CD Review: The Hives - The Black and White Album

(andPOP) - Your Swedish boyfriends The Hives are back. But, "The Black and White Album," is nothing new.

It's another energetic, fast-paced album, full of catchy hooks and singer Howlin' Pelle Almqvist's charming yet generic yelps. It's great material, but it sounds exactly like their previous three albums, and fails to entertain for the entire 14 tracks.

Super-producer Pharrell took on two of the album's most interesting tracks, which channel on funk and hip-hop. "T.H.E. H.I.V.E.S." helps break up what would have been an album that sounds like one long track. The song's ultra catchy bass line will be sure to make it a welcome addition to indie dance clubs' play lists everywhere.

"The Black and White Album" also features a brave instrumental track using just a '50s' organ and a drum machine. This song, and another that plays vocals overtop of piano and handclaps called, "Puppet on a String," saves the album from boredom. They're both creative, but they fail to cover up an otherwise standard album.

After watching the garage rock revival die out, The Hives are sticking to the sound that made them. Though unlike their peers, they have managed to stay relevant, especially amongst a group of core fans.

The band is currently on a North American tour, opening for Maroon 5. But touring with pop stars hasn't stopped them from maintaining their underground cred, using their off days to play smaller, more intimate venues ,including a sold out show at Toronto's Lee's Palace.

While it may be nothing fresh, the album is upbeat and fun, and the live shows are sure to maintain their legendary energy. You can't blame a band for putting out another catchy rock record. Garage rock is dead. Long live garage rock.