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 | The HivesTyrannosaurus Hives2004 Interscope 
 Review by: Adam See others by this writer ![[staff]](/images/icons/staffsticker.gif){kind=icon}
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Published on July 20th 2004
It's been a long time coming but Tyrannosaurus Hives was worth it. The Hives' first release proper full length in nearly four years couldn't be more to the point as it slams through 12 tracks in a half hour, but those 12 tracks easily let the record live up to the might its title boasts. The band is still charmingly and consciously self absorbed but with this effort (like it's predecessor) that bravado, however tongue-in-cheek, is warranted. "Walk Idiot Walk" blatantly lifts from The Who's "I Can't Explain" but as a single it couldn't be more perfect. It's perhaps the band's best example of their heart-in-the-60s / head-in-the-70s songwriting (particularly evident on video where Howlin' Pelle Almqvist claims Sir Mick's swaggering chicken-walk for his own). The fact that this band can put out singles that simultaneously ape the Rolling Stones, The Stooges, Buzzcocks and The Who and yet sound distinctly "Hives" is a feat in itself. Almqvist is the real star of the record, as he proves himself one of the most distinctive rock frontmen today. While he never really leaves the "excited-shout" range his voice has unmistakable character and his lyrical delivery is absolutely top notch throughout the entire record. "A Little More For Little You" matches up an incredibly infectious pop chorus with jittering verses to create a one of the record's high points. It's followed by the simply phenomenal "B Is for Brutus." The band chugs along in a rhythmically propelled tune while the lead guitar, distorted and buzzing like a severely ill tempered hornet, churns out an instantly memorable and completely sinister sounding riff. "Diabolic Scheme" is a curious track and unlike anything The Hives have done before. A string section screeches and jumps behind the band's pulsing guitar (or is it a synth? It's hard to tell at times). The song's like a warped new-wave version of the violin murder-theme from Psycho (and yet also features one of the band's more interesting and chaotic guitar solos). "Dead Quote Olympics" is a surprisingly fun bit of light hearted jangling pop in a collection of it that would make Pete Shelley proud. Tyrannosaurus Hives is a good summer record, just shy of truly great. The majority of it's tracks are holding pattern with Veni Vidi Vicious (which is a high standard in itself) but on a few tantalizing songs ("Brutus" and "Diabolic" in particular) gleams of brilliance shine through. One only hopes that it's not another four years until the next chapter. E-Card People who liked this also liked:           Please login or register to post comments. What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
cool band and cool record but not so cool how all the magazines say.... That must have been a talented kid then... if you had never heard this band or heard of them and the kid down the street told you it was his band and to listen to it, you would pop it in, say "meh..." and throw it out the window. Assholes... " I'm saying that most people who are genuinely into rock n roll and have been for a while will at least see the Hives as a sign of hope for the future of the art. " hate hate hate hate hate this band The Hives blew up because on infuential English label (Poptones or something) started promoting them heavily across the UK. They got picked up, the American press reads the British press, and a psuedo-phenomena is born (see the White Stripes, The Strokes, The Vines). Great Album. It got more singles on it than any other of their previous albums. So I don't know what people are complaining about. It's clear to me that if you don't like it, then you have never liked the Hives... :) I still can't get how the fuck they got here. good background music to help me fall asleep. After watching their interview from launch, I respect these guys much more. I don't know if my review will get posted, as I said much the same thing Adam said but slightly more critical. I really like this band, I think the record is just okay, but I will say this about them: This album just fuckin' rocks. Period. Fantastic album. These guys are great. The HIVES are refreshing in a mainstream music scene of depressingly shite bands. I've seen a few live vids on MTV and they are sloppy and energetic, and the thing that strikes me most about them is their ability to actually *shock* write their own riffs instead of every other 'alternative' band that will either re-hash the 'When I Come Around' chords, or if they're emo, NIRVANA's 'Something In The Way'. Once again the allmighty BSD rules over ever thread with his superior opinions... I apologize that I haven't had time to listen to the entire AC/DC and Who catalogues in order to compare them to the hives... sorry I'm only 20 years old and haven't spent a million hours researching every band that ever existed just so I can beat everyone at musical trivia and analysis. awesome album. great band that released 3 of my favorite albums, barely legal, veni vidi vicious, and tyrannosaurus hives. anyone who doesnt like them obviously didnt give them enough of a chance and is judging off of there singles. they also put on the best live show i have ever seen. a must buy, along with the rest of their music. As the Hives? Like who? bsd, i think it's ace that you defend the hives, but, why? i've seen you making fun of bands who sounds exactly the same. The Hives have been around for longer than five years. EF is cool, too, though. If I want rock, I'll drop the Electric Frankenstein. Who would have saved rock if that was the cool thing to do five years ago. BSD, FortyMinutesWest: Its nice to see a real conversation going on here amongst people who disagree that hasn't degraded into petty name calling. That's fine then. I've heard plenty of metalcore, Forty. I'm not into the scene, but I've gone to about ten metalcore shows with fairly varied lineups. Aside from that, most of my friends are fauxcore kids and admit that they don't listen to real hardcore. They're ex-metalheads acting like most kids, jumping on the latest trend. So I've heard plenty of metalcore as well gone to the shows. I have a right to decide that metalcore is a weak mix of the worst of metal and worst of hardcore. HAHAHAHA! score is for the Ron Jeremy look-a-like with the stache. wow, that guy a couple posts down from me sure sounds like an ass. hahahahahaha, that last post was great, especially if the guy was being sarcastic... Punk on MTV? What? "Punk" on MTV? Isn't that some sort of paradox or something, I mean, aren't they typically considered diametrically opposed. That is kind-of like a website being organized to promote "Punk Music" that uses credit cards for admittance. Interpunk.com is just about that "punk" and it puts up a fascade just like the Hives. When was the last time a major chain of stores like "Best Buy" was ever considered a place where you could go to fulfill your "punk" needs? "It's kind of sad that playing rock n roll influenced rock n roll is considered a "schtick". I think the Hives' music is more genuine than DEP and certainly less of a fashion phad than Avenged Sevenfold. Honestly, this disc, as well as Veni Vidi Vicious are two fantastic records in the same vein of... well... rock and roll. The Knitting Factory in NYC has a "Lebowski Fest": "the bass player should wear a t-shirt that reads "free mustache rides" - he really does have a pretty sweet mustache - it'd be better if he also had a feathered mullet." Whoever doesn't like AC/DC, well, you're just being foolish. I admit, there are some less than appealing songs that they've made (Big Balls), but the amount of quality, no frillls rock n' roll that they've created is amazing. I'm not a fan of them. They played in my school when i was like 12 years old. I'm 20 now. They used to rip off dead kennedys more though, that was way cooler, btw, is there any interest in buying old hives demos? i got a shitload on casettes. the singer dud is annoying Now that I have digested it, I have concluded... this album rules. And I agree with youwith most of your comments BSD, for once, as well as the guy a bunch of posts down about Devo. This album reminds me a lot of their first "Are We Not Men?..." before they got really synth-heavy. Good stuff. It's kind of sad that playing rock n roll influenced rock n roll is considered a "schtick". I think the Hives' music is more genuine than DEP and certainly less of a fashion phad than Avenged Sevenfold. ACDC is fucking overated that shit is lame This band's schtick bores me. "I totally thought the new single was a rip-off of AC/DC when I heard it on the radio" The only complaint I had is that they gave a "I'M A ROCKSTAR" vibe, but other than that it was worth the 10 bucks." I like the hives, but to be honest, i think they ripped of devo a bit more than allowed... robot-rock to the max! (minus the synths) "this has nothing to do with the hives, but do any of you know the song that has these lyrics 'I am I am ordinary' and its kind of a dance new wave song?" the bass player should wear a t-shirt that reads "free mustache rides" - he really does have a pretty sweet mustache - it'd be better if he also had a feathered mullet. I totally thought the new single was a rip-off of AC/DC when I heard it on the radio... and they're supposed to be playing what kind of music? Garage Punk? Bleh! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaawn. This is just boring. I don't know, the guy copies the chord progression, but his guitar technique sounds so different from Pete's that you can only hear the skeleton of it being copied. Paul Revere and the Raiders and the Clash both had more blatant copies. Ticket for the Chicago show at the metro are sold out. I went ot buy them today. :( :( :( "Shit, how many songs do this!?!?" "Walk Idiot Walk" blatantly lifts from The Who's "I Can't Explain" It's not so much the theory as it is the inclusion i'm with the guy two posts down... just got it and so far the one standout track is little more for little you... overall first impression is i'm diggin this one. and i got it came with some best buy free bonus track coupon to go online and download even more hives... not too shabby. Yeah dead quote olympics sounds like randy! damned swedes!!! addicts of communication!!!! I just bought this today, so my rating is premature, but this aint as good as VVV. the song " LITTLE MORE FOR LITTLE YOU" is the best on the album. I also thought the lyrics were really good in walk idiot walk. braaah Anyone go to the show in DC last night??? I don't have any of their music, but it was a pretty fun show. Lots of energy. The only complaint I had is that they gave a "I'M A ROCKSTAR" vibe, but other than that it was worth the 10 bucks. The only reason it appears this band has made it through the "the/garage band" fad is because the fad hasnt quite ended yet. However, there are plenty worse fads that could be and are happening so what the hell, the decadent "the" bands (while not changing history) is one most can enjoy... this has nothing to do with the hives, but do any of you know the song that has these lyrics "I am I am ordinary" and its kind of a dance new wave song? the issue of spin is the one with eminem on the cover, sorry for the record, abracadaver is also cradle of filth's imprint (under sony, i believe) anyone think Randy sounds EXACTLY like The Hives??? anyone think Dead Quote Olympics sounds EXACTLY like a Randy song??? abracadaver has been used before the lawrence arms too. but as forthis cd, i dont really like it that much. i think the first song is awesome but the rest i think is kinda ehh.. but i have only listened to it a few times. i love barely legal and i like vvv a lot too, but this seems to me to take the worst points of both. "BAD. BAD. they tried to stuff a dead body inside of me" thats one of the best lyrics ever. "Believe me, I hope it's not true, but I'm just adding everything together. There were so many allusions to them being tired and bored of being a band on "The Greatest Story Ever Told," and now with this hiatus. I have a feeling this is their way of quietly fading away." My only complaint is that the cover art is not as intimidating as it should be. The classic white on black shot would have been better. hardcore dancing is funny. this album is pretty good, russ rankin's vocals are strong as ever. this sounds like it could just be the next good riddance release..... oh wait... woops. "I'm sorry, what?" the singer has to be the most fake dude on the planet right now. Don't buy this, you're better off just buying a case of beer and throwing up in the neighbor's lawn....that's what that guy from the hives would do. i like the hives and own vvv, barely legal, and the aka idiot ep, but for my money the new bomb turks will always be leagues ahead of these guys. destoy oh boy and information highway revisited trump any records the hives have put out and probably will put out. sometimes, they come back. Someone should suckerpunch this band, NSK-style... The will not quit after this album, but they might change name, since most bands only do three great records (a thought that now is starting to change, since they begin to enjoy the later work of some of the bands that inspire them). They have thought about the name "The Best"... which would be so The Hives "Oh, I didn't buy the re-issue. Straight up used old copy, the kind that even has the disclaimer about how CD audio is so much better than tapes." "Two-timing touch and broken bones" wasn't mentioned but I would say that it will be one kind of like a new "Main Offender" or "Hate to say...", it's really catchy, among the best tracks on the great album, and I love it! Oh, I didn't buy the re-issue. Straight up used old copy, the kind that even has the disclaimer about how CD audio is so much better than tapes. "The Vines still kick the most ass, bar none." garage rock is quickly becomming a dying fad which is sad considering what a genre it was; "96 tears", "devil with a blue dress", "surfin bird", "gloria", "louie, louie", "nobody but me"..........oh wait that died 30 years ago. but in all fairness and in all of the carbon-copied "garage rock" that is overly-produced(its not called "garage" rock for no reason) and lacking of creativity and evolution, the hives are a good band. the guy, nick i believe is his name, had a voice made for this kind of music and has more heart and soul then pretty much any other band out there now. Garage rock is taking over your hardcore world! the hives "the" in the name is really the only comparison to the other "garage rock" revolution bands, because these guys have always been more punk rooted then the others, and while they all have put out what I think are albums equally as good as their last go round, The Vines still kick the most ass, bar none. This is a sick record though I fucking hate the new Television reissues. Their albums, like the Ramones, are long enough for what they are. I don't need forty minutes of the Ramones, I need 25, but if you're going to add on tracks, don't make them demo versions of songs I just heard! The only good Ramones re-issue was "Leave Home", and that's because the bonus tracks are from a live show at the Whiskey. Get the original LP/CD version of "Marquee Moon" budjet priced and appreciate the great work of art as it was meant to be heard. I'm going to buy this as soon as I sell my Vines CD, repent, and make it to the store. "while I buying the long overdue necessity "Marquee Moon" by Television today (check me out! I'm pretentiously cool!!!11)," Tomorrow, it shall be mine. "the late, great Lawrence Arms" These guys do it right. Forget whiny shit like The Strokes or The Vines or anything else. This shit is fucking foot stomping swagger. anyone notice that they stole the title "Abracadaver" from the late, great Lawrence Arms? Someone scan this ad. fuck this band. corporate bullshit. I was listening to Veni VV on the airplane the other day, and on the airplane in-flight TV the fucking Hives were on! I saw the video for Walk Idiot Walk, and even though it kinda sucked I was like sweet, The Hives are on tv... and not some horrible pop shit like coheed and cambria or yellowcard. The Hives are so fucking cool. Great band. A band that can be arrogant, while at the same time making me laugh at their fake arrogance. And yes the AP ad was the best ad i've ever seen. America, have you been cheating on The Hives? No, but people classified them as such. This new material could never be called garage rock, whereas their older more Stooges meets the Rolling Stones stuff could be called that. "This shit is so good. After this, no one can call them a shitty garage rock band... They do something honestly new here, great stuff. Good review." Absolutely incredible. Every bit as good as VVV. Sidenote: I heard they recorded the whole album while wearing those matching white suits. How kick ass is that? I really liked Barely Legal and VVV was pretty good too, I guess I'll check this out sometime. Scott: Yeah I laughed out loud at that. More awesome boasting from the Hives website: Blazingly mediocre - which is just too bad for all those people who'll have to buy this in order to hang with the cool people at the vodka bar downtown. Anyone see the two-page ad for this record in the August issue of AP [with Fall Out Boy on the cover]? Oh, on a side note, I think this is the last Hives album. They said they only wanted to release three albums and quit before they get boring. That may have been a joke, but they should probably do that anyway. This is the perfect exit theme for the only trully great pop band to get big for one month in the last five years. This shit is so good. After this, no one can call them a shitty garage rock band... They do something honestly new here, great stuff. Good review. I think I'll have to check it out for sure. |
