[2/5] There's something about Swedish garage rock that's always just slightly off. The Hives are catchy enough, but the matching outfits are a little too cute. The Backyard Babies (a band founded by ex-Hellacopters guitarist Dregen) are basically the Scandinavian answer to the Wildhearts--which is fine, if you're into bandanas and bad haircuts. The Hellacopters have their own problems: Maybe it's the English-as-a-second-language albatross that keeps former Entombed drummer Nicke Andersson and his boys from articulating themselves properly; maybe it's the band's mawkish devotion to the all the worst aspects of the Rolling Stones, Kiss and the Black Crowes that doesn't translate to American audiences who've heard those bands on the radio every fucking day of their lives. Just the same, the 'Copters brought in the Hives' Pelle Almqvist and the chubby dude from the Soundtrack Of Our Lives for guest vocals on Rock & Roll Is Dead--if only to prove that the Swedes stick together, whether we're listening or not.
(LIQUOR AND POKER) J. Bennett
 Official Website: http://www.liquorandpokermusic.com
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