Track Listing

1. Ride
2. Animal Machine
3. TV Pro
4. Autumn Shade II
5. Evil Town
6. Winning Days
7. She's Got Something To Say
8. Rainfall
9. Amnesia
10. Sun Child
11. Fuck The World

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #51722 in Music
• Released on: 2004-03-22
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Enhanced, Explicit Lyrics

Amazon.co.uk Review
Call it a crisis of confidence or the search for a new direction, but either way Winning Days, the second album for Sydney's the Vines suffers from a worrying split personality. On the one hand they revive with gusto and instant hooks the stroppy rock splendour of Highly Evolved On the other, they've aged 10 years, turning out cosy ditties and soulless doodling. "Ride", "Animal Machine" and no-nonsense shout-along "Fuck the World", all play like a master class in lip curling NYC rock. Then there are the punchy guitar struts, kicking back for the hip-shaking, scream-loud chorus; they drip with punk attitude and teen-rock god posturing from the off. By midway though, the raging hormones have all but evaporated, replaced by sunny, Beatles-like head bobbers ("She's Got Something to Say"), middle-aged swayers ("Rainfall") and smiley mush ("Sun Child", "Winning Days"). "Autumn Shade II" is the only truly dreamy moment, a reminder of the shimmering psychedelic breaths that punctuated their debut's spirited stroppiness. For deciding not to just regurgitate Highly Evolved, they're to be commended. But Winning Days leaves little doubt that snarling's what they do best. --Dan Gennoe

CD Description
'Winning Days' is the follow up to the critically acclaimed2002 release 'Highly Evolved'. Here the Australian quartet stick to the basic formula of indie/punk vocals over a grunge-rock beat that worked well for them on their debut. Comparisons to Nirvana made when the band first appeared are more prevelant on this release as the production is rawer and more feedback laden and vocalist Craig Nicholls' lyrics are more screamed than sang. This album includes the single 'Ride'.

Customer Reviews

The Vines - Still on top form
There's always a risk when a new band releases a second album after producing an astonishing debut. Some bands progress forwards and hone thier sound (Room on fire) whilst others seem to flail somewhat and repeat the basic formula of the first album, but worse. (The Coral, anyone?)

I'm pleased to report that after hearing the new album via advance copy, the vines have progressed and produced a superb album that easily matches thier debut, Highly Evolved. Many people have criticised this album for contaning songs that were knocking about way back when Highly Evolved was released. But i feel this bad-feeling is unjustified, if you want to be surprised when the album comes out, don't download the songs, It's like opening your xmas presents early!

Winning Days keeps the same formula that made thier debut such an awesome album. There are the infamous growling tracks that show off Nicholls' talent wonderfuly and will undoubtedly ingrain themselves into your head (I've been singing F*ck the World ever since i first heard it live way back in April '03.)
Ride is a corking (haha, 'corking') opener and quite reminiscent of the brilliant 'Outtathaway' with its driving riff and inimatable Nicholls howl, newies such as Animal Machine and TV Pro also shine with that unmistakable Vines-quality that adorns every last riff and hook...beautiful

Meanwhile, there are the almost Beatles-esque mellow songs interspersing the rocking anthems. Like country yard and homesick on highly Evolved, these are often hauntingly beautiful. Take for example the dreamy, yet unsettlingly paranoid song 'Autumn shade II,' Craig shows off his beautiful voice the most in such songs i feel, and this is helped with the gorgeous 'layered-vocals' technique that really add a strikingly sensation to them.

Lyrically a sense of paranioa and self-realisation is implicit within the album. 'I'm succeeding to speak like I'm f*cking mad' and 'the minds peculiar so f*ck the world up.' The lyrics are perhaps more powerful than thier first album, and combined with the new permanent 4-man line up, this really is a GOOD thing believe me!

In conclusion, if you liked the last one, buy this! Its similar, but better. If you didn't like the last one, buy it anyway, its a truly astonishing album...

winning days indeed
This is the second album from Sydney four-piece The Vines, the follow-up to the incredible debut 'Highly Evolved' which, in my opinion, is easily one of the best albums from the last five years. And despite what many music magazines would have you believe, so is 'Winning Days'.
The album opens with one of the stand-out tunes, fantastic shout-along first single 'Ride', which boasts a great and very catchy guitar riff, one of the best from the album. Singer/lead guitarist Craig Nicholls gives a brilliant vocal performance, his unique voice tearing through some great lyrics.
Some other great tunes worth listening to on repeat are 'Animal Machine', which it is impossible not to shout along with, the surreal but amazing 'T.V. Pro' with its extraordinary chorus that will make you think, why didn't I think of that?!, and F.T.W., an anthem for anyone feeling a bit pissed off. The pretty title track 'Winning Days' is also worth a listen, which features Craig's beautiful singing voice (as opposed to screaming voice) at its best.
I will never understand why this album got such negative reviews. It's nowhere near as good as 'Highly Evolved', but expecting The Vines to better their incredible debut was a very tall order. Forget about all the negative press, put 'Highly Evolved' out of your head and give 'Winning Days' a few listens - I promise it's well worth it.

It's great...
I'm not the kind of reviewer that says 'omg this is the best album I have ever listened to', because frankly, it isn't.

But what it is, is nothing short of incredible. Songs such as Ride, TV Pro, and Animal Machine really highlight The Vines' ability to create fantastic rock music. Enough said.

Buy it.