The Hives

The Hives is a Swedish rock band that rose to prominence in the early 2000s during the Garage rock revival. Their mainstream success came with the release of the album Veni Vidi Vicious, containing the single “Hate to Say I Told You So“. The band has been acclaimed by music critics as one of the best live rock bands.^[1][2]. The Hives have released five studio albums: Barely Legal (1997), Veni Vidi Vicious (2000), Tyrannosaurus Hives (2004), The Black and White Album (2007) and Lex Hives (2012). They have one compilation album, Your New Favourite Band (2001) and they have issued a live DVD, Tussles in Brussels (2005).^[3]

Their music has a very hard core British garage rock revival sound. To me they sound like a blend of Queens of the Stone Age, the Rolling Stones and a little bit of 80’s techno rock. The lead singer’s look on the cover of their Tyrannosaurus Hives album reminds me of Alex McDowell’s character in Clockwork Orange (1962). Thankfully these boys are a lot more wholesome. Although their looks depict rebellious youth full of misdirected energy, most of their songs are about romance. So many songs written by men are about romance, that I am starting to think that they are the ones who really need romance and not women 😉

Tick tock boom

He has done it before. “I was right you were wrong”. This is a song about missed opportunities and a nagging friend who reminds another that it is only a matter of time before it happens again. Although I am not clear on what “it” is referring to. Still an awesome tune. Enjoy!

Try it again

This is a fun tune that let’s out the frustration of the chase. Is kind of like a rock version of Taylor Swift’s Shake it off after rejection. A real call to action to try something different instead of going mad 😀 enjoy!

“Time to learn a lesson
Like Pavlov’s dog
If something isn’t working
Why don’t you do different instead, instead, instead”

Main Offender

This song is about self awareness of having A- hole manners and the inability to change them. The lyrics are simple but the music once again is very catchy.

I hate to say I told you so

Another song showing some misdirected energy with a rebellious streak.

“Do what I want ’cause I can and if I don’t
Because I want to
Be ignored by the stiff and the bored because I’m gonna
Spit and retrieve ’cause I give and receive
Because I want to
Gonna get through your head what the mystery man said because I’m gonna”

Other worthy mentions:

• Come on
• Two timing touch and broken bones
• Go right ahead
• Little world
• T.H.E H.I.V.E.S
• Walk idiot walk
• Dress up for Armageddon

• Because I wanna

• Abra Cadaver