For being on a garage-rock label, The Wildhearts are pretty slick — and
that's not a bad thing. The radio-ready, non-garage-rock band from Sweden play
Led Zeppelin- and Cheap Trick-inspired arena rock, powered by, as the album title
implies, one chunky riff after another. Not to be taken too seriously, the record
is easy, simplistic fun built on potent, high-energy pop-rock. Pitting innocent
pop croons against occasional hardcore howls of horror in the background, intensely
catchy beats against meaty, grinding guitar, the band not only doesn't want to
be forced to choose but also has a knack for blending disparate genres and making
the results flow exceptionally well. Sometimes recalling early-'90s alternative-rock
bands like Helmet or old-school Tool, and at others sounding more pop-oriented,
like, say, the Foo Fighters, the pop-rockin' Wildhearts are undoubtedly looking
to break into the mainstream but — with loads of songwriting skill and tight,
inspired playing — shouldn't be trashed for their ambitions.
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