The Vines - 'The Best Of The Vines' (Released 05/05/08

Remember The Vines? Tagged by the press as the saviours of rock and heralded as the second coming of Nirvana, labels not easily shaken or forgotten. Since forcing their way into the spotlight in 2002, the Aussie post-grunge rockers have notched up three long-players and have a fourth due for release later this year. In the meantime ‘The Best Of The Vines’, released by former label Capitol Records, is a compilation of their work to date and although the band had no say in the albums release, they did pick the songs.

Not surprisingly, the tracks lifted from the bands debut album ‘Highly Evolved’ include their first five singles; the often overlooked debut ‘Factory’, the abrasive 90 second long ‘Highly Evolved’, their highest charting single to date ‘Get Free’, ‘Outtathaway’ and ‘Homesick’ (released in Australia only) as well as ‘Autumn Shade’. ‘Highly Evolved’, produced by Rob Schnapf (Foo Fighters, Beck, Elliot Smith) was recorded in Los Angeles and from the outset was plagued with financial difficulties and creative differences. Original drummer David Oliffe didn’t last long before he quit, but with interest in the band rapidly growing, session drummers including Joey Waronker of R.E.M filled the gaps, before Hamish Rosser was recruited alongside Ryan Griffiths. The release of the album, which sold over 1.5 million copies, garnered immense critical acclaim, gaining nominations for several awards as well as winning the ARIA ‘Breakthrough Artist’ Award. The Vines had left obscurity as a Nirvana covers behind and were well on the way to success.

As is often the case, their sophomore album ‘Winning Ways’ released in 2004 failed to live up to expectations and received mixed reviews from fans and critics alike. Making its way from the album and onto the compilation is ‘Ride’ which remains one of the bands best known songs after being featured in an iTunes advert, ‘Winning Ways’, ‘Autumn Shade II’, ‘Animal Machine’, ‘F.T.W’ and ‘Sun Child’. At this point in the bands career, tensions were running high with Craig Nicholls becoming increasingly erratic and unpredictable and it wasn’t long before the bubble burst. In May of that year, Nicholls broke down during a promotional performance, smashing his guitar and hurling abuse at the crowd. Bassist Patrick Matthews had had enough and left the stage and the band for good. In the chaos that ensued, Nicholls was charged with assaulting a photographer and later diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome.

Their third album, ‘Vision Valley’, was released in 2006 and to the relief of many saw the band get back to basics. Andy Kent of Australian band You Am I took up bass duties and production was left to Wayne Connolly (also responsible for producing Patrick Matthews’ new band Youth Group). ‘Vision Valley’ was seen by many a welcome return to form, but due to lack of promotion, barely registered, as did the two singles (‘Don’t Listen To The Radio’ and ‘Anysound’) that it spawned. As well as both singles, the albums title track ‘Vision Valley’ and ‘Spaceship’ are also included on the compilation and help convey the albums short, sharp and immediate sound.

The compilation also see’s the band cover ‘4Eva’, originally by identical twin sister pop duo The Veronicas and first recorded by the group for inclusion on ‘No Man’s Woman’ a compilation tribute album to female musicians. ‘The Best Of The Vines’ provides a snapshot history of this highly talented and influential group whose music first took the world by storm six years ago and is still incredibly valid today.