Highly Evolved

It may be an emblem of the fleeting early-’00s rock revival, but The Vines’ debut LP is incredibly varied. That’s a testament to the Sydney upstarts’ knack for offsetting their garage-grunge volatility with more evergreen fare, like the Beatlesque “Homesick”, the folky ballad “Autumn Shade” and the ska-tinged “Factory”. Such variety broadens the appeal of <i>Highly Evolved</i>, even when Craig Nicholls goes full Cobain with gravelly snideness. That said, you’ll still pump a mighty fist to “Get Free” and the super-chewy title track.