Capitol
2006
Vision Valley (Explicit)
About This Album
After 2004's lackluster Winning Days and Craig Nicholls' subsequent breakdown, it certainly seemed like the Vines were never to be heard from again. Surprisingly, though, the band persevered: Nicholls was diagnosed with and treated for the neurobiological disorder Asperger's Syndrome, and guitarist Ryan Griffiths and drummer Hamish Rosser stuck by him (bassist Patrick Matthews left to play with Youth Group). The trio recorded Vision Valley in a few small studios around Sydney, and the album has the back-to-basics sound of a band getting back on its feet again. The Vines have consolidated their strengths, sticking to their formula of wound-up, grungy rock and pretty, psych-tinged ballads. Fortunately, they still do both well, as outbursts like "Anysound" and "Nothin's Comin'" keep it spare and simple, while the title track and "Take Me Back" show that Nicholls and company's softer, lusher songs have nearly as much impact as the harder ones. Especially on the first half of Vision Valley, everything is tight, focused, and shiny, particularly on the playful pop of "Candy Daze" and the insidiously catchy single "Don't Listen to the Radio," both of which offer a more bubblegummy take on their rock sound.
Track List (try tracks 2,3,4,5,7 and 12)

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