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Winning Days
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Winning Days Image
Metascore
50

Mixed or average reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 56 Ratings

  • Summary: Working once again with producer Rob Schnapf (Beck, Guided By Voices, Elliot Smith), the Aussies return with a second LP.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 23
  3. Negative: 2 out of 23
  1. Billboard
    80
    A diverse and highly enjoyable ride.
  2. Blender
    70
    There's something about the precision of the gear changes and the crisp efficiency of Rob Schnapf's production that hits the spot, however derivatively. [Apr 2004, p.134]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. E! Online
    67
    This album tends to lean more toward the psychedelic ballads, which slows down the action a little too much.
  4. New Musical Express (NME)
    50
    There seems to be a hollowness, a lack of soul, an empty Big Mac carton where this album's heart should be.
  5. Drowned In Sound
    50
    Ultimately, ‘Winning Days’ is an highly frustrating listen.
  6. Mojo
    40
    The Vines are mostly surface and scratch, a vessel of strangely useless beauty. [Apr 2004, p.114]
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  7. Alternative Press
    20
    There's not much left for the Vines' frontman other than his music, which on Winning Days seems more like an afterthought--if not the work of an unbearably bad Oasis record. [Apr 2004, p.98]
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See all 23 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 41
  3. Negative: 5 out of 41
  1. [Anonymous]
    Mar 23, 2004
    10
    This album is an amazing psychedelic mind trip and I love it.
  2. RidetheSnake
    Jun 22, 2004
    10
    If there's any cd you should get it's this one. Forget all the reviews you've heard, forget all that hype and buy the cd and If there's any cd you should get it's this one. Forget all the reviews you've heard, forget all that hype and buy the cd and listen to what it is. God forbid anyone does that. I strongly believe that every cd shows a point in a band's development. "Winning Days" shows that The Vines are trying new things. If you actually LISTEN to the cd, you will notice the more experimental tracks like "TV PRO" but yet simple tracks like "Autumn Shade II" and the amazing layering on "Amnesia" - all different things, all songs of which could be a world on their own and yet, the album still retains the style that is The Vines. There's a song for everyone on here from the more poppy to the slow and psychadellic, which makes this a cd for every serious rock fan. So just do yourself a favor and forget the crap in the papers and magazines and buy this cd and really, listen to it.… Expand
  4. chriss
    Feb 6, 2007
    10
    This is maybe the best album i´ve ever heard! I can´t understand why some magazines mean that the songwriting would be to boring This is maybe the best album i´ve ever heard! I can´t understand why some magazines mean that the songwriting would be to boring while they declare Vision Valley as "their best album ever"! This album contets pure emotion into diffrent extremes and i haven´t heard of another band which can describe them that perfectly as they did! Awesome!… Expand
  5. ameliam
    Mar 13, 2004
    9
    Don't listen to the critics, this album is a lot better than Highly Evolved. The songs show a lot more depth both musically and Don't listen to the critics, this album is a lot better than Highly Evolved. The songs show a lot more depth both musically and thematically. The Vines have been panned by the critics for releasing an album full of old songs, and it's true that they have -- this is the 2nd cd of the double album they originally wanted to release HE as. WINNING DAYS IS BRILLIANT!!… Expand
  6. Amanda
    Jun 17, 2005
    7
    It has good lyrics and cool music. All in all its ok.
  7. JackK
    Mar 25, 2004
    7
    A bit of a letdown, but an average Vines record is still better than most good records. They simply need to start finding their own vibe.
  8. KoenDeCrock
    Apr 22, 2004
    0
    UTTER CRAP!!! TERRIBLE!!! Borrowed it from a friend, and it was just like I imagined it to be (see above).... Stay well away from this UTTER CRAP!!! TERRIBLE!!! Borrowed it from a friend, and it was just like I imagined it to be (see above).... Stay well away from this horrifying piece of drab.… Expand

See all 41 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

47
#47 Most Discussed Album of 2004