Hmm... I'm not sure how I feel. I love the tracks, but they feel so different.
Sometimes it almost feels like I'm not listening to The Vines. 0:
I'll give it time.

I think many of the songs sound better live, like Get Out. Definitely an awesome album for live performances. LOTS of energy. :3

I think Merrygoround is my favourite. It sounds like it would be AMAZING in concert. It'd certainly get me moving. 0:

I woke up, turned my pc on and what is that i see?? The only thing that made me spill my coffee! Wow what a great way to start the morning. Because my country is "internet buying challenged" I can't order the album, and I have to wait for a while till it gets to stores so this is just amazing.

I love the songs, I was a little sceptical I have to admit, and now I hate myself for it.
The album is GREAT! I can't stop listening to it. I think my favorite besides Braindead is Orange Amber. But I'm not sure. For the last hour I am thinking which one to put on myspace page.
True as the night is so lovely...it is my equivalent of Vision Valley for example.....Scream is so powerful...
I have to listen to it all again!


edit: I love "She is gone"

On the first listen.... definitely the best thing since highly evolved- i like how they have moved on- it's not like they're trying to make highly evolved again. They're trying something different. I like it.

blargh it's so awesome. my only issue is: pretty much all except 2 of the songs are 2 minutes long or under.

if AS3 was 3:30 it would be my trip to heaven. more could have been done with it! but genius is what it is so i'm not complaining.

yeeheeeeeee yes i noticed the sound difference too.
love love love.

Anyone wanting another Highly Evolved is just going to be deeply dissapointed, but its not fair to criticise people for assuming they were going to get one, because Craig said this was a comeback for them, so you assumed they were going to revert back to the old way which made them soo great.
However, they seem to have done the opposite and gone and taken one massive step forward (and slightly off to another direction) with their "comeback" album, which should be praised for bravery none the less.

However.... im also confused on how I feel about this album. It certainly packs a lot of energy and shows a band wanting to get out there... but theres just something about it which makes it not feel like a Vines album.
Every song there seems to feel a bit too commercial... the Nirvana side of the band seems to have been forgotten (or left out on purpose).
Even Braindead, the track touted to be their heaviest and the most Nirvana-esque song, when heard on the album sounds completely different... and slightly odd. mainly due to Craigs new style of vocals put on the chorus.

Scream seems to be a half assed effort to give people who loved "loud screaming craig" a song on the album.

Merrygoround though is probably their strongest song theyve written since Ride. A full on beatles garage pop song which is absolutely amazing! They got it 100% right.

True as The night is their best slow song on the album, 2nded by She is gone. But other than that, I find the slow songs cringe worthy at best. A Craig nicholls talking about marraige is a big NO NO in my books, but I expect the fan girls will like it.

Jamola turned out to be Blue Jam like I said, but it is a much better version and so i dont feel cheated. Jamola is another odd highlite on the album, if a little out of place.

I think the reason it doesnt quite feel like a Vines album yet is 1: its a much more over produced album and more poppy. No Fuck The Worlds or Animal machines on this album!
2. Where as before Vines albums flowed beautifully through the album, one song easily complimented the other, this album seems to crash bang and wallop thru the soundwaves for its 40odd minute lifespan. Not that its a bad thing, it does give the album its own sort of character and makes it a very unique Vines album.

I think this Vines album is probably their most riskiest because its such a giant leap away from anything theyve done, or maybe not.
The more Vines stuff I hear the more I think Highly Evolved was the album Craig Nicholls never actually intended to make. The raw garage rock sound of HE is not something you find on any of their other albums... perhaps Melodia is The Vines actual true sound.

That song is probably the most personal song Craig's ever written, it really shouldn't be dismissed as a 'song for fangirls'.

Personal? The lyrics made more of a story-telling impression on me, but I could be mistaken.

Also, I never thought these words would ever escape my keyboard but I pretty much second everything Tyler's said about the album.

true that. A deep, moving and emotional song won't make anyone less of a man and more so a 'fangirl'. It's a different side of Craig, just the side that says [quote] "I have emotions too!" [end quote]

It's sort of a mix between the two, I think. I know Craig said there was more truth in Orange Amber, even, but it does strike me as really intimate, let it be about actual hapenning in Craig's life or just something he made up. Either way, it really is so much more than just a bone for the fangirls.

sorry I didnt mean it was a song written for the Fangirls, i beleive all the songs are much more personal about Craig.. he seems to be very lovey duvvy atm.
All i meant was a Craig nicholls talking about love and marraige isnt really for me and that theyre the sort of song fan girls would be more into, rather than the Vines fans who want destruction crazy craig.

is he talking about LA? someone said they heard allie, but i heard LA. as in the place. makes sense.
nice post slashnx

Random things I thought of at work while I thought about this album (lol):

Manger reminds me of Animal Machine, for some reason. Like...the attitude of it. I can't explain it well, obviously. But I wonder if anyone else got that vibe.

True as the Night can't get out of my head...and I agree with whoever said that's kind of a corny phrase but...it works out well. And whenever he sings it I think of the live video of him singing of it and gesturing outwards and saying those words

The best way I can describe the sound of this album is...if Nirvana was considered "the Beatles plus punk rock," then this album is "the Beach Boys plus punk rock." Which is awesome, though that's too simplistic a description...I hear a lot of other influences as well.

(insert obligatory, obvious comments about there being more sides to Craig and blahblahblah)

It was a total shock to me. Like I was bouncing around and enjoying the trip of the songs, then "A Girl I Knew" came on and I heard the lyrics and I literally just stopped and listened. It was like...whoa, shit. It was kinda awkward, like a friend told you something off the wall and you weren't prepared for it

Pretty sure it's Allie. It was really clear live.

you are aware that relationship was only for like a month or two and waaay back in 2004 aren't you? I don't get why so many girls round here make such a big deal about his fling with Harry...

Helo Fans of the vines I m new in the forum and Im come from Spain, sorry but my spèak english dont is very well, I´m going to hear melodia now, next I comming for here and I tell. I´m very fans of the vines is a band of my live they are changed it. Ok Bye

awh, thank you. I knew you'd warm to me!

having listened a bit more- I have decided that I am kinda wishing that he's a rocker and get out weren't on the album.
He's a rocker was so misleading as a first single as it's nothing like the rest of the album- when I first heard that song I was really worried that this was going to be an album of radio friendly dirge a la get free / outtathaway. Which is the problem with both those songs. I like parts of get out... but it's just too like every other single they ever released.
I honestly don't know what people will make of this album at all. It can go one of two ways: either people will think it's too over-produced and it'll all go horribly wrong, or people will love that they are doing something different and it'll get great reviews. Anyone who says that this album is what they had expected- i.e. an album of standard but good vines songs- couldn't be more wrong.

I've only listened to it once... so my opinion might change on closer listen, but that's my 2 cents after one listen anyway.

welcome!! enjoy!!

So far everything I've read (albeit mostly blogs by fans) has been really positive so I'm fairly optimistic about the reviews to come.

But of course, we have to wait to see what the almighty NME think of it ...

fuck NME. Guaranteed they'll give it a mediocre 6/10. If they even review it. They're far more interested in this horrible 80s rehash shit that we're all going to live to regret and be embarrassed by.

It's good to have a change after all this time you know, i think that song is more of a story then about him personally. Destruction crazy Craig doesn't seem so cool to me now that i'm 20. What does seem cool is Craigs new song topics. It ain't about lookin' cool no more, Just great music.






The NME will be too busy apologizing they are not the second coming of Nirvana whilst hyping whatever indie rock band is currently trendy . Fuck 'em they stabbed the Vines in the back pretty hard.

Although I couldn't care less what NME is going to think of it, I am kind of interested in what they are going to say probably because to me, this album is so great, that I'm hoping they'll eat their own words about their low expectations of the band. But I wouldn't bet on it happening.. they probably still hold some serious grudges after he broke their dictaphone!

my Idea of Melodia, I don´t lie, for me is a nice album, short and nice songs for me. but i don´t compare this album with others, because a album of the vines is different that others, and I like it. and of course when the cd is in stores I buy. Bye

Hello, guys, I'm a new here too (omg))
Must to say that Melodia is the crazy amazing album. And I think it's good that it not like other Vines' albums, it's sounds different, may be more grunge here =))

And I have a favour to ask of you. Can you post lyrics of Melodia in some thread? Cos here a lot of fans who have problems with English (and me too), but we want to sing songs))))
And thank you for that interesting forum!))
Melodia is greeeeaaat !!! =)

Hell, even us English speakers can't understand half the things he says I need a translation, plz.

Yeah, Craig is not Craig without shout) That's why "Scream" is sooo cool. It's really a bomb
And I'm so glad to notice that this album's full of harmony. About 5 hard/fast/heavy tracks and 5 calm/lyrical/beautiful ...and a pair of something in the middle. They can do everythig!)))

overall, i don't think melodia has that much of a different sound. because, aside for a few tracks, the whole thing sounds like candy daze and take me back! manger is the greatest!

anyone like eviltown?

Edit: You know what. I changed my mind. I love the album.

Well, borgy posted lyrics to He's a Rocker in this thread that I think are pretty spot on, except that the first line goes "once there was a young man" and not "there's a lazy young man".
Also, there's a few attempts at figuring out the lyrics in this thread but I must warn you that those were done when all we had was fan videos of a few live songs and therefore couldn't exactly work out everything, which led to quite funny interpretations, actually.
Anyway, the lyrics should be in the booklet and the album comes out this Saturday so it won't be such a long wait.

I think something which is making a big difference to this album is that it is quite clearly written in a completely different mindset to all the other albums. If vision valley was written from a dark place... somehow this album sounds much more positive and optimistic.
Lyrically it seems to be a drastic improvement on what I was expecting from He's a rocker.

I can't wait to hear proper hi-fi versions. It sounds nice on myspace... but it'll sound incredible from the CD through my studio headphones. I can't wait to go get lost in AS3 when I get it.

edit- with regards to the songs being short- AS3 being a prime example- they seem to be of the opinion that they should leave the audience wanting more.... and it works.

edit2- I'm usually pretty good at figuring out what Craig is singing. I'll have a stab at it soon enough, pretty busy at the moment though....

... who whispers "4...5..." at the start of true as the night?

Is it just me or does Merrygoround seem like In The Jungle somehow. It has a resemblance in my opinion.

A girl I knew actually just gave me shivers. I hear a lot of sleepy jackson, and a lot of imogen heap in parts some songs.

I'm loving the more ballad inclined nature of this album.

It definitely isn't Craig. It's either Hamish or one of the studio blokes, I'm guessing.
Also, I can't believe I've just spent a good minute replaying someone whisper "four, five".

that's true love for you.

I know, I know! I'd said before and I'll say it again, whoever remains cold after listening to that song is an insensitive bastard.

I just love get out and manger they're really cool. and all the ballads and slower songs are jus great. I am soo happy they put the songs on myspace!

it would've taken me ages to get the record in holland..

Why would he say...L.A. was a girl i knew...?

He says ALLIE.

To me its saying the song is probably about Harry, but he changed the name to Allie..

That's my take on it anyway.

FFS, he went out with Harry for like a month 4 years ago... I very much doubt he's still hung up about it enough to write a song. I've had longer relationships with blocks of cheese in my fridge than he had with that girl.

MisplacedKeys
Thank you for the links!) But, yes, hope to see soon a booklet


Hm, may be. But I found for myself that Orange Amber sounds like Don't listen to the radio But it doesn't matter anyway, the album is perfect.

ROFL! He met Harry in August of 2002. They were with each other as boyfriend and girlfriend until the very end of 2004. She lived with him during that time. She didnt stay there for more then a few months at a time, im assuming because of visa rules..but then she'd fly back to go stay with him again at his home in Sydney.
Yes! They were very much in love, and had a very real relationship for over two years.




LMAO!

I've got a spin article that says very much to the contrary...

ROFL!!

Well i guess Spin is the bible then.

I also was on Harry's website back in 2004, and she would mention quite a lot actually... not to mention my own personal sources on the subject matter.

Get over your denial Tyler. They were a REAL item for over two years.

the album is absolutely fantastic.

the ballads are just as good as the ones on 'highly evolved'.
i can't wait to get the cd to just play it over and over in my car.

i think it's safe to say that the vines are back.

The whole album is soo beautiful.. I love it.
I think all of the songs are amazing, but Orange Amber, True As The Night, and A Girl I Knew are my favorites. Merrygoround, Hey, and Scream are awesome, too.
And does anyone else notice how the whole begining part of 'Kara Jayne' where Craig goes "Kara Jayne.. I wanna see you night and day" (or whatever he said.. Who can understand him sometimes..? hahaha ) like he sang at The Bowery Ballroom isn't in the recorded version..? Wonder if he made it up when he sang it live or if he got rid of it from the song?
I can't wait to get the album and see the the cover and the sleeve.

Has everyone got the album already???
Mines on the way but I'll be waiting a while..
Aw I'm dying for it!
Your all makin me so jealous just talkin about it

In the recorded version, he sings...OH BABY GIRL...i wanna see you night and day..
No mention of Kara Jane what so ever in the whole song.





I cant quite make out what he says in the beginning there, if he says Kara Jane or baby girl. He slurs it terribly..lol
He may very well be saying Baby girl...or...Baby gurrrrriiiillll....

Seems he just tagged on the name Kara Jane as the title for that song after he met her.

I wanted to wait till I got the CD to listen to the whole album... I tried to resist... but it only took me 2 minutes to break and listen to the songs . Ahhh I love it .

Oh, right.. I got a little confused, sorry about that..

First of all, HOLY fuck what a surprise. I really wasn't expecting them to put all the songs on myspace so when I seen that I about shit myself, cried tears of joy, had a heart attack and orgasmed all at the same time. BEST DAY OF MY LIFE.

So yeah, Melodia is really really really really awesome (for lack of a better term ). I can't even express how happy I am right now, but Craig was definitely right when he said this is their best album, and I'm not just saying that 'cause I'm excited. Instead of thinking of them as album's as a whole and comparing, I like to think of them as songs and...these are seriously some of the best they've ever done. I LOVE ALL THE SONGS!!! The ballads are ridiculously amazing, my favorite keeps changing but right now it's She Is Gone, 'specially the end part. And the harmonies are perfection. *shivers* Another good example of that is in A Girl I Knew, that song is sad obviously...but so so beautiful it's unreal. I expected True As The Night to completely blow me away since the first time I heard it on youtube, so I wasn't surprised when I got a little teary eyed (understatement). OK Enough about the ballads, now for the rock songs! I was most excited to hear Manger and wasn't disappointed at all, it's extreme coolness. Plus the scream at the end, was that a scream or guitar or both I can't tell, but it was really intense I was like "whoa", and I'm pretty sure I heard sirens at the end. Merrygoround is fun and it starts out nice, I really like the bass and yeah...I'm rambling like crazy but this is my sad attempt at a review. And to everyone who thinks The Vines lost their sound, they didn't, they just improved on it! For example, Orange Amber remind anyone of Rainfall or is it just me? And Scream reminds me of Animal Machine with the "ba ba doo wah" stuff at the end...that's all I can think of. But for the most part, their sound has matured, and yes they're trying different things get over it. ALSO (yeah I'm not done just yet) about the songs being short, I was surprised to find that I didn't even notice it! It didn't feel like a premature ejaculation like some of the b-sides did which I was actually kind of worried about, so I'm happy. The Vines have taught me that a lot can happen in + or - 2 minutes and a song doesn't have to be 5 minutes or higher to be great. And let's not be greedy folks, you can't really judge a song just on it's length...it's quality not quantity that matters, and these songs are most definitely quality. Ok I might as well type up some of the lyrics since I'm going to be listening to them again.

PS - Sorry for my shameless use of smilies.