Aw. Rather like The Libertines, the NME has done everything possible to put me off The Vines by wetting themselves over the band, and more specifically, Craig. Craig needs help, not the journalist equivalent of 'egging on' that he receives ... and did anyone see their performance on Later? That was just wrong.

BUT... for all that a) their live shows are a lottery and b) the NME should shut the £$&* up about them, "Highly Evolved" is a great record.

with regards to your vines article, rob, I have to say that I too downloaded much of the second album and feel a trifle disappointed. Ride just seems like such a laboured attempt at making a Teen Spirit style anthem, whilst Fuck The World is tuneless nonsense. However, those two songs do not mean the rest of the album is bad: She's Got Something is a wonderful, stadium sized slab of rock n roll, whilst rainfall is simply a delight. Winning Days is also good, as is Amnesia - It's definitely as haunting as Karma Police by Radiohead or How Soon is Now by the Smiths, if not as good. By the way, the title of the album is Winning Days, and it's release may be brought forward to early February if the record company feels there is sufficient public interest in a world-wide tour.