Highly Evolved
by The Vines
  • Record Label: Capitol
  • Release Date: Jul 16, 2002
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 18
  3. Negative: 2 out of 18
  1. New Musical Express (NME)
    90
    They’re a shaggy-haired, surf’s up pop band and painfully vulnerable all at the same time.
  2. E! Online
    83
    43 minutes of thrills.
  3. Q Magazine
    80
    The Australian quartet's debut album justifies the fuss that followed its title track's bubblegum approximation of Nirvana. [July 2002, p.121]
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  5. Blender
    80
    If you're this good, it's not hype. [#8, p.126]
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  6. Alternative Press
    80
    It's rare for a band to channel the Velvet Underground, Nirvana, Dandy Warhols and the Beatles within the span of 45 minutes and sound unique, but the Vines have crept into that select category with Highly Evolved. [Aug 2002, p.86]
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  7. AllMusic
    80
    Unlike many other pop postmodernists, the Vines never sound weighed down by all the influences they include in their music -- it's as if they're so excited by everything they hear, they can't help but recombine it in unique ways.
  8. Dot Music
    80
    As a debut album, 'Highly Evolved', for all its faults, can be an energising proposition.
  9. PopMatters
    70
    A strange mix of songs that, while varied, doesn't boast much personality of its own.
  10. Splendid
    70
    For as good as the majority of the tunes here are, the grandiose scope of Highly Evolved turns out to be a bit more than the young quartet could chew.
  11. Uncut
    70
    The Vines' place in the rock gene pool is shaped by elements of controlled guitar thrash, often complex harmony, bubblegum psychedelia and polished piano-driven ballads with an early Seventies whiff. [Aug 2002, p.116]
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Awards & Rankings

32
#32 Most Discussed Album of 2002

User Reviews

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User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 50 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 50
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 50
  3. Negative: 4 out of 50
  1. PyongyangMayor
    Aug 28, 2014
    10
    One of my personal favourites, one of the few good albums of this century. Garage Rock needs to come back! Replace the **** we have now calledOne of my personal favourites, one of the few good albums of this century. Garage Rock needs to come back! Replace the **** we have now called "Indie Rock".… Full Review »
  2. neoncritic
    Jun 28, 2012
    9
    The Vines debut smoulders like hot rocks on asphalt and then suckerpunches you with absurdly gifted melodic harmonies. After being diagnosedThe Vines debut smoulders like hot rocks on asphalt and then suckerpunches you with absurdly gifted melodic harmonies. After being diagnosed with Asperger's and generally becoming an unfortunate caricature of himself, the mercurial Craig Nicholls doesn't seem like he was ever much of a rock star. But let me tell you he definitely was and probably still is. I saw the Vines play material from their debut album on the Radio 1 Stage of the Reading Festival, which incidentally was being recorded. This was a Nicholls who emerged in puffs of smoke and lights to an uproarious reception. Touting a huge spliff for the entire gig may not be pc, but it enabled Nicholls to reign in his madness and just generate pure rock and roll, screeching into the mic like a baby pteradactyl. 'Highly Evolved' is the perfect single, just 1 min 20 secs of pop punk noise. 'Autumn Shade', 'Homesick', 'Country Yard' and 'Mary Jane' are all sonic gems, rippling with waves of beautiful harmonies. 'Outtathaway' is raw and ridiculous as is the pounding 'Get Free'. Relish this album, there is something special about this band that reveals itself on repeat listens.… Full Review »
  3. Waz312
    Mar 26, 2020
    7
    Yes, it was juvenile, messy and unrefined but so were The Stooges.
    Yes, it was derivative and they made no bones about playing obvious homage    Yes, it was juvenile, messy and unrefined but so were The Stooges.
    Yes, it was derivative and they made no bones about playing obvious homage to their influences but so were Nirvana and The Beatles when they started.
    Yes, the doubters and haters dismissing them as flash in the pan NME hype were validated when they clearly had nothing left in their tank except to try the same formula with their follow up.
    And no, Craig Nichols certainly didn’t turn out to be the mad genius Brian Wilson of the 21st century, some of us had hoped he would. He was just mad.
    But its 2020 and I still throw on this album from time to time. And I am transported back to that feeling of limitless possibility when you first start writing songs. When everything is new and four chords are all you need to write a melody just like your idols. You could even throw in a 3 or 4 part harmony if you want - **** it, why not, no one’s done that since 1969 (Homesick, Mary Jane). And if you hear that guitar solo from ‘Easy Like Sunday Morning’ somewhere in the song but you can’t play it, just yell it into the microphone over and over AND OVER again ( Country Home). Hell, rewrite the cheesiest Paul McCartney song and scream Kurt Cobain hey’s and aah’s in the chorus and then guitar solo the verses just like he did in Smells Like Teen Spirit (Factory). It ****in' works, because you thought to do it when no else did.    … Full Review »
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