The Vines got everyone very excited when they first appeared in 2001, being dubbed the "Australian Nirvana" on account of lead singer Craig Nicholls' seemingly self-destructive tendencies. After the disappointing Winning Days album, they're back with the news that Nicholls isn't suicidal after all, but is instead suffering from Asperger's Syndrome.
Gross Out is the first download-only single to be taken from the forthcoming Vision Valley album and is, in a word, short. Clocking in at just 78 seconds, it's fast, furious and possesses that adrenaline-fuelled edge which made their name. Yet its very brevity counts against it. Whereas bands like Be Your Own PET pack everything into their brief songs, this feels like it's just getting going before it abruptly stops.
It may well make a lot more sense in the context of the new album, but on its own, Gross Out has to go down as a disappointing comeback from one of the world's most exciting bands.
share with:
