Idolator

Did you think the mushmouth bubblegrunge merchants Vines were going to stop writing the same songs over and over again just because they got dropped from Capitol/EMI? Hell, no! Their new single "He's A Rocker" is a prelude to the July release Melodia, which is only coming out in Australia. (Most intriguing song title: "Jamola.") The video opens with an old French man describing his love of rock before tapdancing, then pans to the band saying the word "rocker" over a chord progression I'm fairly sure they've grappled before as women in leotards dance, couples make out, and people walk dogs in a circle. It's allegedly influenced by the work of Stanley Kubrick, but I'm missing the connection. [YouTube]

Poor Vines. All they wanted to do was entertain the good people with some nonsensical rockers and dreamy psychedelic bubblegum, and all they got was shit because Asperger's poster boy Craig Nicholls wasn't the new Kurt Cobain. This article uses them as the prime example of how excessive hype can crush a perfectly charming band (or Gay Dad) almost before they're out of the gate. In a last-ditch attempt to gain some sympathy for the Australian mushmouths, I'm going to compare their plight to a musician who suffered a similar excess of expectation before people wised up to his sillier, but still genuine pleasures: Donovan! More »