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Rating: For once, I feel the need to thank Mtv, and let me tell you why: every time I play this CD, my mind drifts back to that endless sleepless night spent flipping through TV channels, from improbable algebra lessons (...), to unbearable infomercials for paintings or carpets, and glimpses of some shapely girl inviting you in a seductive voice to give her a call for a modest price of 1.50 EUROS per minute! I try to switch to MTV... there's Brand New, the only really interesting program on the whole network, and there's this group I didn't know playing a not-bad song that grabs me immediately because it sounds like that college rock you listen to without too many expectations; in the chorus, the distortions come along with this madman’s screams ("Ride with meeee...")! Everything sounds dirty, rock, yet terribly melodic!
Of course, I get the album, and I have to reveal that I loved it from the first listen for various reasons; one of the main ones is that the Vines know how to navigate well between soft, sweet sounds and rage with distortions. If it's true that songs like "Animal Machine", "Evil Town", "Ride", and the angry "Fuck The World" seem to have come out of Seattle, others like "Autumn Shade 2", "Winning Days", "Amnesia" clearly bear the mark of Liverpool's baronets.
And these guys seem to want to dare more: inserting pure Beatle-like elements in a context ruled by the shadow of Kurt & co... just listen to the verse of the psychedelic "Tv Pro" (Beatles) and the chorus clearly attributable to Nirvana; as well as for other songs on the album: the verse of "Ride" and "She's Got Something To Say" reveals the melody and rhythm of English pop while the choruses shift towards dirtier, distorted rock but still tied to the melody of the fab four.
Also noteworthy are the R.E.M.-like "Rainfall" and the moving title track. Sure, after listening to songs like "Winning Days" or "Autumn Shade 2", it's hard to believe that the same "quiet" band managed to produce songs on the brink of madness like "Fuck The World"...
It's been over a year since that night, and now don't be mad at me, but I have to say it: thank you "brand new".
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Ride (02:36)
That's the start the middle and the end
Aren't you glad the universe pretend
If I don't get this message (home)
Once again, I'm gonna hate alone
Ride with me (x6)
Bored aloud ignored the right to be
Invite me down because we like to see
The colors through your loaded mind
Fuck the world and liberate our time
Ride with me (x6)
I'm not waiting a long life
I'm not waiting alone...
Ride with me (x6)
02 Animal Machine (03:28)
I'm lookin' down by the streets end
Girl you've been lacking a pretense
So save your money for the weak you're gonna kill
'Cause I got something that the company know how to feel
I'm lookin' down by the streets end
Girl you've been lacking a pretense
There can't be anything between
It's automatic over me
Shoot like an animal machine
Straight from the colours of her dream
Colours of her dream
I'm lookin' over the deep end
Time ain't a reason or defense
FLY from a tree to a seabed
Meanwhile, you'll be locked in a freezer
There can't be anything between
It's automatic over me
Shoot like an animal machine
Straight from the colors of her dream
Colors of her dream
Shoot like an animal machine
Straight from the colors of her dream
Straight from the colors of her dream
Colors of her dream (x4)
03 TV Pro (03:47)
See the late night talk show guest professional
A movie star and some kind of telectual
Ohhh
He's a she cause she's got more obsessional
Cause whenever I get uptight know you will
Ohhh
La la la la...
See the late night talk show guest I guess you will
A movie star is some kind telectual
WHO HA!
Ohhhh
La la la la...
05 Evil Town (03:06)
Evil is what you are
As well as being sharp
I fell right to it
She sells and I don't
Like it feels
Like Shonen Knife and Kills
But they don't mind in an evil town
Evil is what you are
As well as being sharp
I fuckin' feel to it
I'm in an evil town
06 Winning Days (03:33)
The winning days are gone
Because I know just where I'm seeing
Was given eyes I know
I can hear
Cause underneath there's gold
I need to get around to find it
And when I want to go
I can dream
I've been trying
All my time
I'm just seeing it rise
Cause it could be the land that's over me
So I just wanna let it breathe
The winning days are gone
Because I know just where I'm seeing
Was given eyes I know
I can hear
Cause underneath there's gold
I need to get around to find it
And when I want to go
I can dream
I've been trying
All my time
I'm just seeing it rise
Cause it could be the land that's over me
So I just wanna let it breathe for now
Get up and go outside
It can help your mind too
Get up don't hide away
Cause I know where they go
I've seen you down when I was flying
I'm sinking like a stone
I can't breathe
I've been trying...
09 Amnesia (04:41)
I cannot remember my own sanity
God's love ain't forever
He'll set us free
Ahh..
Thought I had to tell you,
We came from the breeze
But I don't care forever
I don't need a thing
Ahh...
I cannot remember
10 Sun Child (04:33)
Sun child
You're a sun child
Awoken by the spirit of the day
Will I grow wild
Speaking so mild
Forgot about the engine in the rain
Don't let it bring you down
For us that ain't the way
We'll keep our lives reserved
For those who have to pray
But I can't pray
Sun child
You're a sun child
Awoken by the spirit of the day
Will I grow wild
Speaking so mild
Forgot about the engine in the rain
Don't let it bring you down
For us that ain't the way
We'll keep our lives reserved
For those who have to pray
But I cant pray
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Other reviews
By charles
"'Ride,' the first single and opening track, features a very catchy initial riff that gets stuck in your head immediately."
"'TV Pro' is the classic angry Vines track, starting very quietly and then bursting into a distortion as heavy as it is captivating."
By giov
The second effort by Craig Nicholls' Aussie Rock Band is full of musical clichés and lacking in ideas.
The anger, power, and explosiveness that had driven the debut album are missing.
