Customer Reviews

Highly Evolved

5 star:		(108)
4 star:		(72)
3 star:		(37)
2 star:		(21)
1 star:		(28)

 

 

Ok, forget all of the Nirvana comparisons for one second. Yeah sure they dip their feet into the Seattle waters from time to time, but there is so much else on the Vines debut, it simply adds to the over-all appeal. I immediately gravitate towards singer Craig Nichols' screaming vocals. Somehow he puts his own unique twist on a vocal style long since original. After that, are the lyrics which at their best, take no prisoners and weep with angst and sorrow. At their worst, they become sing-a-long punk-pop projects. (nothing wrong with that at all)

There is an immediate feeling to the record. And it's important feeling too. The feeling of something new and fresh, yet so familiar. Right away we realize these guys have some great CD collections, but further more, we realize they use what they know. One could say "Highly Evolved" is a sum of it's influenced parts.

Highlights for me include the blitzing single "Get Free", the emotionally charged, "Country Yard" and quick hit wonder of "Highly Evolved".

These four aussie rockers have pushed their way here with an album that sounds like it would never get a chance, but somehow did. It is the sound of kids that are fed up with the rap metal thing and yawn at the uninspired state of "safe" alternative radio. It's an album that will please immediately but will pleasure for a lot longer.

I have to say that out of all these "The" bands (Vines / Hives / Strokes / White Stripes /Exies / etc...), The Vines album has gotta be the best buy. I own "Veni Vidi Vicious" by The Hives and that's my favorite punk album but I'm not TOO BIG on the punk scene. I've heard The Strokes and White Stripes albums but The Vines outdo them all. Being said that The Vines were influenced by Nirvana (my favorite band), I immediately bought this to check out the hype. Now, it really wasn't what I expected at first. The only Nirvana-esque song is probably "Get Free" and that's a rockin' number but with ballads like Autumn Shade, Sunshinin', Homesick, Country Yard, and Mary Jane, this album did not live up to my expectations. I must say I was disappointed with this album as first but you have to hear all the songs with an open mind to make this album very ... accessible to listen to. That's exactly what I did and this CD now belongs in my top 5 or top 10 collection right behind my Nirvana albums. Here's a short rundown of each song...

[01] Highly Evolved
- Despite the fact that this killer rock track is only like a minute long, it's easy to identify this song by the title. When I first heard it, it sounded like a space-age futuristic rock song with its overproduction but nonetheless, killer song.

[02] Autumn Shade
- Now I know Craig's and Axl's (GN'R) voices are in completely different ranges but this song just reminds me of GN'R's "November Rain." I don't know how to explain it well but this is the best ballad you'll find on "Highly Evolved". As the song drags on near the end, you'll hear some static/feedback which, in a cool way, jumps into...

[03] Outtathaway
- ..."Outtathaway" with its simple guitar riffs up to the point where Craig Nicholls yells something uncontrollably (a la Kurt Cobain in "Tourette's"). With its catchy chorus and the simplicity of this song, it's hard to say that you don't like this rock gem.

[04] Sunshinin'
- Now this really isn't a ballad but it's toned down from the likes of "Highly Evolved" and "Outtathaway". Nice, peaceful song to listen to.

[05] Homesick
- This is the ballad of all ballads. I prefer "Autumn Shade" over "Homesick" due to the fact even though this song fits perfectly into its category, it drags on a little bit which makes it a little tiresome to listen to.

[06] Get Free
- Now this has gotta be the fastest track on this album. No doubt about it. Some people might say it's a bit overplayed and that I cannot deny, but compared to the rest of the songs, this is the only track that will get your blood pumping. Well, maybe. Gotta read on in case I change my mind.

[07] Country Yard
- "I'm tired of feeling sick and useless" ... is how Nicholls starts off this song; "moody," that is. Then, as he goes on further on this track, it turns to "happiness." It's a great song. VERY similar to a specific Beatles song. Can't recall which one though. Killer ballad.

[08] Factory
- Sounds like a cross-over between The Beatles and The Kinks but I like to easily identify this as a Jamaican skater-punk song for some odd reason. With its lightning quick drum rolls in the intro to the awesome guitar and bass riffs by Nicholls and Matthews, this is definitely the standout track of this album. And I wouldn't be suprised if this became a HUGE single.

[09] In The Jungle
- Songs like these are hard to explain. Just read what I wrote about "Factory" and replace the track name with "In The Jungle." This rocker sounds like something from a Rolling Stones' b-side collection. A GREAT b-side, that is.

[10] Mary Jane
- If you like ballads, you will LOVE this. The only complaint I have about this is the fact that Craig Nicholls decided to extend this song just a bit too much droning out the words "Mary Jane......" several times. I can't say this song is a flaw on this album but if I had to choose one, this would be it.

[11] Ain't No Room
- In the beginning, you hear somebody say "One, two, one, two, three," (drums start). From then on, Craig plays the best guitar riffs you can hear on this CD with his feedback-ish altered voice for the first few opening lines. Its got an awesome chorus and this is also one of those tracks that would easily become a hit single.

[12] 1969
- Definitely sounds like something that came out of the 60s. With its constantly tempo changes and great drum beats, this is also another outstanding track. Great closer for such a great album.

All in all, The Vines' debut album, "Highly Evolved," is definitely a good buy. Don't buy this album believing all the hype with its ...comparisons to Nirvana. Nirvana were great but when you listen to this, they deserve to be completely distanced from any relations with Nirvana. The Vines are The Vines and that's all I can say.

'Highly Evolved' is quite good. There. I've said it. "Quite" good. You'd be forgiven, having read the hyperbole surrounding Australia's Vines, for thinking they'd resurrected Princess Di, discovered a cure for cancer and performed all manner of other miracles in one fell swoop. They haven't. They've made a fairly good, punky, melodic, rock n roll album. That the music press in Britain has gone so overboard, hailing Craig Nicholls and Co as the best band for a decade (erm, what about Oasis, Radiohead, The Strokes etc...), is a reflection on the rather pathetic desperation of the media to find the next big thing, and then convince an unsuspecting public that it is considerably better and more thrilling than it actually is. Well, it made me go out and buy the album anyway.....

Onto the actual music. Nicholls is a decent front man, by turns angry, joyous and reflective. Musically the album mixes punk, grunge, acoustic strumming and full-on rock wig-outs, the influence of Nirvana and Supergrass readily apparent. The stand out tracks (admittedly after only 3 listens) are Country Yard, Highly Evolved and Mary Jane. However, groundbreaking 'Highly Evolved' aint. This isn't the only drawback (The Strokes' album is rather derivative, but still brilliant) - the album just doesn't excite like it should. It could have been made by any one of a dozen marginal indie bands, and to compare it to debuts such as Oasis' 'Definitely Maybe' or the first Stone Roses album is, to my mind, ludicrous. Still, you should draw your own conclusions - I'm sure a thousand people will think I'm an idiot on reading this.....

The Vines are my favourite band ever. I love how they can play great rock and roll music, but also have the talent of playing some really soft, almost beatle-like songs.(Mary Jane, Homesick)And can pull it off pretty good.
I have this album, but it has the cover of the import, but it doesn't have sun child demo...weird. But that doesn't matter because I have Winning Days aswell.
I was also wondering why this album has only 4 stars! All the songs on Highly Evolved are incredibly catchy, and easily get stuck in your head. I found that none of the songs were filler. With a good mix of rock, and soft ..rock, this music just appeals to me. I also like how these guys are from Australia..(Also check out Jet.)
Great songs include: Highly Evolved, Autumn Shade, Homesick, Outtathaway! Country Yard, and Mary Jane.

I Highly recommend this album, aswell as The Vines' second album Winning Days.

People that hate on The Vines have probably only heard a few songs (the radio/mtv ones), but do not realize how different the rest of the cd is. It's sort of psychadelic, sort of depressing, but good throughout. They have nice rock solos and definitely are an enjoyable band. There is so much variety on their FIRST CD.

"Highly Evolved" - good track, but it's just a bit short. something you can tap your toe to and nod your head to

"Autumn Shade" - a somewhat haunting (all those background voices), slow song with a nice solo at the end, which leads into the next song with a distortion noise..

"Outtathaway" - a catchy rock song, that became a single after "get free." has the nice dual voice thing during the verses, also has a good distortion solo.

"Sunshinin'" - sounds like a stoner song, which can be ambiguous. pretty easy going, maybe something to drive along to

"Homesick" - the best song off the cd, with well-written lyrics, nice use of piano, and dual vocals during the verse. Has the best solo on the album as well.

"Get Free" - obligatory the radio song/single, but it's still a very good effort. the ultimate "get pumped up" to do something song. the 'hardest' sounding rock song on the cd.

"Country Yard" - slow-paced song, yet has the at times screaming vocals of frontman Craig Nicholls, which is odd, but works well. ends with a little folky riff

"Factory" - a very happy, high energy song. you can see the influence of the Beatles (Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da), like the ska/reggae style guitar playing. chorus is the weakest part of the song, but the three verses are well written and sung.

"In The Jungle" - sometimes fast, sometimes slow, lots of screaming. catchy chorus though (in the jungle, in the jungle)

"Mary Jane" - nice intro, nice guitar throughout. a little too slow and a little too long. my least favorite track

"Ain't no room" - a rock song, nice riff. a little dragged out in the end

"1969" - good song to end the cd with. a lot of songs on the cd seemed influenced by the 60's. a little long though, but good stuff.

All in all, the 12 song CD is one worth purchasing. People expect a lot of rock, but many of their songs are slow and have meaningful lyrics. They have awesome solos on their songs and are pretty creative with the vocals. You might want to check out some of their cover songs, "Miss Jackson" (Outtathaway single) and "I'm only sleeping" (I am Sam Sdtrk), as well as their 2nd CD, Winning Days (released March 23, 2004)

I picked up this cd today mostly because I heard "country yard" on an NME sampler I bought a couple of months ago and I really like it.. I didn't really know what to expect when i threw it in. While it is heavier than my usual tastes, I really really like this work. It is definitely in the white stripes / strokes / hives (the white stripes being the only of these i can really stand) but much more original. The only thing I can compare this too is a very raw version of blur "13" This album definitely has an independant feel to it but it doesn't sound intentionally underproduced and I doubt you'll see these guys on mtv or much music (for canadians like me) pretending to act like the beatles on ed sulivan..

There are some really different songs on this album and although the editorial review calls it uncohesive I would tend to disagree, i think it definitely has a running sound. Here's a brief track review

Highly evolved: good driving bass line, heavy guitare, vocals sound like alice in chains (for real!)

Autumn shade: something like a slower oasis song. Here you can tell how good the lead singers voice really is.. good sonic guitar sound

Outtathaway: punk vocals, good retro guitar riff, strong bass line - really good chorus..

Sunshine: one of my least favorite - pretty straight ahead

Homesick: the beginning of this song sounds like the beatles - the most melodic song on the album

Get Free: pretty straight ahead rock song..

Country Yard: hopefully the single, love the chorus - a unique medium paced song that could really catch on

factory: ok another beatleesque song but with a heavy bridge..

In the jungle: cool the beginning of this song sounds like the tragically hip.. not for long, kicks in pretty hard

mary jane: Pink Floyd esque slower song - good tune (hey why is the 10th song on the album always the slowest one?)

ain't no room: pumps it back up again, kinda punk

1969: awesome song, great guitar (big sugar sounding) - probably my favorite song on the album.. wicked sonic bridge / chorus..

anyways, this was a really nice suprise, hope you enjoy! I did!

The Vines released this album during a time that both hurt and helped their public perception and acceptance. With the impending onslaught of the "the" bands and the absolutely phenomenal hype surrounding them all, The Vines were subjected to intense amounts of comparisons and criticism. In addition to the constant comparisons made to The White Stripes, The Hives, and The Strokes, they were also compared to the likes of The Beatles, Nirvana, and The Stooges. Essentially none of these comparisons did anything good for The Vines. When lumped in with the other "The" bands, they were often confused and lost in the shuffle, and when compared to legends such as the Beatles and Nirvana naturally people's reactions were to be offended and point out the ways in which (in their opinions) The Vines didn't measure up to these greats. However, any publicity is good publicity (for the most part) so regardless of what people thought, the hype was still there.

It's unfortunate however that this all took place, because if you can look past all the discussion and debate you will find that this release is honestly just plain good music. While The Vines do possess some similarities to The Strokes, Hives, and White Stripes (see "Get Free"), that isn't all that there is to their equation. When the band truly shines is in their softer more poignant moments. Tracks such as "Homesick", "Autumn Shade", and "Mary Jane" display the true talent that this band has, and in my opinion sets them a pier above the likes of The Strokes, and The Hives. (The White Stripes can hold their own. You'll see no bad-mouthing of them here). Many of these tracks feel like they've been pulled right out of the late 60's and given a modern rock twist, and on the whole it works tremendously.

Overall this is an extremely good release, regardless of what is being sad about the band in the press. If nothing else this is a tribute to the sounds that used to be, and maybe that never should have left, and it's refreshing to hear them again.

I heard "Get Free" on the radio and fell in love with it. It's an awesome song, a better single than "Last Nite," "Hate To Say I Told You So" or even "Fell In Love With A Girl." Similarly, I think the Vines are a better band than the Strokes, the Hives, or the White Stripes. "Highly Evolved" is an awesome collection of songs, showing superb songwriting and thoughtful delivery. I like going track-by-track, so that's just what I will do.

1. Highly Evolved: One of my favorites, definately a potential single, very upbeat and snarling.

2. Autumn Shade: Incredible song, slow and all acoustic, but it grows on you. Craig's voice sounds so cool here, even though he's not screaming.

3. Outtathaway: Note one of my favorites, but not bad. Kind of annoying after awhile. It is a more frantic song, and fun to listen to once in awhile.

4. Sunshinin: Cool song, sort of a mellow-down-easy party tune. I like it.

5. Homesick: More an epic ballad than a rock song, this is an amazing song. The yearning lyrics and deftly arranged instrumentation show the Vines' true talent as songsmiths.

6. Get Free: Still my personal favorite, this is one of the best punk/rock/retro singles this year. I am absolutely enthralled every time this comes on the radio.

7. Country Yard: Kind of a weird song, you love it or you hate it. Another epic-sounding song.

8. Factory: More than a little Beatles-like, but that isn't a bad thing. If they're gonna rip somebody off, at least the Vines showed the good sense to rip off the best!

9. In The Jungle: Another weird song, I can't tell if I like it or not. I think so, but I'm just not sure.

10. Mary Jane: A cool song, nice to listen to, but again I'm not sure if I like it or not.

11. Ain't No Room: This is a good song. A harder song than the rest, this is a pretty cool track.

12. 1969: Another rocker, better than "Ain't No Room." Great closer for the album.

The biggest problem with the album is that it doesn't gel, as many reviewers before me have said. But if you just want a dozen great songs, "Highly Evolved" and the Vines are for you.

There are rare times when you just know you're listening to IT. Not it, but IT. Nirvana's Teen Spirit. Beatles' Day in the Life. Radiohead's Paranoid Android. Enter stage, The Vines. Charging out the box, holding back no punches, left jab, right hook, and you're on the ground in delirious pleasure. The world spins rapidly, blood in your mouth, sweat on your face, and the Vines know you're not getting back up. Mission accomplished.

This is the voice of a generation. The perfect rock star, with the swagger, messy hair in his eyes, and a look of hunger and passion. Screaming like a mad man, he tears his throat in half on Get Free, inviting us all to share in the insanity. "COME IN, COME IN, COME IN" Do you believe? Get Free is just barely over 2 minutes, containing more surprises and hooks than seem logically possible. They boil down Nirvana into its purest extract; just a drop of this stuff could kill you or take you to Heaven. The Vines then add their own poison, their own sound, and we get the most ferocious song of recent memory. The ugly atonal intro sets the moment, shredding the silence. The drums kick in, driving and thundering. And Craig Nicholls is just brilliant. The song is full of anger, bitterness, and just the right amount of jaded apathy. My god. This is song is alive.

The rest of the album? The Vines are exceptionally talented and it's hard to pin them down. They do sound like the Beatles and Nirvana, but the Beatles and Nirvana had multiple styles too. As such, you get the angry punk songs like Get Free and Highly Evolved. But, they change it on you, descending like a dreamy mist on songs like Autumn Shade and Mary Jane. Stirring your heart strings, Homesick has the fabulous line, "But it really doesn't matter/Couldn't change it if I tried/ But I'll do it till I get it right" The song ends on a beautiful solo, complete with backwards guitars. It's simply lovely.

The Vines have a dedication and a real love for the music. The Factory sounds like the Beatles at their best. Sunshinin' has a poppy groove, perfect for warm summer days. And 1969 really is the kicker, a perfect closer to the greatest record of 2002. Craig sings like an inspired John Lennon as the guitar work drops bombs all around. It closes with psychedelic swirling guitars, you feel like you're caught in a windstorm tossed back and forth. The storm dies down, the waters recede, and the album is over.

There is nothing like the Vines. There has been nothing as relevant and exciting as the Vines since Nirvana. This is the Second Coming.

Highly Evolved is a good, solid first album from the vines. the first song i heard by them was Outtathaway on the radio, which i loved. before long, i heard Get Free which at first i didn't like so much but it grew on me. after that i downloaded the title track out of pure curiosity, and i thought that i had never heard a better song in my life. i bought the album for these three songs, expecting the rest of the album to be pretty much the same. however, it wasn't - it was better. a LOT better.

you'd never guess it by hearing the aforementioned radio songs but this is an awesome album to chill out to. laid-back tunes like Autumn Shade and Country Yard actually make up most of the album. they have a very nice sound to them. if you do like the faster songs though, you've always got in the jungle, 1969 and highly evolved (to a point).. a lot of people don't like 1969 it seems, but it's a great song in my opinion. the part where they speed up is just awesome. Sunshinin is also a bit underappreciated, i think.
you may have noticed that while i do love this album, i only gave it 4 stars. well.. the problem is Mary Jane. to be totally honest with you, i simply hate this song. in fact, i haven't hated a song this much since This Protector by the white stripes. it doesn't have the same problem that This Protector did (jack and meg can sing - just not together), it's just that seems to drag, and it's very repetetive. and while there is a whole mess of variety on the album, Mary Jane just doesn't seem to fit.
the rest of the album is great though. highly recommended!