In and Out of Control (Bonus Track Version)

iTunes Review

The Raveonettes have an indestructible formula, provided they follow it. The duo know how to evoke the sweet pop of yesteryear (“Last Dance”) with a few earnest backing vocal “oohs” to fill in the cavernous reverb and balance out the unrelenting basslines and tough, distorted guitars. Achieving that balance is what counts and throughout their fourth album, the duo hit the sweet spot. The topics may be dark and the overall sound is often deliberately murky, but there’s a sense of joy lurking underneath that layer of grime. The Jesus and Mary Chain, an obvious influence, never got quite this sweet (“Heart of Stone”). By their titles, “Boys Who Rape (Should Be Destroyed),” “Suicide” and “Oh, I Buried You Today” sound like the work of a death-metal ensemble, but sure enough, the bouncy keyboard lines, the light pop harmonies, the doo-wop to girl-group vocal arrangements, the sincerity and warmth of old R&B ballads are all evoked without irony. These are some of their catchiest and most fun tunes to date.