Logo
DiS Needs You: Save our site »
  • Logo_home2
  • Records
  • In Depth
  • In Photos
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Search
  • Community
  • Records
  • In Depth
  • Blog
  • Community

THIS SITE HAS BEEN ARCHIVED AND CLOSED.

Please join the conversation over on our new forums »

If you really want to read this, try using The Internet Archive.

The Vines

Don't Listen To The Radio

Label: Heavenly Release Date: 25/09/2006

16236
NickyC by Nick Cowen September 25th, 2006

A creaking guitar line segues into handclaps and a lightweight bassline; a couple of beats and Craig Nicholls sounds off on the mic, instructing you to switch off your radios, go outside and hang out with you mates instead, because after all, that's what he'd do. Since this muted, limp-wristed, two-minute slab of nothing is set to go into heavy rotation this month, I'd say it's the best advice you'll get all year.

The beat and the riff are catchy - they go a long way towards drowning out the inane lyrics. But after repeated spins, there are two things dragging this song into the basement. The first of these can be excused - the sparkly, shiny production which almost makes you miss the rough-hewn edges of the band's earlier work. What's absolutely unforgivable is the lack of passion, feeling - anything - that the band brings to the proceedings. It all sounds muted, even by The Vines' standards. It's almost as if this was recorded after Nicholls and the boys went on a 24-hour thorazine bender. Either that, or they really couldn't be bothered.

When you consider the acres of print and hours of airtime that touted this band as a leading light in punk rock back in 2002, while the music press largely ignored the likes of Ikara Colt and Mclusky, it's enough to turn your stomach. But after hearing how detatched and bored they sound, and when you think of how many unsigned bands you've seen recently who've played with more conviction and fire than this, you actually want to start punching something.

Like I said: the best thing you could say about this single is that at least the singer's on target with what you should be doing with your time.

  • 2
    Nick Cowen's Score
Log-in to rate this record out of 10
Share on
   
Love DiS? Become a Patron of the site here »


LATEST


  • Why Music Journalism Matters in 2024


  • Drowned in Sound is back!


  • Drowned in Sound's 21 Favourite Albums of the Year: 2020


  • Drowned in Sound to return as a weekly newsletter


  • Lykke Li's Sadness Is A Blessing


  • Glastonbury 2019 preview playlist + ten alternative must sees



Left-arrow

Fionn Regan

Put A Penny In The Slot

Mobback
16250
16388

The Rapture at Islington Academy, Islington, Tue 05 Sep

Mobforward
Right-arrow


LATEST

    news


    Why Music Journalism Matters in 2024

  • 106145
  • news


    Drowned in Sound is back!

  • 106143

    news


    Drowned in Sound's 21 Favourite Albums of the Y...

  • 106141
  • news


    Drowned in Sound to return as a weekly newsletter

  • 106139

    Playlist


    Lykke Li's Sadness Is A Blessing

  • 106138
  • Festival Preview


    Glastonbury 2019 preview playlist + ten alterna...

  • 106137

    Interview


    A Different Kind Of Weird: dEUS on The Ideal Crash

  • 106136
  • Festival Review


    Way Out East: DiS Does Sharpe Festival 2019

  • 106135
MORE


    news


    The Neptune Music Prize 2016 - Vote Now

  • 103918
  • Takeover


    The Winner Takes It All

  • 50972

    Takeover


    10 Things To Not Expect Your Record Producer To...

  • 93724
  • review


    The Mars Volta - Deloused In The Comatorium

  • 4317

    review


    Sonic Youth - Nurse

  • 6044
  • feature


    New Emo Goth Danger? My Chemical Romance confro...

  • 89578

    feature


    DiS meets Justice

  • 27270
  • news


    Our Independent music filled alternative to New...

  • 104374
MORE

Drowned in Sound
  • DROWNED IN SOUND
  • HOME
  • SITE MAP
  • NEWS
  • IN DEPTH
  • IN PHOTOS
  • RECORDS
  • RECOMMENDED RECORDS
  • ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
  • FESTIVAL COVERAGE
  • COMMUNITY
  • MUSIC FORUM
  • SOCIAL BOARD
  • REPORT ERRORS
  • CONTACT US
  • JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
  • FOLLOW DiS
  • GOOGLE+
  • FACEBOOK
  • TWITTER
  • SHUFFLER
  • TUMBLR
  • YOUTUBE
  • RSS FEED
  • RSS EMAIL SUBSCRIBE
  • MISC
  • TERM OF USE
  • PRIVACY
  • ADVERTISING
  • OUR WIKIPEDIA
© 2000-2025 DROWNED IN SOUND