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THE
RAVEONETTES
PRETTY
IN BLACK
ALBUM
SONY BMG RELEASE: APRIL
25, 2005, MAY 3 (USA) REVIEW: JUNE
15, 2005
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It's
a sad feeling when your
idols fall. I have cruised
the highways, wearing
black leather and shades,
with the screaming, rolling
guitars of The Raveonettes
in my ears ever since
the EP "Whip It
on" with stand out
track "Return of
the Ghost Riders" was
released a couple of
years back. I was a little
bit disappointed when
the more polished "Chain
Gang of Love" came
out, but the guitars,
combined with great 50's
and 60's pop hooks where
there, so that was cool
and the shades stayed
on.
Now,
the Danish duo of Sune Rose
Wagner and Sharin Foo, release
their sophomore full length
effort - and it shatters
my world. Gone are the great
guitars, gone is the highway
where we can roll during
an endless night. The Raveonettes
have invited greats like
Moe Tucker and Suicide's
Martin Rev to a pink diner,
where they play competent
and cute pop tunes that
have lost almost all sense
of nerve. Even highlights,
where there are some semblance
of cool guitars, like "Whirlwind", sound
tired and as I crush my
shades under my foot I
cry and put on an album
by The Jesus and Mary Chain
instead. Actually, that
is clearly what The Raveonettes
have done this time also,
before recording "Pretty
in Black". One wise
man pointed out that they
have tried the same approach
as the Reid brothers did
on their sophomore effort "Darklands",
with calmer songs and so
on.
Yeah,
but The Raveonettes forgot
to bring some attitude
and a couple of great songs
to their Darklands, and
painted it all pink instead.
KALLE
MALMSTEDT
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