The Raveonettes barely gave listeners a glimpse of their cinematic brilliance with their
Whip It On EP. One listen to their first studio full-length,
The Chain Gang of Love, and you'll know it immediately. The crash and charm of this 13-song set exceeds any kind of glorious expectations laid out at the beginning, and the Raveonettes probably want it that way.
Sune Rose Wagner and
Sharin Foo go for a much bigger sound this time around.
The Chain Gang of Love is far more glossy and layered in melodies compared to
Whip It On's gray-colored coolness. Having legendary producer
Richard Gottehrer (
Blondie,
Marshall Crenshaw,
the Go-Go's) at the helm doesn't hurt either, for he captures the Raveonettes' true pop essence with style. Forget those rules of keeping it to three chords recorded in B-flat minor.
The Raveonettes indulge themselves in the finer elements of mid-'80s post-punk/noise pop (think
Jesus & Mary Chain) and combine it with sheer pop melodies of the '50 and '60s for a sexy rock & roll picture show. From the fantastic pop jaunt of "The Great Love Sound" to the pulsating rockabilly blend of "Let's Rave On" and "Heartbreak Stroll,"
The Chain Gang of Love finds the Danish duo embracing influences of the past, but the Raveonettes tweak things ever so slightly to make them their own.
The Chain Gang of Love isn't suffocated in garage rock fashion alone, either.
Foo and
Wagner's low vocals may hint at such a display, but overall their smooth pop presentation won't be pigeonholed.
The Raveonettes, more or less, honor great pop moments of yesteryear, in hopes of positioning themselves and the rock scene in general for something grand later on. ~ MacKenzie Wilson