|
 (Ivy League)
Rockers turn their map round the right way again and find their way back to form.
I still remember the first time I heard The Vines. It was (cue poorly compiled re-enactment) 2001, I was driving in my car, and High Evolved came on the radio. The belting rawness and the yet-to-be-introduced Craig Nicholl’s venomous scream instantly got me so excited that I pulled into the nearest shopping centre and asked if they had a CD, anything by this new band I think were called The Vines. Unfortunately I was in Toowong at the time, so the always-clueless Sanity sales dude sent me home with The Hives’ debut album instead. A great recommendation, sure, though more from good luck than any underlying musical knowledge. Anyways, in the seven years since, The Vines have blazed one of the more interesting rock and roll trails, with worldwide buzz and success followed by glaring personal issues and decent but uninspiring second and third albums. Happily with their fourth album Melodia, Nicholls et al have recaptured some of that same base level excitement that roughed up our ears and throats in 2001. Lead single He’s A Rocker is one of the simplest and catchiest songs in The Vines’ songwriting book so far, tugging at your sleeve and begging to be sung along to, while the same gutteral release mechanism that was so effective in original scream classic Get Free is again here in opening track Get Out and particularly the quiet-loud Merrygoround. Meanwhile, the ‘60s Britpsych melodies still waft through the meadow air in tracks like A Girl I Knew, She Is Gone and tellingly A.S III, the third in the Autumn Shade series. The last couple of years might have seen The Vines getting their shit relatively back together, but with a big sloppy scoop of adrenaline on an album of tracks averaging around the two minute mark, Melodia is anything but dull.
****
SIMON TOPPER
1. Written by Mariana, on 16-07-2008 18:15 , IP: 190.220.7.222
It's an awesome album, out of Capitol strings, at last  |
2. Written by H, on 18-07-2008 10:22 , IP: 203.171.95.184
Even Craigs songwriting has improved on Melodia. The Vines have been my favourite band since they came out but alot of their older songs seemed to have abstract kind of meanings whereas on Melodia there seem to be more songs with meanings (kara jane, a girl i..etc) I don't think anything will beat Highly Evolved but Melodia is definitly a step in the right direction!! LOVE IT! |
3. Written by James, on 28-07-2008 10:40 , IP: 124.150.119.37
lacks a little in the standout wow tracks like \"get free\" or \"ride\" but is much more consistent than previous albums. heading in the right direction. |
|
| Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Poster's IP addresses are logged. |
|
Comments (3)
