In the Studio: The Vines

The Vines caught their break with 2002's platinum Highly Evolved, but singer Craig Nicholls nearly killed their momentum with his freakouts, from trashing dressing rooms to berating fans. Since getting diagnosed in 2005 with Asperger's syndrome, a mild form of autism, Nicholls has been focusing with his band on their fourth disc, helmed by Evolved producer Rob Schnapf. "Nothing can hold us back now," says Nicholls. "Unless I die in a plane crash." The fourteen new cuts include the string-laden "True as the Night" and the heavy-pop tune "Merry Go Round." Says Nicholls of the Vines' return, "We're coming back, and it's gonna be madness."

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
• 
  MOVIES 'Great Gatsby' Is a Crushing Disappointment
• 
  TV Why You Should Watch 'Happy Endings'
• 
  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“My President”

Young Jeezy | 2008

Young Jeezy teams up with Nas on this track, in which he compare his own success with the idea of an African-American winning the Democratic Party's nomination in the 2008 presidential election. "When I pulled up in my car, that s--- was unbelievable to people in my neighborhood because they were like, 'We grew up with him. How the hell did he accomplish this?'" he told Rolling Stone. "I feel like it was the same way with Obama. I grew up all this time, but I've never seen a black man this close to running this country."

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter