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THE REVIEW
Here comes the blown-up Craig Nicholls again, returning with his group of poor souls forced to settle for a mentally unstable front man... and the music? Well, I had "praised" "Winning Days" in one of my de-reviews, and by necessity, I could also praise the "valley of visions" since we don't stray far from the previous two: same old raw-ish sound, Nirvana-like fighting against Beatles-like, similar "la la la la la laaaaaaaa" (or "ye ye ye yeeeeeeeee", "ah ah aaaaaaaaaaaah", "uh uh uhhhhhhhhhhh" depending on the requirements) which are the most intelligent (and understandable) verses of every song.
Any news? None! Not even in the length: 31 meager minutes spread over 13 songs (they even beat the Strokes...). "Anysound" could be titled "Ride II" since it's a copy; just as "Nothin's comin" copies "Highly Evolved" and "Candy Daze" has that fresh "innovative" '60s sound with the solo that mimics the singing and the ever-popular "la la la etc etc" (what a bore!). The title track feels déjà vu but gives a certain sense of desolation that fits ("oh yee yee ye yeeeeeeeee"). The first single has to be liked necessarily: classic rock embracing grunge in the chorus. "Gross out", "Fuck Yeah", "Dope Train", and "Atmos" are four angry tracks that fill in the gaps since they sound "strangely" useless. "Take Me Back" smells of that fairground folk, "Going Gone" is "Autumn Shade". Some novelty is in the final track "Spaceship": a guitar that arpeggios and an angelic voice that sings lethargically, then the drums enter and around halfway there's room for a distorted and pleasant solo that drags on until the end... in the valley of visions everyone sees what they like.
But in this valley you only see things that have been seen over and over...
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Summary by Bot
The review criticizes The Vines' album Vision Valley for its repetitiveness and lack of innovation, comparing it unfavorably to earlier releases and iconic bands. The raw sound and grunge influences persist, but the album offers little fresh creativity. Some tracks provide energy, yet overall it feels like a rehash of what has been done before.
The Vines
The Vines are an Australian rock band from Sydney, frequently characterized (in these reviews and broadly in public discussion) by a blend of '60s-leaning pop/psychedelia and '90s grunge abrasiveness, fronted by Craig Nicholls.15 Reviews
Other reviews
By Adil
What surprises this time are the ballads: Take Me Back and Vision Valley precisely because of their absolute simplicity are the best episodes of this comeback.
Many, however, will prefer to overlook Nicholls' evident musical maturation to better focus the spotlight on his shaky mental health.
By JULIANHAMPSHIRE
Spaceship (arguably the best track on the album)... it’s pointless to extend it over 6 minutes just because the other tracks don’t reach half an hour.
Craig’s voice, with its famous overlapping counter-melodies, never bores.
By Roberto De Filippis
The album opens with a sort of intro made of limping guitar riffs with four chords in a '70s style supported by Nichols’ energetic and excited voice.
Candy Daze, which shoots off in the manner of Beatles’ intros, continuing to inspire a gentle rubbersoulesque psychedelia that compromises with Nirvana.
