RAVEONETTES CHAIN GANG OF LOVE ALBUM COLUMBIA, SONY RELEASE: AUGUST 25, 2003 REVIEW: AUGUST 25, 2003

No. I’m not disappointed. "Chain Gang of Love" is a great debut album for any group.
Some sonic overload, buzzing guitars, lots of melodies, 60’s feel and great male-female vocals. The collection of songs range from Suicide-al "The Truth About Johnny", to "Darklands"/early 60’s pop song "Remember" to fuzzy and surf rockish "Let’s Rave on" (maybe next the single?) - and they are all great. Sugar sweet and threatening at the same time - my cup of tea exactly.
I should jump with joy, but I don’t. Maybe it’s the shift from b-minor to b-major, maybe it’s the polished production signed Sune Rose Wagner himself, Niel Dorfsmann and Alan Moulder (!) - but "Chain Gang of Love" sounds tamer than I excepted, not the explosion that brilliant EP "Whip It on" led me to believe Raveonettes would deliver. But hey - it’s cool that Raveonettes can surprise and strike from a different angle. And Sharin Foo is still the coolest female bassplayer/vocalist since Kim Deal, so I shouldn’t complain.
And the sunglasses and leather jacket that "Whip It on" made me wear are still on. This time around, though, the car is pink and we’re driving through the desert in the evening sun instead of through the neon-lit town 'round midnight.

KALLE MALMSTEDT