Ride It Like You Stole It – The Sensitives
One of Sweden’s most underappreciated bands, in my opinion, The Sensitives, have released a new EP (and Fanzine) titled Ride It Like You Stole It. I say underappreciated because although people know them, they are being mentioned way too little. One of those bands that has hit bigger in Germany than on the home turf it feels.
I like The Sensitives a lot, they’re one of those bands with an instantly recognizable sound and delivery. So it was with high hopes I started listening to this new offering. And the sound is definitely still there. The dual vocals, the energy, the writing and the delivery. It’s music that just urges you to tap along and engage. I tend to like bands that have more than one vocalist, as it brings a certain dynamic to the delivery if it’s used the right way. And The Sensitives know how to play to this strength.
Every song features both vocalists, as well as a guest, delivering a good blend between verses and choruses and some nice back and forth duels. The backing vocals are also really nicely done. As for the writing, The Sensitives mixes rock-‘n’-roll themes with a more punk attitude. Some stabs towards the great country in the west of course, but this is far from a political EP. That was delivered 2017’s Love Songs For Haters, and the band choose a slight different approach here which is nice. The aforementioned album is sadly as relevant as ever, no need to update or repeat that.
It should also be mentioned that The Sensitives has taken help from a long list of friends/musicians in the punk community to help with the instruments. It’s done nicely though, lifting the tracks without taking focus from the whole, blending in perfectly.
I don’t have anything straight up bad to say about this EP. The Sensitives might not hit the same highs on Ride It Like You Stole It as compared to previous records in my opinion though. But on the other hand it’s a really consistent delivery, no fillers here. There are two good signs that I’m left with, signs that for me are really important. The first is that I’m having fun and get energized listening to this EP. The second is that I don’t feel any need to hop over and listen to the band’s influences instead of the music from the band themselves. My first thought is rather “Damn, I should listen to some more The Sensitives”, which is exactly what I’ve done, and what I recommend everyone to do.