Sweden's
the Rhinos worship at the altar of jangle pop the way a Pentecostal preacher believes in the Holy Ghost, and they enthusiastically embrace its healing powers on their second album, 2008's
In Rhi-Fi. Embracing the originators of the form (
the Byrds,
the Searchers) as well as taking pointers from latter-day enthusiasts (
the Windbreakers,
Tommy Keene),
the Rhinos aren't afraid to borrow from other pop classic sources; "For Just Another Hour with You" cheerfully wears its
Brian Wilson influences on its sleeve, and the guitar solo in "Love (The Strongest Thing)" sounds like something
George Harrison could have dropped into
All Things Must Pass. Musically,
In Rhi-Fi offers precious little that sounds fresh or original, but the
Rhinos mine the past with such skill and obvious affection that anyone with a taste for such things is likely to be swept along with its current;
Lasse Hindberg can write melodies to die for, the guitar work from
Hindberg and
Björn Persson is as clear and refreshing as a mountain stream, and
Hindberg's production is simple and unobtrusive as it successfully reaches for retro effects. And while the music occasionally sounds like a laundry list of references from these guys' record collections, the lyrics offer some sly and snarky wit on "She Presents the News" and "My Town," and "PTO" is a none-too-subtle attack on a right wing newspaper columnist. The Rhinos aren't reinventing the wheel on
In Rhi-Fi, but plenty of folks can use a new wheel every once in a while, and if you want to satisfy your hunger for some jangle pop in the classic style, this album is the musical equivalent to an all-night buffet.