Review Summary: With a newfound sense of energy, Wicked Nature is a fresh and enjoyable listen.
The past few years have not exactly been kind to
The Vines. Beginning with 2004’s
Winning Days, critics and audiences alike have panned The Vines, viewing them nothing more than a cheap
Nirvana cover band. It doesn’t help when frontman Craig Nicholls’ behavior has been, well, “less than stellar” over the years. After the release of
Winning Days, their music has had a significant decrease in quality, becoming less and less interesting as time went on. The closest thing to a risk they’ve made in the past eight years would have to be the semi-electronic influenced
Future Primitive, but even that was only “okay”.
When I found out that their new record,
Wicked Nature, was going to be a double album, I was very intrigued. Double albums are very challenging for a band. They have to release two discs worth of material that will not only keep the listener’s attention for it’s entire runtime, but also not be too pretentious for their own good. After the announcement was made, they released the lead single “Metal Zone”, a track that honestly took me off guard. While it is your basic “verse/chorus/verse” power chord muncher, there still is actual energy to it, as in the band themselves actually had some fun playing the song. All of these factors made me want to listen to Wicked Nature, and I have to say, I was actually happy with the results.
The first disc, clocking in at 32 minutes, is pretty solid. Each track has actual energy and passion to it, with only a few forgettable moments. Disc one is essentially The Vines’ last three records done right, take “Out the Loop” for example: Nicholls sounds genuinely happy in this track and the guitar solo is not just 3 or 4 notes that mimics the melody. The Vines’ new line up, featuring bassist Lachlan West and drummer Tim John, is very solid and tightly constructed. They know exactly how to make something simple, but enjoyable. The best track on the first disc would have to be the title track, when the chorus comes in, it’s one of the most uplifting moments on the entire double recor. Disc one is definitely the best thing this band has done since their first two records, sadly the same can’t be said for the second disc.
If the first disc was their last three records done right, then the second would just be a cumulation of said last three records, minus the electronics used in
Future Primitive. This second disc just sounds like a collection of b-sides from the
Wicked Nature sessions, a vast majority of these tracks are dull and uninspiring. The only really standout track would be "Slightly Alien", we're Nicholls' cool, dry voice layered over the 4 note progression completely soothes and relaxes you. Disc two, being only 22 minutes, completely passes by without making any impact on the listener, which damages the overall score of the record.
However, even with its drawbacks,
Wicked Nature is still one of the best things this band has done in the last eight years. The band’s new rhythm section helps out with making each track tightly structured and precise, and their sudden newfound energy keeps a good majority of these tracks fresh and memorable. It might not be the casual listener’s cup of tea exactly, but to any fan of The Vines, Wicked Nature is a great listen and a step forward for the band.
