The Vines

This Australian quartet plays snarling yet melodic garage rock that's equal parts Nirvana and the Beach Boys. All their songs are equally catchy, so the patchwork approach -- a bit of Spector-esque pop here, a blistering garage romp there - never feels schizophrenic. A truly likeable debut.

Right now, the Vines are the toast of England, and it's easy to see why. Just as the British
are going barmy for such New York garage revivalists as the Strokes and Yeah Yeah Yeahs,
these four handsome Australian lads are doing a fine job of plundering decades worth of
trashy-yet-tuneful American rock. Besides serving up stripped-down garage anthems ("Get
Free," "Outtathaway!") and updates of Bleach-era Nirvana ("Highly Evolved," "In t... More >