Search - The Hives - Tussles in Brussels on DVD

Saviors of modern rock music

David C. Croom | Los Angeles, CA | 11/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"No other band has given such intense performances since England's Townshend, Daltrey, Moon, and Entwistle formulated The Who. Most recently awarded the title of #1 best band in the WORLD to see live by Spin Magazine, The Hives do not disappoint with their smash DVD Tussels in Brussels. Although no filmed version of this band can do justice to their live act, Tussels in Brussels does make some excellent strides towards doing so. The videos are a stroke of genious, and the recording of A Little More for Little You features band frontman (recently placed in the top 50 frontmen of all time by Spin Magazine) Pelle Almqvist doing a more melodic, less "Howlin'" version of the track. The documentary section provides great insight into the band and what they have done to revitalize the scene of rock and roll. For die hard Hives fans, this section also may answer some long unsettled questions about a few of the mysteries surrounding The Hives. For those who have been unable to attend a live performance in the past or for those who just can't get enough of The Hives bringing a stage to life, and putting other groups to shame, this DVD is a must buy, must own, must tell everyone you know to own. Welcome to The United States of The Hives."

So So dvd of a great band

Get Smart | West Coast | 12/08/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is actually the 2nd Hives dvd, the first being an extra freebie in the "Your Favorite New Band" cd which I think is a better dvd of The Hives (contains 2 live sets as well as a lengthy tour documentary and videos). This "official" release is pretty lackluster in comparison, altho it does feature songs from Tyrannosaurus Hives which is cool. The sound quality is not consistent, with Nicholas Arson's guitar being barely audible and depending on what camera view is being shown, the sound level changes so you never get a consistent audio track. The live set is good, pretty much the set they played the last tour which is a very good one including their Dion & Belmonts cover. The Hives "movie" is interesting and well put together, even if the band never really appears in it. The TV appearances are good and probably my favorite part of this dvd. For a better produced Hives dvd, get the "Your New Favorite Band" cd and enjoy the free dvd that comes with it. This particular effort could have been done much better."

Nulla Salus Sine The Hives

Cromulus | Rome | 02/06/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Hey, I won't deny any accusations that The Hives are Inauthentic.

Everything they do has been done before. The strutting and prancing about...Elvis and James Brown did it before young Pelle Almqvist was but a glint in his daddy's eye. The matching suits meant to signify it's us against the world...done by The Ramones in 1974. (Some will say The Beatles, too, but The Beatles were forced to wear the suits by their manager and John always hated the idea). The three chord verse-chorus-verse cuts? Perfected by Buddy Holly whose albums are probably in Chris Dangerous' grandpa's collection.

You see, the point with The Hives is not authenticity. The Hives are not action, they are reaction. They are the medicine for what ails you, and what ails you is a lack of rock. Aside from AC/DC and Motorhead there has been NO ROCK and The Hives are gonna fix that. This is, after all, what Nulla Salus Sine The Hives means. No salvation without The Hives. But to need saving, you first must be ill.

The aptly named "Tussels in Brussels" (apt because after you leave a Hives show you feel as though you've gone 12 rounds with Ali) features a goofy quasi-documentary narrated by Little Steven about his addiction to The Hives and his search for enlightenment. It's a cute little thing but will prove low on humor for those who cannot identify with The Hives' projection of themselves as saviors of rock 'n roll. The tongue is firmly planted in cheek on this one and you really need to be in on the joke to actually enjoy it. But it's a slick looking thing and there is no better endorsement than Little Steven (the clever fan will already notice that Little Steven's character goes looking for enlightenment - but Nulla Salus Sine The Hives, right?). Ha! that's the other thing separating The Hives from pretenders and contenders - they're smarter than all of them.

Once the mockumentary is over, we get The Hives doing what they do best - rock you live and saving your Shins and Jack Johnson addled soul. There is no substitute for seeing this band in person. I was three feet away from Kurt Loder at The Bowery Ballroom and the man was wearing the biggest s**t eating grin during the entire performance. It's no wonder he wrote these words - "Holding on for dear life at the Bowery Ballroom on Wednesday night, watching what must surely be the most electrifying band in the world right now blowing a packed-out house of instant believers back on their quivering haunches, I kept wondering: Is there any other group - anywhere - that the Hives couldn't totally incinerate with the merest flick of their guitar picks? The answer - trust me on this - is no." is he a convert? You bet your butt. Nulla Salus Sine and all that.

Converts also are the crowd of Europeans who get rocked hard and for the next hour and thirty minutes by the new young rock 'n roll gods from Sweden. All the hits are there and they're all played with clock like precision, autobahn speed and enough strut to make Mick Jagger weep like a little girl over his lost youth.

And if a concert wasn't enough, you also get a handful of Hives videos to tide you over during those dry spells when the rock is missing from your TV set.

This DVD should offer someting of a soothing spell to those of us waiting in limbo between Hives tours."

Outstanding band

C. Carlson | Kirkland, WA USA | 05/31/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"No concert video can produce the same effect as a live performance and this is especially true of this video; the Hives live are simply put one of the best live bands going today. That said, however, this video is fun and a worthy addition to any music fans collection. For those who are unfamiliar with their music, shame on you; make things right and check them out."