Making Enemies Is Good

Making Enemies Is Good is the third album, gathering Backyard Babies' street-rock roughness and punk speed with sharp guitar riffs. Released in 2001, it took their first No. 1 on the home album chart and won a Grammis, as the previous record had. The songs are short but the phrases catch hard. Described as controlling the previous record's chaos, it balances roughness and structure well. Nicke Borg's singing gained more ease and Dregen's guitar became more song-like. It has the density and drive to carry 13 songs in one breath. Inside the dirty atmosphere, surprisingly pop melodies lurk. From the opener “I Love to Roll” to the singles “The Clash” and “Brand New Hate” — the latter co-written with The Wildhearts' Ginger, who was involved in several songs here. “Colours,” “Star War,” “Ex-Files” and “Painkiller” are all strong; there's no filler. After this the band would tour with Motörhead and open for AC/DC. Not making rebellion an ornament but pushing through on the momentum of the sound itself — a rock 'n' roll record.