The most stoned singer in rock & roll has some advice: don't drink (or think) too much.

World tour? A gold record? Adoring groupies? All the drugs a kid could want? Sounds like a dream come true. But after skyrocketing to global success with their 2002 debut, Highly Evolved, all the Vines want to do is go home to Australia and make their next album. "It has to be 100 times better than the first one," says perma-baked frontman Craig Nicholls. "Just because I'm really bored." Though introverted and prone to drifting off midsentence, Nicholls tries to make sense of 2002 from a tour stop in London.

Was it a good year?

I think so. It's all blurred into one big thing. I don't know what month it is, but we've really been enjoying playing.

How many times this year have you woken up with a hangover?

I think that's, like, every second night.

And how much weed have you smoked?

Whoa! I couldn't really measure it. I think that means I've had a good amount.

You must get some serious munchies. Do you remember your favorite meal?

When we were in Paris, we got some really good seafood. Swordfish and crab and oysters. We ate so much we almost made ourselves sick.

Nice. What was the most extravagant thing you bought?

I got a ring with a skull on it out of a machine at a gas station. It's plastic, but it looks like metal. It was about ten cents.

Do the Vines have a favorite 2002 record?

The new Supergrass record (Life on Other Planets). They've mastered the craft, whatever that is. It's really melodic rock & roll, and the vocals are really perfect, I think.

How about a live show?

The White Stripes at a festival in Scotland. I love Meg and Jack. They're amazing.

What will the next album sound like?

We want to move with the technology that's available. I guess it's more futuristic. A lot of times I think we should go completely hi-fi with a lot of production, but also do some stuff that's stripped down -- go to a little studio and do some acoustic songs. There will definitely be some electronica and a song with synthesized strings. And weird things like homemade percussion -- like cookies in a big tin, or coffee and some rice.

What's the most important lesson you've learned this year?

Not to think too much. Also, not to drink too much.