Vines ready to bear fruit

By Kathy McCabe

February 18, 2008 12:00am

THE Vines frontman Craig Nicholls sounds as reinvigorated and excited as any musician on the verge of completing an album he is confident will restore his band's standing on the world's charts.

It's a big deal to hear a buoyant Nicholls enthuse about the recording of the band's fourth album in Los Angeles.

In the past four years, the Sydney songwriter has weathered overnight international success, a public collapse, been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome and undergone therapy. He has emerged less fragile and more focused on his greatest passion, music.

Nicholls hopes to finish mixing the untitled album next week and return home to start rehearsing for concerts here and in the US in March.

"I feel happier with where I am in every sense. Doing Vision Valley (the band's third album) was coming out of a haze and thinking 'I play in a band, I am that guy in the band that everyone thinks is just crazy'. I'm just kidding," the singer said from the studio.

"But when you have time and space, you can be anything you want; I am lucky to have the opportunity. I can't believe it."

Nicholls and bandmates Ryan Griffiths, Hamish Rosser and Brad Heald - who joined as bassist 18 months ago - began recording in November with producer Rob Schnapf, who worked with them on their smash hit debut Highly Evolved and its follow-up, Winning Days.

The band have performed sporadically since the release of Vision Valley to minimise the stress to the frontman's condition.

But Nicholls said he wanted to perform more shows to support the release of the fourth album.

"It's really good that people have stuck by us, it's really nice," he said.

"I am so glad we have this album, which I feel is the best we have ever done, to play to them.

"Hopefully the perception (of me) might be altered to someone who is a good singer and songwriter and that this is a good band, something like that. I really don't mind. I don't think that much about what anyone else thinks."

The Vines are set to return to the stage at the Golden Plains festival in Victoria on March 8 and a concert at New York's Bowery Ballroom on March 17 has already sold out.



While release details are yet to be confirmed, The Vines fourth album is believed to be out around late April.

(source)

LATE APRIL?! AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!11111

*is dead*

yayayayay!

okay, i need to calm down.

dsmfdjsafjadsjfkdlsjfkds!!

solid find, good effort!

AH GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the best new of the week . good, very good. . I can't wait.

yes!!!
great news, amazin!! did craig say BEST ALBUM we've made?! Oh my god. Im kinda scared.. i cant wait!!!

Yeah! Oooh, maybe it'll be out on my birthday!

Soooooo excited. Hope it is released in April. Not long to wait

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

OMG OMG OMG *is trying to breath*

Or mine!!! *tries to hide excitement but can't*

How did I miss that in the paper?!?! I must find it within my newspaper heap, cut it out and frame it

I knew this album had a certain vibe going for it now I have not a single trace of doubt. If Nicholls says it's the best album they've done, then I believe every word of it.

Late April is perfect!!

Late April!! :yahoo. Oh yeaeeeeah Sounds absolutely amazing.,
And I do hope that people do get another perception of Craig with this one. He doesn't deserve all that crap some people say about him. But it's good that he doesn't care what people say

Best album they've ever made? Wooohooo! Now I'm getting even more excited

i think there's a big difference if you think about what they have said in the past and what Craig is saying about this album-

I remember them saying they were 'really proud' of winning days. To say it's the best thing you have ever done, especially in light of highly evolved, is great. good for them. I can't wait for this album. I have so much faith in these boys.

I hope this album hurrys up and arrived.. the play count on all my other Vines song is making me look a little.. sad. lol.

yeeeyyy!!! I can't wait!!

This is super exciting. I can't wait. I am sure it will sound fantastic, how could it not?

Ursa, thanks a lot for that

Its good to hear some news from the guys... And what news

I rly cant wait to hear the new songs, and im even more curious for the albums cover... and the inside pics (with brad, oui oui oui!!!)

wowy when i saw that title, i was all set to dive down the shops for a copy
I can't believe how late i am at finding stuff out...jeeez

awwwwwwwwww.so exciting!!!!!

YAY!

UMM this has made me insanely happy. Just hearing those quotes from Craig makes me all warm and fuzzy inside (and not in the naughty way). And April!?!? That's sooner than I expected, OMFG EXCITED!! *tears of joy*

PS - thanks so much for posting this Ursa!

how could we forget about the greatest band of this world?
he's so adorable. he really loves his fans.
i'm sure he does know how much we love and appreciate his music & him.


i just can't wait any longer. GIMME THIS ALBUUUUM PLZ!

someone who doesn't already think that Craig Nicholls is a good singer and songwriter and that The Vines is a 'random' band is a moron. bastard. ugh ;__; sorry.

[quote name='Mary_Jane83' date='Feb 24 2008, 01:53 PM' post='634751']

i just can't wait any longer. GIMME THIS ALBUUUUM PLZ!

yeah...come on. please. i cant wait any longer. im checking out thevines.com every second for some news..the article said the album should be finished by the end of the week...

And maybe a single will be out before mid April or what ever.
I just can't wait anymore. I need new music and specially from the band I love.