Division Of Laura Lee: Black City : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Garage bands from Sweden are starting to appear with alarming frequency, and Division of Laura Lee has the misfortune of being nearly last in line to hit the States. Black City doesn't swagger as confidently as the Hives, and its relative conservatism doesn't bode well in a scene where expectations have been ratcheted so high. When the Laura Lees try to keep up with their predecessors, they lack the necessary ready-to-rumble audacity, never pushing the groove past a chug on "Need to Get Some." The quartet is more adept at tension-building exercises such as "I Guess I'm Healed" and "The Truth Is Fucked," but it's a tough road ahead when singer Per St‰lberg's best move is to hiss like he's bored out of his brains.

GREG KOT
(RS 905 - Sept. 19, 2002)