Description:
Call it a crisis of confidence or the search for a new direction, but either way Winning Days, the second album for Sydney's the Vines suffers from a worrying split personality. On the one hand they revive with gusto and instant hooks the stroppy rock splendour of Highly Evolved On the other, they've aged 10 years, turning out cosy ditties and soulless doodling. "Ride", "Animal Machine" and no-nonsense shout-along "Fuck the World", all play like a master class in lip curling NYC rock. Then there are the punchy guitar struts, kicking back for the hip-shaking, scream-loud chorus; they drip with punk a
Call it a crisis of confidence or the search for a new direction, but either way Winning Days, the second album for Sydney's the Vines suffers from a worrying split personality. On the one hand they revive with gusto and instant hooks the stroppy rock splendour of Highly Evolved On the other, they've aged 10 years, turning out cosy ditties and soulless doodling. "Ride", "Animal Machine" and no-nonsense shout-along "Fuck the World", all play like a master class in lip curling NYC rock. Then there are the punchy guitar struts, kicking back for the hip-shaking, scream-loud chorus; they drip with punk attitude and teen-rock god posturing from the off. By midway though, the raging hormones have all but evaporated, replaced by sunny, Beatles-like head bobbers ("She's Got Something to Say"), middle-aged swayers ("Rainfall") and smiley mush ("Sun Child", "Winning Days"). "Autumn Shade II" is the only truly dreamy moment, a reminder of the shimmering psychedelic breaths that punctuated their debut's spirited stroppiness. For deciding not to just regurgitate Highly Evolved, they're to be commended. But Winning Days leaves little doubt that snarling's what they do best. --Dan Gennoe
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Manufacturer: Heavenly
Release date: 22 March 2004
EAN: 0724359892405 UPC: 724359892405
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