Nope, that’s not a typo’ the Backyard Babies’ latest is indeed called Live Live In Paris, a title that’ll cause havoc for those who don’t pick up on word play. Anyway, the Backyard Babies ‘ for better or for worse ‘ are probably most renowned for their connection to another Swedish rock band, the once mighty Hellacopters. Backyard Babies guitar player and sometimes vocalist Dregen helped form the Hellacopters with Nicke Andersson (ex-Entombed) and together the duo created one of the best pure rock albums ever via 1999′s Payin’ The Dues. When you cast the story in that light, one wonders just why Dregen returned to his Babies after achieving all kinds of rawk heights with Andersson and co. Though the Backyard Babies have always been a cool force in their own right, the Andersson/Dregen Hellacopters collaboration could have spawned many more great records, and the Hellacopters may never have spiraled into the diluted weakness of new record Rock & Roll Is Dead (aptly titled, no doubt).

Live Live In Paris, I think, represents Backyard Babies’ re-introduction to the American market after several years that saw the band’s efforts only released in Europe. As such, Live Live In Paris acts as a sort of Best Of, compiling the band’s most beloved tracks. At the end of the day, and despite my complaining above, the Backyard Babies can be viewed as a force in its own right, one that has — just or unjustly — been buried underneath the mountains of other Scandinavian bands playing a variation of this sound (the Hellacopters, Glucifer, Division Of Laura Lee, Soundtrack Of Our Lives, and to, an extent, the Hives). And what Live Live In Paris really represents is that when the Backyard Babies write great tunes, no one can keep up. Several of Live Live In Paris’ songs kick it up to notches not usually found in the field. However, at the same time, there are moments when the Backyard Babies tend to walk on the beaten path. In those moments, Dregen’s talents and ability to solo whenever the hell the urge strikes a la Payin’ The Dues is completely squandered.

I guess what I’m saying is that the Backyard Babies have all sorts of potential and, when they exert that potential, very few bands can touch them. However, those moments don’t come nearly as frequently as necessary to achieve top-tier status.

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