 
It’s not hard to imagine The Raveonettes’ Sune Rose Wagner
and Sharin Foo staying up all night, listening to the radio or a stack
of garage-sale 45s. The band’s new release, “Pretty in Black,”
even kicks off with faint scratchy sounds that conjure up the days of
the turntable. It sets the mood for the 13 songs that follow. The tunes
borrow from a long list of influences, including Phil Spector and the
Everly Brothers. Ronnie Spector even makes a guest appearance. Her role,
however, is slight and should have been expanded. The lone cover is
the Angels’ “My Boyfriend’s Back,” which was
co-written by Richard Gottehrer, who shares producing credits on the
new CD. Many of the originals on the album strive for the same cinematic
quality found in that classic song, but, for the most part, miss out
on its fun. Still, “Pretty in Black” is enjoyable for its
nod to classic pop and the band’s noir take on love. Wagner offers
up some ringing guitar on “Love in a Trashcan,” and Foo
delivers her hypnotic vocals on “Seductress of Bums.” The
pair’s chemistry recalls the vocal groups of the 1960s, but The
Raveonettes aim for a more cool, detached sound. As a result, the Danish
band has a knack for sounding nostalgic and thoroughly modern at the
same time. The Raveonettes also get a hand here from Martin Rev and
Moe Tucker. -D. Kimura
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The
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