The Black and White Album cover

The Black and White Album

The Hives · 2007

49 min · 15 tracks · garage rock

A high-energy collision of garage rock and punk attitude, laced with catchy hooks and irreverent humor.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Tick Tick Boom Start here — This track encapsulates the album's frenetic energy with its driving rhythm and anthemic chorus, serving as a rallying cry for fans.
  • →
    Try It Again — With its infectious hook and playful lyrics, this song exemplifies the band's knack for blending punk spirit with accessible melodies.
  • →
    You Got It All… Wrong — This track showcases a more introspective side of the band while maintaining their characteristic punchy sound, illustrating their lyrical versatility.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

60 /100
Treeline
Higher than 66% of albums we've rated

The album combines energetic garage rock with catchy hooks and humor, maintaining a strong identity throughout.

What we noticed

  • The album opens with a high-energy track, 'Tick Tick Boom,' that sets a fast pace for the first half, which includes several tracks under three minutes.
  • Each song features prominent guitar riffs and driving rhythms, often incorporating call-and-response vocals between the lead singer and backing members.
  • The second half introduces more varied tempos, with tracks like 'You Dress Up for Armageddon' slowing down slightly before returning to faster-paced songs.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
6/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • steady, consistent energy levels
  • immediate hooks and energy
  • short, punchy listening sessions
  • fun, upbeat engagement
  • playful, irreverent vibes

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Breakthrough — This album solidified The Hives' status with strong chart performance and positive reception.
Moods
Energetic
Career context
Released on October 9, 2007, The Black and White Album marked The Hives' return after their acclaimed 2004 album Tyrannosaurus Hives. At this point in their career, they were solidifying their status as leading figures in the garage rock revival, following a period of increased visibility after extensive touring and festival appearances.

Tracklist

  • 1 Tick Tick Boom Start here 3:25
  • 2 Try It Again 3:29
  • 3 You Got It All… Wrong 2:42
  • 4 Well All Right! 3:29
  • 5 Hey Little World 3:22
  • 6 A Stroll Through Hive Manor Corridors 2:38
  • 7 Won’t Be Long 3:46
  • 8 T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S. 3:38
  • 9 Return the Favour 3:09
  • 10 Giddy Up! 2:51
  • 11 Square One Here I Come 3:10
  • 12 You Dress Up for Armageddon 3:10
  • 13 Puppet on a String 2:54
  • 14 Bigger Hole to Fill 3:37
  • 15 I Just Can’t Give It to You 3:37

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata