Brad Knutson

After three albums for major-label conglomerate Columbia, gothic retro pop duo The Raveonettes have reemerged in 2008 with a new record, a new sound and a new lease on life. After a few of months in limbo after its initial European release, the band’s latest album, "Lust, Lust, Lust," finally dropped stateside last month thanks to Vice Records, who just added The Raveonettes to their roster in January. In addition to bringing their uber-cool style to the fashionable Vice empire, the band also brings with them one of their best musical efforts to date. A completely self-performed and self-produced effort, "Lust, Lust, Lust" wipes away the gloss that had built up by the end of their run on Columbia and returns the band to its gritty and noisy origins.

"It’s sort of like back to the good old days of noise with The Raveonettes, which we didn’t have on [last record] ‘Pretty In Black,’" says vocalist Sharon Foo. Because of the album’s increased sonic intensity, many have tabbed "Lust, Lust, Lust" as the band’s heaviest record to date, though Foo doesn’t exactly agree with the hype. "Heavier? I don’t know, to me it’s actually very atmospheric… and it’s more sort of intimate and also kind of introverted."

Similarly, the album has also received a lot of lip service for its singular theme of lust, but again Foo feels there’s a lot more there than what lies at the surface. "It is about lustfulness, but it’s also very romantic…it’s about choices and balance and stuff like that."

In addition to the band’s deeper grooves on wax, Foo says the band’s live show has really come of age as well. After experimenting with five and six member configurations, the band has returned to just the core of Foo and guitarist/vocalist Sune Rose Wagner augmented by a touring drummer with a minimal kit. "I think it’s the best live setup we’ve had," says Foo. "It really feels right with the vocals, the two guitars and the electronic sounds being really featured… it’s so much space and it sounds so big at the same time. It feels much more Raveonettes."

The Raveonettes play March 18 at the Double Door, 1572 North Milwaukee, (773)489-3160, at 9pm. $15.

(2008-03-11)

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