Hive of Industry

Springing from Gothenburg, Sweden, the sextet titled Soundtrack of Our Lives have been battling Swedish domination with the Hives for the past few years. While the success of the Hives has been consistently great, Soundtrack of Our Lives has had a few bumps in the road. While their latest album, Origin Vol. I, is not a very big pothole, you’re still likely to feel a jolt of disarray. If we’re to believe that this is the soundtrack of their lives, it can be reasoned that they’re entering a new phase of enlightenment, particularly of the sexual persuasion. At once sexy and creepy, “Midnight Children” sounds like an English version of a Serge Gainsbourg’s song, as it should, for Jane Birken sings backup on both. Lyrics include “Midnight children now who’s gonna take you upstairs/ Midnight children are too young to even care.” The superior opening track, “Believe I’ve Found,” deals with the epiphany of figuring out what life is about and how to please. “But I believe I’ve found/ A better way to satisfy.”

The remainder of the album that doesn’t pertain to lust is a slight mix of fast, heavy and light, but mostly seems to follow the hard-hitting, rock-and-roll standard. “Song For The Others” is a lovely, soft ballad that really differentiates the band from other sounds. However, “Transcendental Suicide” seems to parody The Who.

Origin Vol. I drops the carefully cultivated and original sounds of their last album, Behind the Music, to rather mimic droning guitar-driven Europop. The group is losing the sagacity they’ve previously displayed. To move away from the Hives, they just need to illuminate their softer side and sell millions!