First there were the White Stripes. Then the Strokes, followed by the Hives. Now say hello to the Vines. The Vines
The band's debut CD is raw
rock with bit of psychedeliaBy Gary C.W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.comThese retro rockers from Sydney, Australia, are the latest in the ever-growing line of raw-sounding, brash young men (and women) whose songwriting chops match the breathless hype that follows them around like it's the Second Coming.
The great thing about the Vines et al. is that the music's energy isn't artificial. The Sydney quartet takes inspiration from the Beatles, Nirvana, the late-lamented La's and, of all outfits, OutKast, whose hit "Ms. Jackson" they've been covering in concert.
The group's debut album promises to be a memorable one. With Beck/Foo Fighters producer Rob Schnapf behind the recording board in Los Angeles' historic Sunset Sound studios, "Highly Evolved" is exactly what its promo copy calls it: a "swaggering, tuneful shot of raw rock with a chaser of blissful psychedelia."
And the group has its own Julien Casablancas-like front man in Craig Nicholls. Nicholls, bassist and backing vocalist Patrick Matthews, and a drummer met during high school while working at a local McDonald's and formed a trio. Now the group also features acoustic guitarist Ryan Griffiths, while Hamish Rosser has replaced the original drummer. With a name taken from an obscure '60s Australian band that Nicholls' father played in, the family line looks to remain strong and have a promising future.
"Highly Evolved"
The Vines (Capitol/Ignition)
Not surprisingly, the Brits have totally embraced the Vines, as they did the Strokes before them. They've made hits of "Factory" and "Highly Evolved," both on the album. "Factory" is a bit of tongue-in-cheek disco love, while the title song is a raw rock thumper that sounds like a direct rip from the Strokes, with its provocative lyric, "if you feel love/you can buy love/from a pay phone." The bratty "Outtathaway!" and "Ain't No Room" could also be mistaken for Strokes songs.
The band's label hopes that the song/video "Get Free" will be the U.S. breakout hit. It's one of the catchier songs on the album, a full-tilt assault with buzzy guitars that channels Nirvana, complete with Nicholls' Cobain-like yelp.
But the Vines distinguish themselves with longer, more developed songs such as "Homesick," "Country Yard," "In the Jungle" and "Mary Jane." These songs languidly move through fragile, psychedelicized melodies and moods of youthful ennui. And the album-ending "1969" (not a cover of the Stooges' classic, although it wouldn't be out of place for this band!) stretches out into a closing sonic freak-out.
I admit a predilection for this kind of music over a great majority of the nü-metal out there. That's because it shares a sense of the rock-music history I grew up with. If that makes me an old fart, so be it!
The Vines' album will be released Tuesday, the same day that the band appears on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien."
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