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Critic Reviews
90
Arty and hummable, gloomy but not scared of long lazy afternoons in the sun, ‘Highly Evolved’ is the sort of shiver-down-the spine debut that gets you thinking that if The Strokes were the John the Baptists of rock then just maybe.
12y
80
A highly evolved hybrid of grungy, garage rock swagger, '60s psych, and '70s pop ... "Highly Evolved" is a great introduction to the Vines' eclectic style and suggests that they may have a more distinctive voice -- and future -- than many of their contemporaries.
12y
80
It's rare for a band to channel the Velvet Underground, Nirvana, Dandy Warhols and the Beatles within the span of 45 minutes and sound unique, but the Vines have crept into that select category with Highly Evolved.
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2y
80
Striking a seam said to be equal parts Beatles and Nirvana ... Despite pasty complexions and studio tan lines, these Vines will grow on you.
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2y
80
The Australian quartet's debut album justifies the fuss that followed its title track's bubblegum approximation of Nirvana.
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2y
60
These four handsome Australian lads are doing a fine job of plundering decades worth of trashy-yet-tuneful American rock.
10y
41
The Vines get credit for ambition, but Highly Evolved covers so much ground that none of it seems convincing: there's just no emotional depth here.
12y
30
It's underdeveloped, it sounds rushed and the only truly enjoyable moments echo Verbena.
10y
Kurt Cobain but not kinda sorta like what
I initially was a bit confused to see the user score below a 70 because I liked what I’d heard from The Vines, but hearing this whole album, it now makes sense. There are some really great tracks on here that I love like the obvious standout Get Free, which is a gut puncher of a track and is just unique and super angry and energetic and great. You also have Outtathaway which I really enjoy as well. I find it pretty energetic and catchy. The title ... read more
This critically praised revamp of garage rock has been compared to Nirvana and likes and heralded as one of the best alt-rock albums of the naughts. It's certainly as catchy as any mainstream rock band in the early 00s, but there's a certain commercial bent to its sound that keeps me from seeing its importance. Its almost happy-go-lucky nature fits more on the background of a chewing gum commercial than the dusty, sweaty mosh pit that Kurt and the boys once jammed in.
The Vines have bought a decent album with a range of genres. All the songs sound decent but nothing too memorable.
I think it's good bro idk why the ratings are so low.
I think I'm bad at knowing if music is bad or not
Wow would you look at that? Yet another Garage Punk album from the 2000s on the 1001 Albums To Hear Before You Die list!! Who would have seen that coming?? I get that Garage Rock was a big deal during the early 2000s but like come on man with all the other projects that were snubbed, did this really need to make the cut? It is a very average and safe pick if you ask me with the only notable part of this being the band being from Australia. I was down with the music for the first couple of ... read more
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Track List
| 1 | Highly Evolved 1:35 | 88 |
| 2 | Autumn Shade 2:17 | 74 |
| 3 | Outtathaway 3:02 | 85 |
| 4 | Sunshinin 2:43 | 75 |
| 5 | Homesick 4:53 | 76 |
| 6 | Get Free 1:59 | 92 |
| 7 | Country Yard 3:46 | 69 |
| 8 | Factory 3:12 | 60 |
| 9 | In the Jungle 4:15 | 77 |
| 10 | Mary Jane 5:52 | 63 |
| 11 | Ain't No Room 3:28 | 78 |
| 12 | 1969 6:27 | 76 |
Total Length: 43 minutes
