While not as scatterbrained as the Nirvana/Oasis/Supergrass imitations on Highly Evolved, the Vines’ debut, Days doesn’t help them establish any distinctive identity of their own. Quasi-psychedelic tunes filled with sun-soaked, droning harmonies in the vein of the Verve, Ride, and mid-1990s Blur abound, highlighted by the above average “She’s Got Something to Say” and janglepoppin’ “Rainfall.” Less successful, however, is “Evil Town,” whose gremlin-with-a-vendetta growls and sub-sludge riffs sound like castoffs from Pearl Jam’s Ten. By the time Days ends, with the sloppy snarls and garage-borne strut of “Fuck the World,” listeners are hard-pressed not to dredge up as much ire for this unremarkable disc. — Annie Zaleski
This article appears in Mar 17-23, 2004.
