joenormal's Full Review: Barely Legal by The Hives
This is the Hives debut album released back in 1997 and boy does it differ from their later albums. This album is fast, fast and faster with a true 'garage sound' to boot. The production on this album is very similar to the stripped-down recording found on the Ramones' debut album.
Starting off the album is the super-charged tune "Well, Well, Well" with its quick 4/4 drumming, super distorted guitar riffs and simple bassline.
Next is the anthemic "A-K-A Idiot" with its poppy riffs, slightly slowed down tempo and finger pointing lyrics:
"I know that I'm a screw up,
I know I'm in a band,
I know that I am up against the mighty mighty man,
But I'm satisfied with being,
being one of the lucky few,
Who'll be the ones laughing knowing that the joke is gonna be on you"
"Here We Go Again" sounds a lot like a track you'd expect off of their 2nd album 'Veni Vidi Vicious' with its slowed down, poppy feel and radio friendly vibe.
"I'm a Wicked One" picks up the pace once again with its fast tempo, very distorted guitar riff, and melodic bassline. The lyrics here are very punk rock in their simplicity:
"Wicked is as wicked does,
he'll fight it til the end,
he'll show his finger then say:
I'm a wicked one"
"Automatic Schmuck", "King of Asskissing" and "Hail Hail Spit n' Drool" are songs with similar cluttered guitar riffs, almost yelling vocals, fast drumming, and fast melodic basslines.
"Blackjack" has a sort of 'Viva Las Vegas' feel to it and I do believe it's a cover although I've never heard of it before. The music here is very rockabilly with rolling basslines, dynamic drumming and twangy guitars.
"Whats that Spell...Go to Hell!", "Theme from...", "Uptempo Venomous Poison" and "Oh Lord! When? How?" are fast 4/4 tunes with very punk lyrics, straight forward guitar riffing, poppy basslines, and almost yelling vocals.
(lyrics from "Theme from...")
"This is where we draw the line,
We're sick of you wasting all our time"
"The Stomp" is an instrumental which is quite different from the rest of the album. The musical theme is surf music which the Hives pull off very well.
The album closes with "Closed For The Season" which is another up-tempo number with poppy riffs, melodic basslines, quick drumming, and the ever-present almost yelling vocals.
If you like your punk rock a little rough around the edges, then you're gonna have to go out and buy this album. However, If you're into punk rock that's more cleaned up and poppy, than this album may not be for you.
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