The Vines: Highly Evolved
Published August 21, 2002
The Vines: Highly Evolved
2002, Capitol Records
Review by Stephen Silver
The Vines: Highly Overrated is more like it. The latest neo-garage "buzz band" (in the tradition of The Strokes, The White Stripes, The Hives, etc.), The Vines have had hipsters in a tizzy for the past few months- but it's all for nothing, because there's nothing particularly original, skillful, or special about their music.
This is how the New Garage Hype Machine works: a band plays a small club show or two in New York a few months before their record comes out, the hype grows from there, and before long they're extolled in Entertainment Weekly and Rolling Stone as God's new gift to music. This happened last year to The Strokes, Stripes, and Andrew W.K. (who, thankfully, deserved it), while next through the pipeline are Interpol, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and The Catheters. It's the punk aesthetic all over again, only with a new generation, as well as that same old New York hipster snobbery (after all, the Strokes are only about 10 minutes older than the Strokes Backlash).
"Highly Evolved," like "Is This It" and even "Veni Vedi Vicious," has been heralded as an impressive combination of influences- adding the Beatles and Radiohead to the usual cocktail of the Ramones, Iggy Pop, and Nirvana. But who wants to hear third-rate imitations of rock gods of the past, especially by a band that brings virtually nothing new to the table? They're blatently riffing on "Oh-Bla-Di, Oh-Bla-Dah" on "Factory" (not as well as the Offspring did, I may add), while doing their best Nirvana on the lackluster first single, "Get Free." The only good song is "Homesick," where singer Craig Nicholls and the other band members execute some beautiful harmonies- unfortunately, there's virtually no harmonizing anywhere else on the album.
The lyrics, meanwhile, are sub-Toad the Wet Sprocket on the profundity scale. In "Mary Jane," Nicholls mumbles that "Mary Jane said life's a wait/I already know/Because we're down/We'll lose the town/Just like I would choose." Voice of a new generation, huh?
If the choice is an either/or between music like this and bubble-gum pop or Nu Metal, then I vote for The Vines. But just as musical revolutions of the past have devolved into unlistenable swill by the end, The Vines' rise indicates that the neo-garage movement is headed down that road. If The White Stripes and The Strokes are Pearl Jam and Nirvana and The Hives are Soundgarden, then The Vines are on par with Bush, or Seven Mary Three.
- The Vines: Highly Evolved
- Published: August 21, 2002
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- Writer: Stephen Silver
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*~Excuse me if you think that about The Vines you have absolutely no taste in music, for one I know craig personally and you don't know a fuck about them and their music!!They are definately doing alot better than you may I say!!~*
the VInEs RoK tHiS wOrLd!
Mostly you're bitching here about everything but The Vines' actual music. You're going on about some promotion man's made up neo-garage movement- and you may have a point there. I haven't paid attention to know. I could not care much less about the hottest new trends in the biz.
However, "Hate to Say I Told You So" is an outstanding song, and a nicely made record- or a nicely written song and and outstanding record. I'm not sure. Maybe outstanding on both counts, or...
Anyway, by rights you MUST give them at least that one song. This song alone will earn them at least an honorable footnote in music history. It may not be stylistically "innovative" coming at this point in history, but as a song "Hate to Say I Told You So" will go head to head with [brace for sacrilege] the Kinks "You Really Got Me", to pick out an obvious illustrious musical ancestor.
OK, so "Hate to Say I Told You So" is The Hives, not The Vines. I knew that, see. I was just testing y'all.
Do you have any idea how many sales were made from their 1st album? Your comments stand alone amongst a world who obviously think they possess great talent. Your comments will further be kicked up the arse in their 2nd album release in March, ur a great writer keep up the good work! P.S they don't even say "o'bla di, o'bla da in factory..
i couldnt really be bothered to read this whole peice of shit youve written..but please, get over yourself.
these bands are the bands ofthe moment becuase theyve got something good going, and pricks like you are so anti-everything that you cant see that.
oh, and latisha..you probably dont even know craig. so dont even try to brag about it. your probably just another teeny who thinks he is hot.
I have to agree with everything Caitlin says...these bands are great and have heaps of talent,thats why their the bands of the moment.
Oh yeah,Latisha,im agreeing again with Caitlin. What exactly was the point of your post?Who cares if you knew Craig anyways,hes a normal guy and you wouldn't brag unless you were some teeny girl that thinks hes hot. And don't say I'm jealous because I really couldn't care less about what the look like,I respect their music.You probably haven't listened to,or yet still even bought the album. Get a life
Has anyone got any idea what happened at the Triple M concert in Sydney on May 27 that has led to Triple M refusing to play their music anymore?
Kristy, Yes, I was there, and what happened was that the lead singer threw quite a hissy fit, when the bartender asked them to turn it down, and maybe play some quieter, acoustic cover numbers, perhaps a little Simon & Garfunkel, or Oasis, so we could all get back to watching the football match on the telly. Well, let me tell you, the band up and stormed out, without paying their bar tab, or cleaning up after themselves! So, from here on out, the Triple M, will go back to strictly juke box and karaoke.
Sorryyyy!!!!, but I think you are wrong, maybe they have influence of those groups, but they are good enough to make a revolution in music!!
you must be a real idiot if you think that all songs have to make sence their songs are a way of telling how they feel and their sound isnt bad either they are incredibly talented and people like you dont know a single thing because your all biggots oh and narcacists
Exactly, im glad i listin to real music. Like YES.
i love the vines i have no clue on whose side some of you r on yeah craig kinda sucks live sometimes* but in the sudio they know what their doing when they were on the later... shoe with jolls holland, they were pretty good i dont know what else to say but the fact that they are totally sphyecadellic ooo i cant type
The Vines do have a bad image at the moment... guess it's because of craig nicholls and his brain disorder thing but anyway, their music is thrilling and that's what everything should be about.
OK, FOR STARTERS YOUR ALL A BUNCH OF DROP KICKS..BLAH BLAH "YOU DONT EVEN KNOW CRAIG, YOU JUST THINK HE IS HOT", OR "DONT SAY I AM JEALOUS BECAUSE IM NOT". I DONT THINK THAT ANY OF YOU IDIOTS REALISE JUST HOW STUPID YOU SOUND, SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE INTO DIFFERENT KINDS OF MUSIC AND ALLOW THEM TO HAVE THEIR DIFFERENT TASTES. IF YOU WERE A TRUE 'HARD CORE' FAN OF THE VINES OR WHO EVER MENTIONED THEN YOU WOULD HAVE THE DECENCY TO GROW UP, ENJOY THE BAND THAT YOU ARE INTO AND IGNORE THOSE THAT DISAGREE. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMEONE WHO DOESNT LIKE YOUR MUSIC, DEAL WITH IT, APPRECIATE IT SINGLUARLY IF NEED BE AND ENJOY THE BAND THAT YOU ADORE. BEING AN OBSESSED FAN HAS NEVER REALLY DONE ANYTHING FOR ANYONE AND IT MAKES YOU LOOK A TAD OFF THR RAILS. COME ON GUYS, GROW UP AND ENJOY YOUR MUSIC WITHOUT THE RANDOM BULLSHITTING!!!!
i think the vines rock no matter what ANYONE says!!! i do however think that whats-his-face gave them a horrible review. and so what if craig is nuts? all the guys in the band are musical geniouses!!!!!
give them SOME credit.
sheesh
wow your such a bogg music critic ,I bet you cant come up with anything like the vines did . [Personal attack deleted]
I really do not agree with you guy, i think The Vines is the greatest band ever. Of course that's only my opinion but well i really loooove them. Highly Evolved is an awesome album, winning days too but Vision Valley rocks !! You should really check it out on their official website
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Are you mental?
THE VINES FUCKING RULE!
You must have problems.