Reviews (page 5 of 8)
I was slightly too young for the Garage Rock revival of the early 2000s, so by the time I started to pick up Spin magazine in the grocery store in 2004, bands like The Hives were already on the way out, or turning into new wave revival acts like The Bravery and Franz Ferdinand. As a result, I always thought The Hives were closer to those bands than, say, The White Stripes and The Strokes, though either way, I’ve never been the target audience of the garage rock revival as I find garage rock generally boring. In my opinion, at that point, why not just go full-on punk? Well, turns out, that’s actually how The Hives feel, too. This is a lot more high-energy than I anticipated, and they really kick out the jams on this motherfucker. While they always ground their feet in the garage, I found myself liking how raw these songs are. Now, mind you, like all garage rock, I think there’s a handful of missteps here and there that come off as dorky and/or pretentious, like “Untutored Youth” and “A.K.A I-D-I-O-T,” which feel tongue-in-cheek about their tongue-in-cheekness in a way that doesn’t work for me. But especially in the middle, I think The Hives do a job being rebellious while remaining stylish. In truth, while I really only love about half this record, I enjoy a solid 85% of it. Even the songs that don’t click for me still have great moments: a bridge, a chorus, a riff– something to peak my interest. The Hives are not my new favorite band, but this compilation does make me think I like this band, to my own surprise. (Also, since I’m probably never going to be able to make this rant again…Why is this acceptable as a compilation record to include on the list but others aren’t? I kind of understand the argument against a comp of various artists, like Nuggets or Anthology of American Folk Music, and I also kind of get the argument against an album that is majority one artists but not entirely, like Saturday Night Fever or something more complex like A Clockwork Orange where it’s also classical and a soundtrack. I still think all these albums should be included, honestly, but I see how a strange constraint keeps each one out. I also get not including Greatest Hits compilations that are just charting singles, like ABBA’s Gold or Madonna’s The Immaculate Collection, especially when you can just listen to the source records. But like….compilations like Your New Favourite Band are just a collection of songs from a back catalog that didn’t chart, so how is that different? And if it is different, then how does this list justify excluding comps from artists who were mainly singles artists slightly before the album era or from subgenres that were driven by singles like punk or electronica? How do we exclude Hank William’s 40 Greatest Hits, Misfit’s Misfits, New Order’s Substance, The Complete Recordings of Robert Johnson? And at that point, don’t the floodgates open and shouldn’t we just include every comp where you don’t already include an equally-worthy album? My impression of this Hives comp is that most of it is just a British repress of one half of their debut and one half of their sophomore record. What makes The Hives so special? And for them to be the only one, at least from what I can tell, just seems so goddamn strange. It feels both like the editors forgot their own rule toward the very end, and like they were being selective because this was a UK-targeted release, and I don’t love that. Again, I liked this album, but the logistics are tripping me up. /Rant over)
It seems like cheating to include a compilation instead of the original albums these songs were featured on, but it is what it is. I did recognize and enjoy several of these songs (though probably wouldn't have been able to tell you the artist before this). It's definitely my kind of genre, but something about it was just ok. Not really a stand out.
Just a rock album
Loud, boisterous, fast punk-ish rock. Think I could dig it later when in a specific mood.
It's a compilation but not a greatest hits, so I'm not sure how I feel about that, but damn it has manic energy in spades. Short, punchy, everything you'd want in a introduction.
diosssss 7/10
Hate To Say I Told You So // Main Offender //
A great straightforward garage punk record. Highlights: -Hate To Say I Told You So -Main Offender -Die, All Right!
Upbeat, energetic and thrashing. This is great record with plenty of punk influence. The musicians slay and the accompanying vocals match the mood perfectly. Such a short and sweet album, but just the right amount.
Ok, noisy
More like: My New Neutral Band
This is some heavy stuff! A little heavier than I normally go. The music is intense and the beat doesn't slow down. Get ready for some intense rock. Heavy beats with loud instruments. If you like that, you'll really like this. If you don't, give it a try and see what you think.
Not my new fav, sorry. It was mostly fine though.
## Overview of "Your New Favourite Band" by The Hives Released on October 22, 2001, **Your New Favourite Band** is a compilation album by Swedish garage rock band The Hives. It features tracks primarily from their earlier works, including their debut album *Barely Legal* and the EP *A.K.A. I-D-I-O-T*, alongside some newer material. The album runs for a brisk 28 minutes, showcasing the band's energetic punk-infused sound that captures the essence of early 2000s rock. ## Lyrics Analysis The lyrics in *Your New Favourite Band* are characterized by a blend of brash confidence and sardonic wit. Thematically, the songs explore topics such as rebellion, youthful angst, and social commentary, often delivered with a tongue-in-cheek attitude. - **"Hate to Say I Told You So"** serves as an anthem of defiance, embodying the spirit of punk rock with its catchy chorus and assertive tone. The lyrics reflect a sense of triumph over doubters, making it a standout track. - **"Die, All Right!"** showcases a darker humor, playing with themes of mortality and existentialism while maintaining an upbeat tempo. - **"The Hives Are Law, You Are Crime"** encapsulates the band's playful yet confrontational style, presenting a mock-serious take on authority and societal norms. Overall, the lyrics are straightforward but effective in conveying the band's rebellious spirit, often relying on clever wordplay and memorable hooks. ## Musical Composition Musically, *Your New Favourite Band* is a quintessential garage rock album with punk influences. The Hives employ a raw sound characterized by: - **Guitar Riffs**: Sharp and catchy guitar lines dominate the tracks, providing an energetic backdrop that drives the songs forward. The use of power chords is prevalent, creating an infectious energy. - **Rhythm Section**: The drumming is tight and aggressive, complementing the fast-paced guitar work. Songs like "Main Offender" and "Outsmarted" exemplify this with their driving beats. - **Vocals**: Pelle Almqvist's vocal delivery is passionate and dynamic, ranging from melodic singing to punk-style shouting. His charismatic performance adds to the overall appeal of the album. The production maintains a lo-fi aesthetic that enhances the rawness of the music. This choice aligns well with the garage rock ethos, prioritizing energy and authenticity over polish. ## Production Quality Produced by The Hives themselves along with Randy Fitzsimmons (a pseudonymous figure often credited as the band's songwriter), the album captures an unrefined sound that feels immediate and visceral. - **Mixing**: The mixing emphasizes guitars and vocals prominently while keeping bass and drums slightly subdued. This approach allows for a punchy sound that resonates well in live performances. - **Length**: At just over 28 minutes, the album's brevity is both a strength and a weakness. It delivers quick hits of energy but leaves listeners wanting more depth in terms of variety and exploration of themes. ## Themes The overarching themes in *Your New Favourite Band* revolve around: - **Rebellion**: Many tracks express a youthful defiance against societal norms and expectations. This theme resonates strongly with listeners seeking an escape from conformity. - **Identity**: The band embraces their image as provocateurs within the rock scene, crafting an identity that is both playful and confrontational. - **Nostalgia**: While rooted in contemporary sounds, there is an underlying nostalgia for classic punk rock aesthetics that appeals to both older fans and new listeners alike. These themes contribute to the album's ability to connect with a diverse audience, from Gen X to millennials. ## Influence *Your New Favourite Band* has had a notable impact on both fans and musicians alike: - **Revival of Garage Rock**: The album played a significant role in revitalizing interest in garage rock during the early 2000s alongside bands like The Strokes and The White Stripes. Its raw sound influenced many emerging acts seeking authenticity in their music. - **Cultural Impact**: Tracks from this album have been featured in various media outlets, including video games and commercials, further embedding The Hives' music into popular culture. - **Legacy**: As a compilation of early hits, it serves as an introduction for new fans while solidifying The Hives' status as key players in the punk revival movement. ## Pros and Cons ### Pros - **High Energy**: The album is packed with adrenaline-fueled tracks that are perfect for live performances or high-energy settings. - **Catchy Hooks**: Many songs feature memorable choruses that are easy to sing along to, enhancing listener engagement. - **Authenticity**: The raw production quality aligns well with garage rock ideals, creating an authentic listening experience. ### Cons - **Short Duration**: At only 28 minutes long, some listeners may feel unsatisfied due to its brevity. - **Repetitive Sound**: Critics have noted that many tracks follow similar structures and styles, which could lead to monotony over repeated listens. - **Compilation Nature**: Being a compilation album may detract from its artistic cohesion compared to full studio albums. ## Conclusion In summary, *Your New Favourite Band* by The Hives stands as a compelling representation of early 2000s garage rock. Its energetic sound combined with witty lyrics makes it an enjoyable listen for fans of punk music. While it has its drawbacks—most notably its short length and repetitive elements—the album's strengths lie in its infectious energy and cultural relevance. For those looking to experience raw punk rock at its finest, this compilation serves as both an introduction to The Hives' earlier work and a celebration of their unique place within the genre.
First song is great, the rest are too spastic for me.
I liked this album a lot more than I expected to. For some reason the punk style with a grungier sound and a tad under blinding speed works better than I would have thought. Some songs still have the trappings of sounding like just noise, but there is more to like on this album than to not. Top tracks: Hate To Say I Told You So; Die, Alright!; A.K.A. I-D-I-O-T
started off strong, got worse 😕
The Swedish band The Hives provided one of the most interesting garage punk revivals in the early aughts. And yet, I am not sure if the inclusion of this album in this list is warranted. Let me explain, - I am one of those who will relunctantly would include compilations in a list of best albums in history. Instead of an anthology of hits I would have rather included their actual best album to this day, in my opinion, “Veni, vidi, vicious”. - I also feel that The hives is one of those bands that shine more on live concerts than in their records. As polished as these albums are, they lack the impact that makes their concerts powerful. It’s not that they are not great, they are just better live, in their usual suits, with the complicit energy they create when in front of an audience. All that is missing in the neutral listening, and falls to me short of greatness. Now let’s dive into the album itself. This is a good representation of their output. With a length shy of half an hour, this album showcases their appeal, with fast tempi, energetic (veering on caffeinated) riffs, and raw vocals. It is punk in its most cathartic and liberating sense. However, when dealing with revival acts such as these I keep wondering if I’d be better off going back to their original references. Even among contemporaries I’d rather stay with a The strokes, for instance. In sum, this is a good garage revival album from a very talented band. It is just that that I am not sure if they belong to a list of the album in music history.
Not a bad sound...but it all sounded the same lol. 3/5
Lots of interesting tracks (which punk albums typically lose my interest by feeling too samey). Really like the instrumental outro track. Soo many tracks on this album that I've been exposed to, either through radio, video games, or movies and TV. Fav Track: Die, All Right!
The Hives are not mine or Your New Favourite Band but this isn't too bad. They're much better when they do punk stuff rather than trying to appeal to the radio-friendly 'indie' lo-fi bollocks; Automatic Schmuck is quality, AKA I-D-I-O-T also very good, and I liked Mad Man too. Front of the album is better-known but the back half is loads better, good enough to get a 3.
no but you're not my least favorite band either 6/10
Some great driving riffs, especially Hate to say I told you so and Die, All Right. Got a bit samey after a while
I mean, obviously, they aren't going to be my new favorite band. But it's enjoyable.
Only knew Tick Tick Boom… good album! This was more punk than the radio hit deserves 3 1/2 stars if this platform allowed. I would relisten.
It's not punk enough for punk, but not rock enough for rock.
High energy and fun from the time when all cool band names started with "The".
i like when the album sounds like one consecutive concert when you can't tell where one scream ends and the other starts
I mean it's an okay album. Some nice riffs.
Great energy and some clever writing. If it had been only 4 songs long, probably would have given it another star. Just too much of it sounds the same
They were not.
I need to listen to The Hives a little more. It’s fun and catchy. I just don’t understand why the book adds this compilation instead of one or two of their studio albums
Props for keeping this under 30 minutes
Punk vibe
From 2000-2005 every moldy old rock critic was, like, holding a gun to everybody’s head and going “Say this is the best music you’ve ever heard” (it’s not, it’s fine, it’s value brand The Stooges) while completely writing off and ignoring ACTUAL popular rock music (like pop punk and emo), mostly because it was championed by teenage girls. And what’s had the actual cultural staying power? :)
Meh. I want to like it more than I do but meh.
Not my new favorite band but this was aight
This one almost Outsmarted me but I’m no Mad Man.
Most of these songs didn’t do anything for me. Rather bland songs with a few ok ones. Meh.
it was ok
This is the stuff one expects of a Punk garage band from the beginning of this millennium. Loud, shouty, fast riffs, simple, raw.
It got a bit old after a while, but overall I liked the energy.
Solid album, although nothing really stuck out. Definitely not my new favorite band.
More like my old not favorite band
Non-stop energy from the Swedish power pop band that hit the U.S. during the garage-rock revival, ushered in by the likes of The Strokes and The White Stripes. Groovy, head-banging, feel-good jams.
They instantly got a guaranteed 3-star rating for keeping a 2001 album to a tidy 28 minutes runtime (after all, how bad could it be if they're only taking up a half-hour of your life?). And while I hate to break it to them that they're *not* my new favourite band, I also found them fine. I was struck by how similar in some ways they were to The Vines sound-wise (especially their retro garage/punk vibe), but without the disturbing out-of-control-lead-singer. I'm not really sure their early-Beatles-in-tennis-shoes look is the best fit for them (maybe ironic?), but to each their own. It's a little hard to distinguish many of their songs from each other, but I enjoyed "I hate to say I told you so" and "Untutored youth" (which I could only hear as ah-till-yoh) more than the others. The Wikipedia entry is absurdly brief, but it does note that this is actually a compilation from earlier albums and EPs and singles, which seems like a party foul by the "1001 Albums" project (at the very least). I *will* say that if I hadn't read up on them, I would *never* have guessed they were Swedish, although I'm not sure that's a useful bit of trivia or not. And both Wikipedia and the "1001 Albums" entry note that their real appeal is/was in their live shows, which might help excuse the somewhat less-than-awesome album?
I see this album is now on the "ex" list having been removed from the later editions of 1001 albums, which makes sense because I looked it up on wikipedia and saw it's a compilation. Regardless, if this is the best of the band, then, well, you go, Hives! Well done if not memorable punk / garage rock. The only song that stood out to me was Die All Right.
3,5
3 stars
Pretty good, upbeat punk, kinda sound like a Tony Hawk Pro Skater soundtrack
I mean, I'm a sucker for this kind of music especially since I've never listened to them. I remember them being a big buzzy band in the press at the time but I never liked punk. It's not bad. I think I'm just excited to hear something new because I feel like this list has mostly just given me stuff I know.
Yeah, this is fun. I don't know about it being a compilation album, but whatever, I won't hold that against it. It's good, I like punk, and this is pretty punky. Nothing to write home about, I suppose.
They do one thing and do it very well.
Tight, fast enough and with more (sadly) distorted guitar tone than 70% of the music on this list. Which is saying something, because these guys are basically a Buzzcocks knockoff. Not a bad album, but curious who is citing this album specifically as being formative for their sound today.
Not my new favorite band, unfortunately.
A greatest hits album feels like cheating. Nonetheless, it's short so I can't really complain.
I like the Hives a lot, but there shouldn't be compilation albums on this list.
it is loud and fast and slightly awful, therefore it's awesome even though its a collection, somehow the quality manages to fall off as it progresses, mad man is just a terrible song though hate to say i told you so and main offender are spectacular and wrapping up the collection with the hives are law, you are crime is an epic move personality shines through in this collection which i think is a product of it having borderline shitty production and being kind of messy ITS SICK!!!! THIS ALBUM. ASKS THE QUESTION: WHAT IF THE STROKES SUCKED AND WERE MORE ANNOYING??? I LOVE IT 3/5 or maybe a 2.5/5 after the recency bias wears off hahahahahhaghhhhasdgadsfikughrewfiuhrefjkuherfiukehrvjkugkj
This was a fun album and at just 28 minutes didn’t outstay its welcome. I think the key to this bands success is its ability to license its music to just about any sporting or car advertising campaign!
heavy punk rock, can’t go wrong
Short album, very emblematic of rock at the time it was made. Nothing stood out from this album, but not bad.
Good listen.
CD revisiting! I loved Hate To Say I Told You So and in those days buying the album was how to get the song (was it? What happened to taping off the radio). Short and frantic. I remember they were fun at Leeds Festival 2002. Bumped from the book.
Twenty-eight minutes An ideal length for rowdy Porcelain porch songs
Never heard this before. Simple catchy songs played with energy. Odd that they included a compilation album on this list. I found the first half of the songs pretty unlikable. But the second half, which are taken from the Barely Legal album, are a lot better. I was prepared to rate 2 stars but going to give it 3 stars. "Outsmarted, I'm selling you for scrap"
short and loud and fun!
I wish there was a 3.5 star option. This album is great, and a lot of fun, but it just keeps going at the same speed the whole time. Which is totally punk rock, but I need a little variety in my old age.
This feels like one of those albums that gets added because it has a strong single with that single being "Hate To Say I Told You So". The rest of the album is pretty mid. Angsty punk rock with fast progressions.
This is so 2001, which isn’t bad. It’s not good either. Hey why is there a compilation on here? That’s…dumb. This doesn’t really stand out from most of the garage music that came out at the time. The Dirtbombs are pretty good. Listen to them instead. God the second half is good. Feels like the underground skate punk that was happening around the time, which is good stuff. Kind of a bummer because that half is better and it’s from their EP…hmmmmmmm now I get why this comp is on here
It’s the Swedish Strokes! Great to see The Hives on this list, even if a compilation is a bit of an odd choice. An incredibly energetic and catchy set of songs that clocks in at just under half an hour, nothing too groundbreaking but just a fun little record
High energy rock songs on this one. Good stuff.
Love the Hives. I do find the production a bit thin sounding though.
Could it be that this album is on the list just for the challenge of the title? Leaving aside the squashing of two albums to get this one does the music hold up. There is nothing groundbreaking here. A more controlled version of the genre fitting into its time frame. It is raucous, somewhat unrelenting but OK.
Empty calories - musical junk food. You kind of enjoy it and tap your foot along in the moment, but it’s a shallow kind of pleasure. It’s basically music for advertisements. Also, this is a compilation album, which feels like cheating.
could i write poetry to this? y
I'm not sure why, but I just don't like The Hives as much as I think I should. They are just not my new (or old) favorite band.
I thought it was weird that they put what is basically a greatest hits album on here until I read that the intent was to introduce The Hives to the UK
It’s fine
It was a bit strange to have this compilation instead of a proper album. It was fun, but not particularly special.
Quite the presumptuous title coming from everyone’s, like, fifth- or sixth-favourite garage rock revival band.
Conpilation to gain success.
I was a little surprised to find I knew more of their songs than I thought I did. But the fact that I never connected their name to those songs indicates they have fallen well short of this albums stated goal. An underwhelming level of ordinaryness.
I like that they were reviving punk in the 00s and like but don't love this album. I'm a little grumpy that this is a compilation with songs from previous albums. Maybe a 3.5 but rounded down.
OK, then started to get mildly irritating as I kept listening to the rest of the album. 2.5* is about right.
3.5 maybe, patchy given it's compilation status but the good stuff is barnstorming still. Saw them live around this time and it was mayhem
I feel like I heard all of these songs playing sports video games on the PS2. 3/5
not a bad album overall. fun listen 6/10
I would have loved them when I was 20. Now i think they are OK, but can't see myself going back to the Hives. Best track (and cool title) Hives are Law, You are Crime
3.5
Punk high energy, kinda bummed it’s a greatest hits album.
Decent garage rock sound was energetic and generally good
Following along in the Punk vein, The Hives bring a more modern sound to the genre on this album. I almost feel some metal mixed into this. TBH, I like it more than any of the other punk albums I’ve heard so far.
Straightforward, good, loud and I enjoyed it. Though not enough to listen more. This falls in the category of, I would not turn it off, but nothing grabs me enough to actively seek it out.
A mixed bag. Some of it is fun, some of it sounds like someone is trying to sell me a car. Also, including comps and greatest hits collections in album lists is kinda lame.
Powerful Fav songs: Hate to say i told you. Main offender (￣ー￣)
Not bad. Some very "The Hives" sounding songs. Some screeching. A few good tracks to pick off it, but not a complete album.
nice punk rock, not very imaginative in the long run, though
Good
At best a perfectly serviceable collection of garage punk songs and at worst fairly average. Aside from a few highlights its not anything to write home about.
Like the white stripes slammyjam but pretty catchy.
Not everyday listening but good for getting pumped up
Sounds fine but nothing prominent. I could listen to it if I had to. "The Hives Are Law, You Are Crime" (4/5 for that song) is my favorite one on here.
Well, a cheat code unlocked by including a compilation album, albeit one early in their career. Fast paced, entirely derivative but still a lot of fun. Opens with the best song (Hate to say I told you so), and gradually diminishes in quality. Good driving songs, no-could hate this* but also can't see how anyone makes the Hives their favourite band. Mostly harmless. *OK, it's the internet, of course some will hate this.
A decent album, I liked Die, All Right! But no other songs really stood out.
I enjoyed album's frenetic energy and pace. It's a very good punk album but I don't see anything in particular that elevates it above other efforts in the genre.
I mean they're just a cool band aren't they? Not my new favourite band by any means, but definitely shifted up in my ratings
Decently fun punk-like music
Another album where songs are good individually but too much to listen to for an entire album.
This was pretty decent punk/post punk. First two tracks are the best. But why not just include Veni Vidi Vicious on the list rather than a compilation? Strong 3.
Pretending this is veni vidi viciosus
Some decent songs, a lot of it sounds the same. 3/5 Probably won’t listen again
Interesting example of early 2000s garage rock reboot. I'd only previously heard "Hate to Say I Told You So". Many of the other tracks sounded similar, raw, unpolished, heavily distorted guitars, yelling lyrics. Overall it was ok
Not too bad an album, not great but not bad either. Short sharp songs with a lot of energy
This is some let's get up and kick ass from start to finish. After all that, there's only one song that really stands up above all, but still a good time over all.
It was fun to listen to the album.
short and sweet. listened 2x back to back. 3.4/5
Pretty fun and some crassness
I never got into the Hives as much as I thought I should. They do a few very good songs, but a lot of them are very samey to me.
Pretty decent but don't think i'm ever going to choose to put it on
Meh
Unusual to see a compilation LP. Ultimately the sound production is quite competent, as is the playing of the band; my primary point of contention is the homogeneity of the sound, where the coarse garage punk aesthetic blends together from track to track which when taken in concert with the muddy vocals leads the individual tracks to not stand out much from one another. Still, a decent enough time for some energetic listening.
This album was really good, I enjoyed it Top tracks: Hate To Say I Told You So
Maybe not new favorite, but pretty decent, no standout songs, but dig the overall vibes. 3 enthusiastic foot taps out of 5 🦶🦶🦶
This was pretty fucking good, they border on hardcore punk in places, wasn't expecting that.
Nice to have a punk rock album once in a while. Although a best of compilation feels a little bit like cheating in this list.. would have preferred one of their original albums. So “only” 3 stars for this one.
Music good, just didn’t grab me by the balls.
Love The Hives, but their previous albums are so much better than this compilation.
Svenska hjältar!
Just okay?
Boring repetitive rock
not bad- better than I expected it to be
A couple decent songs despite being pretty damn samey. Feels like a solid 3.
I knew one song. Overall the album was alright. It was relatively short and none of the songs drug on. I would listen to it again.
OK, so straightforward garage band stuff. Now, it's good garage band stuff if you're into the screamy. There's the one big hit that leads it off that's been in car commercial after car commercial. After that, it just gets repetitive to my ears. Same three chords, same tempo, same blarg blarg. Unexpected bangers: Untutored Youth, Here We Go Again.
This punk album was much easier to listen to. If I wanted to get drunk and break stuff, this is what I would choose. Solid 3.5. I feel itchy though.
A fun, high-energy rock joyride.
Solid garage punk. This sound was very popular in the early 2000s. Nothing particularly stands out. Good production and the songs hover around the same tempo/feel.
First couple songs are alright, but it soon gets a bit too repetitive for my taste. At least it's short.
Music was good but became repetitive
Upbeat good solid album. Stand out was “hate to say I told you so” for me.
Nothing special but enjoyed it enough. Fav track: Die, Alright!
A perfectly fine album with a distinct and punchy sound I’ll probably never put on again. Enjoyable but all kind of blended together a bit for me. Two and a half. Fave track: Mad Man
Honestly this felt like a pretty standard garage rock album. It wasn't bad at all but nothing really stood out to me. I enjoyed it but it didn't blow me away at all.
It's kind of a bonkers album, but even with how wild and brash it is, it somehow doesn't feel very unique and actually feels quite conventional. Maybe it's because this music got ripped off a lot in the early 2000s or if it's just the kind of music that was in every iPod commercial. Or maybe this music itself is already a ripoff of earlier forms garage and proto-punk. However, I do remember even at the time that this album came out, it felt like The Hives were a a band we were all supposed to like, but no one really did. I don't know of anyone that was actually a big fan of the The Hives then or now, but this music was being sprayed all over the place. The sound is good and fast. Its garage rock. They're having fun, they're making noise. Its not quite punk, but it also is punk. I like how fast and punchy it is. Though, most songs sound very similar and they don't seem to break it up with sing along choruses or oi chants that you find in most punk music. On the flip side, they also don't have many bridges or guitar solos or really anything to break up the quick progression of distorted power chords to align closer with rock music. I hate to say it, but I'm kind of bored with this record even with it being a wild ride.
Compilation and greatest hits albums shouldn't be on this list. And why this one and not Veni Vidi Vicious or Tyrannosaurus Hives which both are excellent albums? I love The Hives but this gets a 3/5 for the above reason.
Decent, but one hit seeing does not make a hit album.
Molto interessante
Decent, but a bit one-dimensional.
Guitar jangly yumminess
Probably one of the more unique commercial sounds to come out of the strokes era. All the sounds on here are faster and louder than typical garage rock songs. It almost sounds similar to the Dead Kennedys on some tracks. The intermission broadcasting noises remind me of panic. 3.45
Never heard of 'em but like 'em if I'm in a garage punk sort of mood!
Energiek, zelfingenomen met een knipoog. Rauw, eenvoudig, maar niet te eenvoudig
Wat een energie! En ze klinken zeker vet. Maar net als bij de Pixies is een heel album lang deze snelheid/energie een beetje veel van het goede. Niet helemaal mijn smaak.
meh. Good rock but nothing really stuck for me.
It is, in fact, not my new favourite band, far from it, but it is not my least favourite band as well. They might comfortably fall into the most ambivalent category, with quite entertaining style, quickly turning into boring and monotonne throughout the album. Interesting punk rock concept, but ultimately, it fell flat, at least in my opinion. Good try though.
fairly good garage rock. some bangers. 7.3/10
A lot of this sounded very familiar but confirmed not my new favorite band
Passabler Punk Rock.
I’m sure someone has already made the joke: they’re not my new favorite band. It’s never really annoying but never very remarkable.
I’ve never heard of the hives and I’ve also never heard an album that sounds so much like the whole thing was made while on cocaine
Decent garage rock. It's over quickly!
This is a genre and era I thoroughly enjoy as a millennial. Hate to say I told you so is such a strong opener. Stronger punk influence than I remember or ever knew the Hives to be (Supply and Demand, Untutored youth for example), maybe because HTSITYS is so different from the rest of the album. Overall a 3*, doesn't cross into fave albums territory. Highlights: Main Offender, HTSITYS, AKA IDIOT
3.8/5 Some tracks are kinda repetitive, but good overall. Favorites were "Hate To Say I Told You So", "Main Offender", "Die, All Right!" and "A.K.A I-D-I-O-T".
Love the Hives but why wouldn’t you just put an album on here?
They were not my new favourite band
Fair enough
First impressions weren't as good. Thought it was just another stale blur type britpop album, but actually not that bad. I'm kinda starting to like it. Not giving up on it yet. 6.5/10
It's just about fine. Weird that there's a compilation on here..
Relatively entertaining but the songs all sound the same after a while. I was into the first couple of songs before I realized it. Seems like the kind of thing I would have liked more in my early 20s than now.
3.5 second half is full on bangers.
Why do the first bars of every song sound like a cover? While unoriginal they do a good punky voice crack. Is it different to anything? Not being the expert I just listened to the fun garage rock punk and drummy stuff wondering if it's a happy part of life...
I discovered a lot of great bands on those cd’s attached to English music magazines in the 90’s & noughties, and this was certainly one of them. Still a big regret that I missed seeing them at The Metro in 2009. Anyway, this compilation cd was the first cd of theirs that I bought. I just love the madness of it and the first track, Hate To Say I Told You So, is as good a track as they’ve ever done.not a classic album but a bloody good listen.
Dimery! You've broken your own rule about "no compilations"! This is listed _everywhere_ as a compilation of tracks from The Hives previous albums and a few EP tracks. Tut tut! Such imprecision! Why can we have this and not (say) a Little Richard or James Brown compilation? That would be much more appropriate for those two artists than the arbitrary and non-representative albums you picked for this list. But, back to The Hives. They are enormous fun. It's loud and energetic rock and roll, which most reminds me of The Stooges with all the colour saturation turned up and the rough edges filed off. This record doesn't let up for its completely appropriate 28 minute run time. Any longer and I would get bored, and boredom is a sin in the world of The Hives. I don't feel the need to buy and repeatedly listen to this record, but if they were playing a mid-sized venue in my town, I would totally go see them live. Or maybe even a franchised Hives band (https://pitchfork.com/news/the-hives-issue-call-for-cover-bands-saying-theyre-franchising-live-shows/)
Good album, fast, funny, energetic
As far as punk revival bands go... they were actually not bad. Musically it was basic repetition of arrangements... but you could listen to it OK... apart from the vocals, which were dreadful.
Odd that there’s a compilation in this collection. They’ve got one really good jam, Hate to Say I Told You So, and the rest are too similar. The constant screaming/yelling/singing is grating on the nerves.
Ease off the snare!
C+ Hate to Say I Told You So 3 Main Offender 3 Supply and Demand 3 Die, All Right! 3 Untutored Youth 3 Outsmarted 3 Mad Man 3 Here We Go Again 3 A.K.A. I-D-I-O-T 3 Automatic Schmuck 3 Hail Hail Spit N' Drool* 3 The Hives Are Law, You Are Crime 2 This is boilerplate late 90s/early 2000s rock. I'm honestly surprised it's even on here because it seems so peripheral.
Niet zo bijzonder, maar ook niet slecht. Lekker gemiddeld, 3 sterren.
Pretty decent, nothing really grabbed me but listenable.
Eigentlich ganz gut nur komische Compilation
Fantastic energy. It suffers from being part of that incredibly saturated indie rock era of the early 2000s, and struggles to fully elevate itself above that, but it's a really good record full of bangers
Not as clever or cool as the Strokes, not as innovative or virtuoso as the White Stripes, the Hives have mostly faded into obscurity following the short peak of fame they experienced in the 2000s. The one thing they outmatched their peers on was energy. These songs are fast, loud, and wild. They demand to be played at 11. Not a classic by any stretch, but a good example of garage rock revival that still gets me amped up.
#1 - I don't know if they're going to be my favorite new band, but this is definitely a good intro to the band. The bass line is killer. #2 - Loud, garage-y punk. This album might be pretty good. I felt it was a little too similar to the first track though. #3 - Eh, it's alright but nothing too special. #4 - Pretty good. By the point in this album I think you're gonna know if you like it or not. Or if you like punk or not. It feels like this album should have one or two songs for THPS. #5 - Short track. It's okay. It works. #6 - Again, it works. It's okay. Good punk, but nothing special. Just like this review. #7 - Didn't really get my attention. Kind of fades into the rest of the album. #8 - Starts off better than the last few songs at least and turns out I like it a bit more than the past few songs. Not by much, but it's alright. #9 - Decent. It's about the same as #8 is though. #10 - Liked the rhythmic fast strumming from the guitar on this one. #11 - Feels generic for a punk song. Probably the weakest track here. #12 - Bass line is cool. Ending on a good note. I felt like this should have been mixed in with another song with vocals and you would have gotten another really great song. I always feel the world could use a little bit more punk music so this was pleasant to listen to. Besides the first two songs, nothing really stood out though. I can't complain too much; they were respectful of my time at under 30 mins for the entire album. It's a standard 3. Not bad overall.
This is so era-specific. Not a band I ever think to play; but these songs bring back memories.
бодренько, но не новая любимая группа конечно
The first song and the last 4 songs are great. The rest is too punky and loud for me. The guitar on the last song reminds me of White Stripes.
Bri'ish guy's neuw fauvouriuteu baund u
As someone who's heard more punk rock music than even the average punk rock enthusiast, I rate this as merely an extremely solid compilation entry in the garage rock revival-movement canon. Still, that is to say that it is enjoyable. I'm not rating this three stars for nothing.
Best song - Main Offender
Use instead of a cup of coffe in the morning.
I did dig these guys back in high school... part of the big garage rock revival. Never had an album of theirs but they definitely had some good hits and cool (a bit obnoxious but in a self-aware way) stage presence. Weird that it's this compilation and not Veni Vidi Vicious? Great opening track to pick though. Next two tracks also rock. I don't think I've heard Supply and Demand... but that's a jam for sure. I dig it... but it's probably still a 3.4 or something at most. Not sure I'll bump it up to 4.
Punk Rock
Solid but unexceptional
I like the Hives and I wanted to like this album more. It could have been the day I listened, not what I was in the mood for today.
Typical 00s sound. I can't tell what exactly it reminds me of, but I can tell I like it
The Hives always bring the energy and were one the more fun bands of the early 2000s. Knocked a star for being a compilation album. Highlights: Hate to Say I Told You So Main Offender Die, All Right!
Would prefer any of the actual albums. Fun band, i ride with em, but the production on this is really bad.
Never realised it was a compilation
Good! Packs a punch in its 28 minute run time.
3.5/5. I enjoyed this. It was pretty quick and enjoyable to listen to.
High energy post punk compilation. I enjoyed most of this one
Greit nok, men ikkje mitt nye favorittband
It's the same song over and over. At least it's a fun song.
Typerää. Tää ei oo studiolevy vaan kokoelma. Kokoelman laittaminen listalle on spedeä mielestäni. Mut jos nyt sit arvostellaan musiikkia, niin joo kyllä mä the Hivesista diggaan. Simppeliä niinku pieru ja aina naurattaa. Sama efekti rokin osalta. Nyt tulee miinusta tästä kokoelma-asiasta, mutta olkoon silti 3 bongoo. 3/3
There are some good songs but it all kind of blended together to me. I do really like the hives. Just didn’t love the album in its entirety.
cool songs remind me of skateboard games i used to play
Not bad but a lot of songs sound the same
-never heard of these guys -but i do love rock so im already in -this is true early 2000’s rock and i kinda like it -i don’t love it, i don’t hate it -i would probably give it 3 stars just because im neutral about it -i like that its yelly rock
Prima album, maar niet bijzonder ofzo. Af en toe beetje corny
Glad to have finally heard this album. But it's just alright.
This was a little better than I thought it was going to be. They are very much a one hit wonder band, but the album was solid.
Much better than I was expecting
Pretty good. I don't think they ever really took off.
Prima, maar een compilatie? Verder veel van hetzelfde.
Decent collection of Punk bangers from The Hives’ early days Score brought down due to this being a compilation rather than a proper album (could’ve had Veni, Vidi, Vicious instead) Favourite tracks, Hate To Say I Told You So, Main Offender, Die, All Right!, Here We Go Again
kinda fun
Je me suis réveillé dans le train
Hey dip ass, compilation albums is CHEATING. Add Modest Mouse or Swans or Deftones or a The Hives album and not this. Are you dumb lol. No rating, skipped.
Compilation album - It's quick and to the point, but enjoyable during the short listen time.
first impressions: "Hate to Say I Told You So" is (still) kind of a banger. Good on whatever companies used it for their commercials (? or am i misremembering?) after listening through: After listening to more early punk through this project, I'm less impressed w/ this album than I was when I first heard it & listened to it (in like, middle school.) But I'm not really impressed? If anything I'm surprised this album is on here and kind of inspired to take up guitar and/or singing even though I have almost no experience playing guitar. maybe that's the brilliance of this album? post-reading reviews/wiki: Ok I guess that meme calling them the Swedish Strokes was accurate? relisten?: probably not. even though its only 28 minutes I still feel irritated that I could have listened to something more enjoyable in that time.
Great intro and outro track. not a big fan of punk rock (or whatever this genre is) but i guess i still liked it. favorite tracks would be Hate To Say I Told You So, Here We Go Again, and The Hives Are The Law. 7/10
It's very aggressively punk. It's just take it or leave it for me.
Very enjoyable record. The Iggy Pop influence is absolutely palpable (Raw Power era especially), and it does that type of style quite well, although a bit derivatively, like if I wanted to listen to that style of music, I’d go to Iggy and other artists of that era. That doesn’t mean the music is bad in any way though, just a faithful recreation of what has worked for the genre in the past and executed well. The tracks did blend together a bit, but it was energetic enough to where I wasn’t bored. Plus, the fact that this is a compilation rather than a specifically crafted body of work knocks it down a few pegs as well. But, the songs are great, so can’t complain too much.
Really strong start with Hate To Say I Told You So, but for me it drops off a lot after that.
Hate To Say I Told You So is a banger, but diminishing returns as the album goes on, pretty one-note
Cute. Not my "new favourite band" but definitely a classic of loud noises and fun times as a teenager.
Good album, not my cup of tea though, gets to a point of not really understanding what's going on but maybe i'm too old now as I shake my fist at a cloud.
This is WAY more punk than I was expecting. I remember Walk Idiot Walk and Tick Tick Boom, and this album opens up like a prototype version of those, but by the middle of the album it’s clear that this is more garage punk than the opening tracks. Neat. Standouts: AKA IDIOT 3
I like indie rock but i was never a fan of the hives. I think it’s just a bit too punk for my taste. There are a few enjoyable songs on the album, but Im not convinced that this album stands out from anything else released at the time.
Mostly enjoyed this. I remember a song or two from when this came out.
Melodies are predictable but fun none the less.
These guys have a real garage sound, Sex Bob-omb but with money. Lots of yelling, a bit of screaming, a real speak-sing over melodic singing, overall I am a fan. Maybe not my new favorite band, but they can certainly see play in rotation.
I would’ve enjoyed this more a few songs at a time, it got repetitive but it was fun
Cool sounding record. Fun and catchy songs throughout.
Nice metal feel. Likely won't revisit but always nice to hear new things
Fun album
fun and punky
Good high energy fun
Decent music, high energy. Everything sounds pretty much the same. Also feel like compilation albums shouldnt be on here as its kind of cheating, and not meant designed to be an album
Musica punk rock comum, não sei a historia pro trás da banda.
Great stuff. Garage rock. Fun without an annoyingly screaming singer.
Nicer Indie Record aba manchmal bissl anstrengend
A raucuous, riot of a good time. The songs can tend to blend together, and the lyrics are (understandably) a bit juvenile at times, but the energy is contagious.
I recognize the band name. Oh! And I recognize the first song!! The second song reminds me of the first song. The third song really reminds me of the first song. The fourth song sounds familiar, I think I've heard this one before too. It also reminds me of the first song. Song five sounds different - definitely the same band. The back half of the album feels a little more varied while also feeling very cohesive in its sound. The instrumental jam to shut things down at the end is quite a nice touch. I actually enjoyed this one quite a bit, but don't know how much I'd feel called toward frequent listens.
Album péchu, j'ai juste l'impression d'être dans un teenage movie des années 2000 qui a mal vécu
Still a great album, but not sure if/when I’ll listen again (since I forgot about them before this).
The perfect radio album
Oke cva en extra punt voor de lengte
The same song 12 times. But a really good song so that's fine.
One of the global reviews said this was a less good and more punk version of the strokes and I couldn’t get that out of my head. Obviously the hives are earlier and deserve some credit for influence but it does kind of sound like something that’s just not ready yet. Not a bad listen though.
very basic pop rock
ok
Veloz pero con ritmo, hay mínimo 2 o 3 singles que serían hits hoy en día y eso que el disco salio hace más de 20 años. Pero queda en eso no mucho más
I feel like I'm the edgy, not-like-other-girls heroine in an early-2000s teen movie montage. Best Song: Here We Go Again. Would listen again unironically. Not a fave, but fun. Most Nostalgic Song: Hate to Say I Told You So. Put this on while you're brushing your teeth to physically transform into Julia Stiles in 10 Things I Hate About You. RIP Heath Ledger. Runner Up: The Hives Are Law, You Are Crime. Seems unfair to put the instrumental on top, but I enjoyed it the most, likely because it is literally the only song that didn't sound 100% like every other song on the album. Overall, I didn't DISlike it, but I also didn't LIKE it, either. 3 stars? It's not good, but it's not good /in a way that I enjoy/.
The Hives have some of their more memorable songs on this early album, but unlike other efforts this one leans more into their Punk influences. While not as polished as some of their other albums, it's refreshing to see this garage punk speed that may not be part of their typical offerings.
That album begins with a big song and the tracklist continues with cool power chord riffs. But the album later turns into noise and really doesn’t provide much after.
Modern punk album without any real highlights that more or less only has its short runtime going for itself
Really classic garage rock, nothing bad to say about it, but nothing too stand out. 3/5. Favorite Track: Outsmarted
This band is new to me, really liked it though, good catchy face smashing punk. But why the hell would a compilation album be on the list??
Saw so many similar bands during this era, riding that wave of rock revival, that I honestly can't remember if I saw them live or not. I was a fan of the sound in general but not necessarily The Hives specifically. I guess the lead singer's voice cracking all the time is a feature not a flaw, right?
Hate To Say I Told You So is a popular song, definitely heard that one before. Overall I liked the punk/garage energy and the vocalists straining/screaming but a bunch of the tracks towards the end are kinda just okay. 3.5 to 3
Still prefer an Elastic Band.
a bold claim, doomed to failure
The weird thing is that I like these guys, then I realize that they always sound like Search & Destroy by The Stooges. Maybe if they had a little more variety to their songs.
Good punk album, added to my library.
Pretty good
Drive
Listened to them a bunch when they were in their prime and I was in college. Hadn’t listened in quite some time but still like the sound, it’s frantic with some pop punk vibes. Nothing too deep here but fun stuff. 3 stars
fav tracks - die all right! , a.k.a. i-d-i-o-t, automatic schmuck, the hives are law least fav tracks - mad man, Love the energy, hard to sit still listening to this one. 3/5
Una de les bandes que es va veure afavorida per la tornada del rock a començaments de mil.leni, sobretot gràcies al primer disc de The Strokes, i en menor mesura al tercer de The White Stripes. Com aquests últims, els suecs apostaven per un garatge rock brut i descarnat. Aprofitant el revival, es van recopilar els millors temes dels seus dos primers discos en aquest 'Your New Favourite Band', que va fer la feina pretesa de donar-los a conèixer a un públic molt més ampli, gràcies sobretot al hit incontestable que és 'Hate to Say I Told You So'. La resta de temes no tenen el mateix impacte, però conformen un conjunt molt sòlid i disfrutable al 100%
idk, buen álbum punk i guess. la crítica dice que es below mid (?)
Idk didn’t listen. Would later tho
not bad, not great
i mean it’s a compilation so it’s kinda unfair but yeah i liked it
Ah the early aughts “rock revival.” Surprised this band isn’t from the UK. Glad they aren't. I don't think I could handle another band from the UK with this sound. Luckily, "Your New Favourite Band" feels more a product of a genuine garage rock than some of the more polished, post-Brit-pop rock releases of the era. (Though I still prefer the ramshackle Americana blues-rock of a band like the White Stripes to this.) I love a good compilation. It feels messy and alive. And fits well with The Hives' sound here, even if it was just a marketing tactic to bump sales over seas. The tongue-in-cheek title winks at that capitalistic origin and yields just enough cheekiness to make me smile. Musically, I like the band's more straight-up punk numbers to the Strokes-ier ones; ie, I'll take "Outsmarted" over "Hate To Say I Told You So" any day. Sweden has a long history of hardcore and metal that I think The Hives draws on here to give their brand of early aughts rock an especially rough edge. I like that. And this album is electric! Not a bad song. Nothing much to write home about, but a very good record indeed.
I want to dislike it because the compilation effect removes so much dynamic range, but the tunes are too good. Swedish punk continues to be palatable.
Not my new favorite band, thank you though. Decent album, not a whole lot of variety but definitely a couple bangers. This feels like heist setup flashback rock? The type of band that I imagine I know all I need to know from one album; if I'm right, I'd be a bit annoyed if we got more than one on this list. But this one's alright. Favorite tracks: Hate to Say I Told You So, Die All Right, AKA IDIOT. Album art: Kind of a throwback stylistically but it's not very special. Font is decent. 3/5
Solid, compact album. Tight rhythms and interesting guitar parts.
Not for me
Nie was von gehört. So macht man interessante Gitarrenschrammelmusik. Reicht aber bald nach den 28 Minuten auch wieder.
I never really understood the appeal of The Hives (and The Strokes) but there are some catchy songs here
I like the energy of the music but the singing is a little yelly for me. Maybe just my current mood but the singing is hurting my head
I am calling foul on this one. This is a US release that is actually a compilation of Hives first two albums and assorted EP material. The music itself is fine, good, solid neo garage rock. Not particularly original, there is a genuineness that is missing from some of their contemporaries. I will go with three stars as a balance between the solid music and my distaste for companions on this list
Kinda of boring, each song has same riff, and kinda sound like 70 punks with better production
Nothing like a bit of swedish punk from the naughties
Good punk band.
As skaterpunk as can be, the last track was somewhat interesting, a great base that weren't utilised An underwhelming album but had some good parts
Wild, maar niet echt memorabel. Wel dat ene hitje.
Mukava, rento ja kevyt. Sopi oikein hyvin pyörämatkoihin kodista konttoriin ja takaisin.
Tykki levy. Välillä äityi vähän turhan epäselväks meteliks, mut asenteellisesti sopi teemaan. Kuitenkin wow-elämys jäi uupumaan
First song made me realize i was listening to a compilation album - it does not make sende to include such albums! Hence, thr neutal score.
Toe tapping scandia dad rock.
Not too bad— mostly sounds all like the first song
Not my type of rock
Nothin special okayish
A bit too shouty for me
C'est du punk... Je ne deteste pas ca mais ca sonne quand même très semblable du chanson à l'autre. Ca doit être du au drum et au chanteur car je peux voir que la guitare est très agressive. En générale les chansons sont bien arrangées et ca me rappelle mon adolescence. 3.20
Pretty cool, like the energy 10/10 would mosh again, all kinda sounds the same but its ok. like the vocals 7/10
Very good album. Was on their concert, it was 2016 i believe and it was...Amazing show... Did not expect this album on that list :) Thanks for this amazing website.