Rolling Stone (p.192) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "The Swedish garage-punk maniacs continue to polish their sharp-dressed groove on their fourth album, adding new tricks..."
Spin (p.113) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Guitars and drums charge out of the speakers like robot buffalo stampeding off a cliff, then change shape every few bars, bouncing back and forth and left and right like an ear-shredding action movie."
Entertainment Weekly (p.78) - "[S]onically they've tweaked their punk-pop vibe, even employing the hip-hop-flavored Pharrell Williams for one cut." -- Grade: A-
Alternative Press (p.127) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "BLACK AND WHITE features some future Hives classics-in-waiting. 'Hey Little World' is an urgent rocker that will elicit cries of 'more cowbell' when played at the right volume."
Kerrang (Magazine) (p.47) - "[T]he finest moments here are of the old hip-shaking rock 'n' roll variety..."
Sweden's clown princes of garage-punk returned in 2007 with THE BLACK AND WHITE ALBUM. While primal street-tough riffage and Iggy-style vocal prancing remain the band's bread and butter, the Hives display an obvious desire to experiment here. For one thing, two tracks ("T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S." and "We All Right!") were produced by Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes--a talent for certain, but not one often associated with the Hives brand of retro-rock. In addition to the funky edge displayed on those tracks, the album also boasts a spooky lo-fi organ instrumental ("A Stroll Through Hive Manor"), a synth-driven new rave tune ("Giddy Up!"), and a Tom Waits-style neo-cabaret number ("A Puppet On A String"). BLACK AND WHITE may prove a curiosity to long-time fans, but for a whole new audience, it should confirm what lead singer Howlin' Pele Almqvist has been saying for years: "The Hive are you new favorite band."