Highly Evolved by the Vines: Good Content but Disjointed Overall

There is very few things that get me more angry, than when I hear people compare The Vines to Nirvana. Yes they sound like Nirvana in some aspects.... but to compare them to Nirvana is just plain wrong! Nirvana was a band that revived rock and placed it in its proper forum. The Vines is a decent band being shoved in the spot light with media hopes that they might elevate the attention of people in rock. Being shoved in the face of an audience is not a sign of greatness. If that was not enough to lower your expectations of them.. then their sales figures might. Its sorrowful that a so called great band cant raise their sales, even with all this publicity and exposure that their receiving. Yes their figures are up, but going from almost nothing to a little something isn't much. I was under the impression that great bands lack in sales because they don't receive enough exposure. Whats the Vines excuse? How many times platinum did Nirvana reach? Say it out loud with me FIVE albums of theirs went platinum. Bleach, Nevermind, Incesticide, In Utero, MTV Unplugged In New York, and From The Muddy Banks OF The Wishka all went platinum. The Vines.. not even close. The closest they get to Nirvana is the on stage antics that ensue after every show. The Vines are good. Don't ruin that by comparing them to nirvana.

On their own merits The Vines are definitely a good band. They are deeply in love with rock and want nothing else than to create it. They want highly to create like the bands they so enormously love. The Beatles and Nirvana. Two bands which are arguably the best that have ever played. They care not about performing or the star status but of making music. It is with out a doubt what drives them. Highly Evolved is an album that is soft and mellow with ruff edges. While it has two song in it ( "Get Free" and "Outtathaway" ) which are up tempo, the rest is a favorable mellow sound. I think of Highly Evolved as something soothing and comfortable to listen to while relaxing.

Track Listing:

1. Highly Evolved

2. Autumn Shade

3. Outtathaway

4. Sunshinin

5. Homesick

6. Get Free

7. Country Yard

8. Factory

9. In The Jungle

10. Mary Jane

11. Ain't No Room

12. 1969

1. Highly Evolved [1:34]

This is a great introduction song. Its relaxing yet quick paced in its delivery. The lyrics are fair and i say that only because its complete in its topic and understandable. Its repetitiveness makes it one of those that you like or you don't. I particularly like it for that same reason.

2. Autumn Shade [2:18]

Moving to this song you suddenly drop to a slower tempo. It can be frustrating if your looking to keep one mood. If not its delicate and soft sounds keeps you entranced for a while. Too bad its too short a while. The song is quick to bring its ending and makes you feel disappointed. Disappointed at the fact that so little effort was placed on a potentially good song.

3. Outtathaway [3:03]

If their is one major thing I hate about this album it has to be the way they yank you in and out of musical moods. Abruptly (in my opinion) they bring back the high energy which began in Highly Evolved. Discarding that change, I can say that this is a great high energy song. I particularly greatly enjoy the relentless and repeating sounds of the guitar. The lyrics aren't great but then again lyrics aren't the bands strong suit. After a couple times of hearing this song it finally clicks and it is very much enjoyable.

4. Sunshinin' [2:43]

This song is annoying in its repetition. Its a repetition sound that just makes me want to push the NEXT button. The ending was strange and just not good. The thing that I did like about this song was the fact that its under 3 minutes... so at least it didn't take much of the c.d.s time space.

5. Homesick

This is a song that I just sit back and relaxing to it. I just let the melody guide me into a smooth relaxed state. However if you want to attempt this action I would suggest you pay no attention to the lyrics. The story hes telling will just ruin the song for you because it holds no smart meaning.

6. Get Free [2:07]

This song is great. Some would say its nothing but hype.. I say its nothing but energy. Its the only song in this album that I would consider above average. It could be because its good... or maybe the fact that I greatly enjoy blasting this song as I drive.. shall we say somewhat rapidly. This is a high energy feel good song. My only complaint is... is... that its only two minutes long! Well in time ill get over this great bad feeling. (That's a sarcastic remark..)

7. Country Yard

Another mellow song that annoyed the hell out of me because of Nichol's repeated Ahhhhhhh Ahhhhhh, which is suppose to be soothing but ends up being just damn awful. Skip from here to next...

8. Factory [3:12]

This is a good mid-tempo song which I very much enjoy. While it takes a couple listens to get it, its great in its rhythm. It kind of reminds me of the Beatles for some odd reason. (I didn't say as good... I say reminds me...)

9. In The Jungle [4:15]

This song can be enjoyed in small quantities. It starts off good but turns ugly. Its not good listening in the long run. Oh and what IS the jungle? I have no idea what hes talking about. Then again I never do. So what's my gripe about.. right? Just skip this song. The next one has to be good right? Let see...

10. Mary Jane [5:52]

Well this is mournful. In Mary Jane we find another song that fails to go anywhere. Well at least no where good. How wrong is this, one of the worst songs on this c.d. is one of the longest. The song is awful and desperate and lets move on....

11. Ain't No Room [3:28]

I really like the flow of this song. Its more up-tempo and alive. To the contrary of last few songs it does not loose itself while searching for whats good. As the song flows on it develops a nice beat and louder vocal while still not becoming too loud for its own good. Its one of the few song in this c.d. that I truly enjoy.

12. 1969

This song is fairly well played. Nice drumming but its failing because of its lyrics. It opens itself up in a way were your attention concentrates in its lyrics but delivers nothing good. Maybe next time they will put that extra needed labor... in their lyrics.

This album is good but not great. Its average at its highest point. Half a joy and half.. well just the norm. Its no Nirvana but I think Ill compare them to um-mm any one hear of Eve 6. Like Eve 6 one great song.. a couple good songs.. and the rest is filler.