/5/12)
“Go Right Ahead”
[audio:https://alarm-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/The_Hives_Go_Right_Ahead.mp3|titles=The Hives: “Go Right Ahead”]In 2000, The Hives hijacked the garage-rock takeover with a two-tone wardrobe, the huge single/video “Hate to Say I Told You So,” and the very sharp studio album Veni Vidi Vicious. Exemplifying the Swedish indie scene’s knack for reinterpretation of retro genre details, the band also brought the charismatic energy of punk rock to the table. It didn’t hurt that the quintet cornered, shifted, and raced like a well-tuned hotrod. The Hives seemed poised to dominate the genre for the rest of the decade. But the hard-touring group only mustered one new full-length between 2004 and 2012, the glossy 2008 release The Black and White Album. Sue us if we feel a bit deprived.