Despite the hype and blanket positive reviews, I didn’t like the previous album. To me it seemed to be pastiche, and yet more pastiche. It did not reflect the music of the band I had seen live on the NME tour. However, this new album seems to me to be closer to the musical truth, the real essence of this band…

Anysound opens proceedings with great intro riffs before a punky, angry vocal makes it entrance. The song is intensely rhythmic, gutsy, raw, and comes with a tangible melody. It rocks and a better album opener would be hard to imagine. The next track Nothin’s Comin’ actually ups the stakes with a devastating bass vibe, rampant pace, and some classic rock riffs that drive an equally rocky vocal. Candy Daze goes a tad mainstream but is still miles better than previous efforts. Vision Valley is a beauty with its slowed pace, more subtle instrumentation and sincere vibe. Yes, the Beach Boys harmonies are back but this time it’s wholly appropriate and adds to the emotional depth of a song that could fly up the charts. Don’t Listen To The Radio is a clappy, happy, bouncy tune with nicely judged rockier moments that bestow the song with both distinction and originality. Gross Out is out and out rock one moment and then reverts to moments of quieter reflection, and then rocks again. It’s brief and it’s bloody wonderful. Take Me Back goes down a more acoustic route as it plies its gentle and quite beautiful passage. This has to be one of the album’s highlights and while it’s strong on pop sensibility, with telling backing vocals, there’s something special about it that deserves praise. Gong Gone carries on the same gentle and contemplative vibe, and by this time I’m convinced that this is a very good album from a band now showing its true musical nature. In fact I would go as far to say that with this record the band has carved out a unique niche for themselves in the rock market. This particular song is epic in scale and really sets The Vines apart for the first time.

Fuk Yeh goes upbeat, rocky and raw, while exemplifying the diverse pace and mood of the songs on this record. Spaceship concludes the album on a quiet and beautiful high with its moving sentiments, lovely melody, acoustic passages; soaring and expressive guitar riffs; and sensitive vocals.

I’m back on board with this album and can see it figuring strongly in our end of year ‘best-of.’ Essential.

4.5/5