After contributing playlists for the past month to our local Wrexham FM radio station, I realised that I had not played any of the most current or recent ‘buzz bands’. In circumstances where I was free to play anything I wished (as long as it didn’t include the F word), I was able to find amazing past and present music from my collection that I felt truly deserved airplay. The Vines wasn’t amongst my list on the basis of their last album. Perhaps things could have been different with this new one…

Opening in the band’s frenetic rock style, Ride, with traces of the Beatles running through the choruses, is quite a strong opening. The next track, Animal Machine, is an altogether darker, moodier song that mixes slow and contemplative with fast and heavy rock. Add a tangible melody and you have a pretty good tune. The same applies to the following track, TV Pro, one of the highlights of this much improved album. With Autumn Shade II the band stamps firmly on the brake pedal, and perform a quite beautiful rock ballad with gently rolling drums, expressive vocal, and very pleasant harmonies. It’s this diversity of pace and mood that has alienated certain critics while leading me to believe that the band is maturing musically. Title track, Winning Days ascends into quality, gentle pop/rock territory with wandering guitar riffs, a strong melody and lyrics. Amnesia possesses a mild country rock vibe and wistful, flowing ambience that continues with the sadness of Sun Child, a song I would have played on Wrexham FM.

With WINNING DAYS I sense that the band is exploring new emotional territory and is still walking the discovery trail. For this reason, I think the third album may hit the sweet spot. But for the time being this album fills the gap quite nicely. Not a great album but a much better one.

3.5/5