Like Arctic Monkeys and The Libertines before them, the lead up to The Vaccines’ debut saw them heralded as saviours of British guitar music.
While the Libs imploded and the Monkeys shy away from superstardom with desert rock detours and generally contrary behaviour, The Vaccines have taken an altogether more unassuming route.
Their first record, What Did You Expect From The Vaccines, was an enjoyable – if one dimensional – hybrid of punk and girl group sounds; and if returning with a set called …Come Of Age seems like a bold statement, the music doesn’t reflect such ambition.
Opener “No Hope” begins with a rush that resembles Arctic Monkeys’ “Brianstorm” before evolving into a thrifty pop song. Combined with infectious first single “Teenage Icon”, “No Hope” is an archetypal Vaccines tune: throwaway verses and a mind-numbingly catchy and oft-repeated chorus.
Similarly fun (and throwaway) is the bouncy “Aftershave Ocean” while “Bad Mood” is a loud blast of punk rock, circa London ’77.
But it’s the ballads that stand out this time around. The galloping “I Always Knew” and gloomy “Weirdo” rise above the usual three minute/three chord blasts you might expect from The Vaccines. “All In Vein” is equally excellent with Freddie Cowan’s George Harrison inspired guitar playing proving a highlight.
Still, there are a few missteps. “Ghost Town” name-checks The Specials, and channels The Clash, but comes off like a poor Libertines b-side. “Lonely World” is a lazy ‘let’s write an epic finale’ number. Moreover, there’s plenty here to like, but little to love.
The Vaccines Come of Age is a good follow-up to a good debut. Whether more of the same will cut it next time around remains to be seen.
