Stop someone on the street and ask them to define 'Rock' music. Chances are you will get a different answer everytime, each person citing a different example. Some may a group like Matchbox 20, but they are more pop rock. Tom Petty is another, but I see him more as classic rock and roll. The Foo Fighters are a good example, but Mister Grohl's penchant for ballads sometimes weakens their efforts. In truth, the one band that stand out right now as being full on, hardcore Rock, are those cocky bastards from Sweden, The Hives.

Forget for a moment their color coordinated outfits, which nods more to Punk than Rock. Same goes for the lead singer Howlin' Pelle Almqvist's bravado, also punk in his stylings and similair to the attitude once owned by the Brothers Gallagher of Oasis whose own attempts at taking over Rock have sputtered as of late.

To really understand the rock they bring, listen to their music. Power chords, thumping drums, full out screams, that is what Rock music is all about. It's Led Zeppelin at it's most pure, like on Whole Lotta Love, with Page's soaring guitar and Plant's wailing vocal screeches. It's music that makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck and sends pulses of energy rushing through your blood stream.

I remember the first time I heard 'Hate to say I told you so' of The Hives last album, 'Veni, Vidi, Vicious.' It left me speechless. The screaming/singing opening lines, the thumping base, exploding in a musical frenzy. Not to be trite, but it was a breath of fresh air. Coming in the midst of the Great Garage Revival of '02, including NY alt-rockers the Strokes, who are great but clearly want to be viewed as less than mainstream, and of course The White Stripes, who are not so much Rock and pure musical madness ranging from delta blues to country to metal, The Hives burst on the US scene with an energy not seen in a long time. Though they didn't reach the heights of the two previous mentioned bands, they established themselves as a force to be reckoned with.

Now The Hives are back with a new album, aptly named Tyrannosaurus Hives, cause they are the monster dinosaur destroying bands in their path with their killer Rock. In a collection of 12 songs, most no longer than 3 1/2 minutes, The Hives open up the proverbial can of 'whup ass' on their listeners. Even the one almost ballad on the album, 'Diabollic Scheme', is so chock full of masculinity that it is acceptable. In total, what you get is a great ROCK album, a rarity these days. One only hopes that other bands follow along and get back to making straight up, beer and cigarettes rock, cause we sure could use some these days. Of course, none of them will be as good The Hives, but I don't have to tell you that. Go see them live in concert and they'll make sure to let you know themselves.