There must be something rotten in Denmark, because once again I'm stepping it up and reporting on major league releases instead of eating the shake at the bottom of the proverbial bag of chips. I smell a raise. First off, The Raveonettes are hands down the sexiest band from Denmark, and most otherMarks for that matter. Some music inspires you to tap your foot or hum along, The Raveonettes cause the listener to remain seated until their erection goes away. When I witnessed their libido-laced onstage aura at Coachella it was like watching a younger and way hotter Debra Harry rocking out with the male half of Timbuk 3 (I swear to God I didn't steal this notion from Kevin Jones).

At first I was somewhat surprised as to the things that were coming out of my speakers. Historically the Raveonettes had traded on simple three-minute ditties borrowing the classic sound of the Phil Spectre acts of yesteryear - think the Shirelles, the Shangrilas. All set to a slightly sinister distortion-laden, reverb-heavy surf guitar sound that sounded like Dick Dale meets Satan (or more accurately Jesus and Mary Chain). On Pretty In Black the Raveonettes have eschewed their murky, menacing underpinings for a much more prettified, cleanly produced sound that is not only more poppy but a good bit more languid and mellow. It's as though they've traveled beyond their kitschy campiness and reverted all the way back to straight-up homage. Either way Wagner and Foo's one two punch hits you in your tingly bits and their unmistakably sexy harmonies still sound like the soundtrack to a David Lynch wet dream.

The main single "Love in a Trashcan" is quite hilarious and blunt. "Now the time is right and you feel the need/ to go down low and receive a treat./ The jukebox churns out songs about sex,/ come on baby you're my best fix." "Sleepwalking" is the fastest song on the album. Although it doesn't have the My Bloody Valentine inspired distorted vocals that Whip It On did, the sonic vibrations still manage to get your blood up. Speaking of Whip It On, that album or EP I suppose, was so simple and catchy it probably gave a lot of young musicians a little nudge of encouragement ( a "hey I can do this" sort of boost) keep it simple and sexy and stay away from the super-tech trappings of the modern music world. It's not that Pretty In Black is particularly complicated, on the contrary they still keep things simple, but there's no doubt that they've stepped away from the lo-fi approach of their previous releases. "Somewhere in Texas" is the track that is the most reminiscent of the old Raveonettes, featuring some of that simplistic guitar riffiage (something that sounds like an electric mandolin on distortion) that was showcased on Whip It On and Chain Gang of Love.

I could've done without the cover of "My Boyfriends Back." That song is just stupid no matter who plays it. Ronnie Spector quite appropriately pops up on "Ode to L.A." which is something of a validation or stamp of apporval. (In case you weren't aware, Ronnie's old outfit the Ronettes are generally believed to be the inspiration for the the Raveonettes name). Pretty in Black is certainly romantic, and confident and represents an interesting maturation for a band that is one of the best kept secrets on the indie scene.