Albums to watch

Lex Hives

The Hives

Lex Hives

Album No.5, their first in five years, from the Swedish garage rockers

ADM rating[?]

6.5

Label
Columbia
UK Release date
04/06/2012
US Release date
05/06/2012
  1. 9.0 |   Rave Magazine

    Lex Hives might be The Hives’ masterpiece. Viva la Hives!
    Read Review

  2. 8.3 |   A.V. Club

    Thanks to a few fresh stitches, Lex Hives proves that The Hives still know how to make it work
    Read Review

  3. 8.0 |   musicOMH

    With Lex Hives they not only add further credence to their reputation, they also spit in the respective faces of their many lesser contemporaries
    Read Review

  4. 8.0 |   The Arts Desk

    Terrific stuff from the superlative Swedes. Truly the bee's knees
    Read Review

  5. 8.0 |   Q

    The passing of time has done nothing to dampen The Hives' lust for life. Print edition only

  6. 8.0 |   Independent on Sunday

    High-energy, hugely entertaining garage rock
    Read Review

  7. 8.0 |   DIY

    Howlin’ Pelle and co. haven’t returned with their ‘OK Computer’ but have returned with the pomp, charisma and contagious sense of fun they’re known for, with a surprising variety added in to the mix
    Read Review

  8. 8.0 |   NME

    The Hives' true glory lies in their total and utter fashion-and-fad resistant tunnel vision conviction
    Read Review

  9. 8.0 |   Beats Per Minute

    The Hives are simply an impeccable rock album and in an age when we’re focused on how weird Animal Collective’s new album is going to sound, there is a necessity to remind ourselves that traditional rock music can still exist and allow for fun
    Read Review

  10. 7.8 |   The AU Review

    An energetic, fun and no bullshit approach to music
    Read Review

  11. 7.0 |   Under The Radar

    If they've established and mastered a formula of sorts at this point, it's always good to know that someone's perfectly willing to cut through the passing parade of musical trends like a diamond drill
    Read Review

  12. 7.0 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    The Hives’ word is still law – albeit with a few more loopholes
    Read Review

  13. 6.9 |   Paste Magazine

    Much like the band’s catalog, this record apes everyone from AC/DC to The Stooges with exuberant aplomb
    Read Review

  14. 6.5 |   Tone Deaf

    Disappointingly, this record lacks a true Hives hit, the highlights here don’t reach anywhere near the heights of previous records
    Read Review

  15. 6.0 |   The Scotsman

    Another raucous exercise in ramping up the gonzo garage rock ante
    Read Review

  16. 6.0 |   Rolling Stone

    They lose steam at times, but by the LP's end, their toga party is back pogo'ing and the neighbors are knocking
    Read Review

  17. 6.0 |   Consequence Of Sound

    The Hives shine brightest when they stick to the KISS principle like meatballs at a potluck
    Read Review

  18. 6.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    Conforms to the patchy-at-best trajectory of the band's major label releases, but at least does so while taking a decisive step back in the direction of being the ferocious rock band which The Hives unvaryingly claim to still be
    Read Review

  19. 6.0 |   Uncut

    The sound of the law of diminishing returns finally kicking in. Print edition only

  20. 6.0 |   Mojo

    Their fifth album sticks to the formula, while amping up the cartoon quality. Print edition only

  21. 5.0 |   PopMatters

    As much as they’ve tried to sound like their dragging their sound back to basics, it sounds like they’ve lost something along the way. Who knows if they’ll ever get it back
    Read Review

  22. 5.0 |   Prefix

    They’re an insipid, uninspired mess right now, but the Hives aren't done as much as they are confused
    Read Review

  23. 4.8 |   Pitchfork

    A rock album that sounds entirely manufactured
    Read Review

  24. 4.0 |   The Independent

    The Ramones, you will recall, were rather witty, but the closest The Hives get to that is "our God is a zilla, our king is a kong"
    Read Review

  25. 4.0 |   State

    They only work themselves up into an irritating lather
    Read Review

  26. 2.0 |   The Fly

    You’ll only get a kick out of this record if you think all music made since 1976 is terrible and have absolutely no desire to hear anything new whatsoever
    Read Review


blog comments powered by Disqus

Watch it

Roll over video for more options

Hear it

Preview & download it

The Hives: Lex Hives

  • Download full album for just £6.99
  • 1. Come On! N/A
  • 2. Go Right Ahead N/A
  • 3. 1000 Answers N/A
  • 4. I Want More N/A
  • 5. Wait A Minute N/A
  • 6. Patrolling Days N/A
  • 7. Take Back The Toys N/A
  • 8. Without The Money N/A
  • 9. These Spectacles Reveal The Nostalgics N/A
  • 10. My Time Is Coming N/A
  • 11. If I Had A Cent N/A
  • 12. Midnight Shifter N/A
  • Service provided by 7Digital

Latest Reviews

More reviews