The Hellacopters: Grande Rock

There are several ways to denote the rote but relevant phrase "rock and roll." Obviously, there's the popular, abbreviated "rock 'n' roll," then there's the neatly truncated but no less meaningful simplification "rock." But at the most primal level—down where amps are always cranked and singers swallow their microphones—there's "rawk," the phonetically distilled embodiment of all that is raw and passionate. It's in this last, warts-and-all category where the members of Sweden's The Hellacopters fall. For a few years, most Americans had to settle for The Hellacopters' growing reputation as masters of classic trash, as the bulk of the band's discography was only available on imports. The group's ultra-fuzzy debut, Super Shitty To The Max, however, just made its domestic bow, and now comes a third Hellacopters disc, Grande Rock. If anything, the band's allegiance to MC5/Stooges-style rock—or "rawk"—has become more pronounced. Grande Rock is more polished than usual, garnished with piano and shimmering tambourine. But close your eyes and you'll swear these are outtakes from Raw Power. And, really, what more needs to be said