THE HIVES

“Tick Tick Boom”

Black & White Album

(Sweden 2007)

These guys cashed a $12 million check from Jimmy Iovine and keep making the same record over and over. Good. I’ll keep buying it.

AVRIL LAVIGNE

“Hot”

(Canada/Sweden 2007)

Hands down, “Hot” is the best Dr. Luke production since “Since U Been Gone.”

And the extreme use of Autotune is okay by me when it creates a vocal effect and sounds weird on purpose.

Stop complaining. The rock kids of 2025 will worship this, just like how it’s finally okay for everyone to like ABBA now.

THE SHOUTLESS

“Out of Reach”

(Sweden 1985)

I’ve been to Sweden. It’s a clean, organized country where everyone has free health care and a job if they want one. Lots of Swedish bands sound like ABBA or the Cardigans, melodic and superficially well-adjusted.

Even the wailing feedback of Union Carbide Productions eventually devolved into the friendly jangle of The Soundtrack of Our Lives.

Which makes The Shoutless a real puzzle. This record might just be the most unrepentant garage rock howl of all time.

Maybe it’s the cold. Or maybe all the social engineering in the world can’t cure the human condition.

But give me some more of what ails them.

• Download “Out of Reach”

(Out of Reach EP - Rainbow Music RMX 3003)