The Vines - Don't ListenTo The Radio

Thu 20th Apr, 2006 in Music Reviews

All fans of The Vines know that these guys, now reduced to three, are not only extremely talented, but altogether capable of a bloody good comeback. The fall out between Craig and bass player Patrick Matthews hasn’t hampered the band musically at all. Fair enough, he may have been a credit to them in the early stages, but the quality of music The Vines have produced is hard copy proof that despite malicious write offs by some critics, The Vines are still growing strong.  Now, You Am I member Andy Kent has filled in to play bass.

Don`t Listen To The Radio is cheekily ironic given that communication by means of Radio, T.V and Telephone are key players in endorsement. This is one of those tracks that upon first listen can become instantly likable. After shunning The Vines a few years ago when Craig couldn`t contain a bout of Aspergers aggression at The Annandale, radio station MMM stopped playing their music altogether. But, this hasn`t stopped the better frequencies like JJJ from spinning this new and delightfully catchy single from the inspiring homecoming album Vision Valley.

There are two parts to The Vines live performances and they are both equally captivating. One is the ability to play brilliant garage rock very capable of cracking a smile on the face of even the least enthused, and the other is the morphing of the show with some awesome and mellow acoustic songs. This is of course, aided by the usual psychotic antics and pretentious wailing on Craig Nicholls part, but this single features little of that.

Listeners are also given an extra acoustic track to hook into called Give Up, Give Out, Give In that comes across as eerie and melancholic at first, but sways into a typically Vines classic sound This track can be slotted alongside the groove train enchantment of songs like Sun Child and many others including the evocative 1969. Shortly after, we are treated to an instrumental of Don`t Listen To The Radio, for all of us who like a good sing along or karaoke.

You might even say that this record is as giftedly constructed as the commercially successful Ride from Winning Days, it is a little more subtle but nonetheless just as involving. Although The Vines have taken a big break from touring extensively, they have hinted that there are some yet to be confirmed plans to play some local gigs within the year.