The Raveonettes Albums (6)
'In and Out of Control'
Release Date 10/5/2009
Tracks 11
Label Fierce Panda
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
The Raveonettes third album Lust Lust Lust is the sound of a band rescuing their career from the clutches of cliché and rediscovering the magic that made them so exciting on their debut Chain Gang of Love. The opening track "Aly, Walk with Me" serves notice that things are going to be a lot different, the menacing prowl of the verses giving way to a deafening burst of white light/white heat noise halfway through the song. Anyone fearing that Lust Lust Lust would be another record lost to over-production and slickness should, once they regain their hearing, be ecstatic. The duo recapture the fire, mystery, and dirty glamour of their early records and add a sharper melodic sense on a batch of songs that will stick to you like a sharp knife between the ribs. Tracks like the thrillingly bleak yet devastatingly pretty "Dead Sound," the swaying "The Beat Dies," and the classically melodic "Black Satin" are as good as anything the band has done to date (and frankly, compare quite ably to the work of their most obvious influence, the Jesus and Mary Chain). Sune Rose Wagner took over the production task from Richard Gottherer and stripped away all remnants of the glossy hack job they did on Pretty in Black. Throughout the record, the reverb is so heavy it might make you woozy, the drums clatter like trash can lids, and the vocals struggle to make it through the layers of haze but Wagner's light touch and newfound sense of restraint means the arrangements sound fully realized and if not three-dimensional, a very strong two. Sharin Foo's vocals sounds as glacial and, as ever, Wagner's guitar melodies are note perfect (check his work on "Blitzed" for a short lesson on how to do a lot with only a few notes) and the two of them appear as reassuringly unwholesome as ever. Happy about it even, as they sing of being tied to evil hearts, black lollipops, and death by deceit in their sweet and unconcerned voices. Lust Lust Lust should have been the follow up to Chain Gang of Love; Pretty in Black can just be considered a mistake, and fans of the fuzzy, decadent and over-driven version of the Raveonettes can be happy that they have their band back; nastier, prettier and better than ever. ~ Tim Sendra, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
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, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Danish duo the Raveonettes strike a slick pose on their debut EP, Whip It On. It's a slinky post-punk mix recorded entirely in B-flat minor while each song thrives on only three chords. Minimalist and stylish, Whip It On doesn't go for the grandiosity of the Strokes and the White Stripes. The Raveonettes are ambitious in their own way, and it works brilliantly. Debut single "Attack of the Ghost Riders" glides with an extraterrestrial flair, Sharin Foo and Sune Rose Wagner's wispy vocals surfing along momentous percussion. The high-speed garage-y "Do You Believe Her" shimmies with a darker posture, but that's exactly what the Raveonettes are going for. Whip It On is basically a soundtrack album, a film noir storybook of eight solid tracks blazing with attitude. "Cops on Our Tail" is nonchalant in a vexed moment, but never cavalier. Whip It On is a decent look at what the Raveonettes are capable of, certainly an honest effort, but more impressive in the sense that they're rock & roll antagonists. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide
