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Natural rock and advanced songwriting takes The Vaccines to a new level

Internal issues have plagued the Londoners release of their 4th studio album. With drummer Pete Robertson leaving after the English Graffiti record of 2015 and frontman Justin Young and guitarist Freddie Cowan coming to blows on the last day of recording. Nonetheless, The Vaccines return this year with a relentless indie rock album that grabs you by the bollocks.

Their 4th LP combines potent vocals over buzzing guitars that result in a collection music that is full of energy and enthusiasm, a trait one would normally associate with a band 10 years younger. The album is aflush with garage rock ‘n’ roll as well as radio friendly indie tracks.

Put It On A T-Shirt opens the album in a dreamy 50s style fashion with Dylan-like lyrics “If I climb the mountain now / in my patent leather shoes”. This track seems to show reverence to Vaccines classics Wetsuit and Family Friend with an added bite. Blistering acclaimed single I Can’t Quit follows and removes you from the relaxed mood of the opening track with force.





The record moves on: Your Love Is My Favourite Band is reminiscent of 80s style synth rock which lulls you into a state of buoyancy before the opening of Surfing In The Sky extends the liveliness to euphoria with line “How many lightbulbs does it take to change the mood”.

The stylistic Maybe throws a mixture of New Order and The Smiths into the album whilst ballad Young American is almost Jarvis Cocker like with sex driven lyrics “suffocate me between your thighs”. Young American acts as a rest before the busy and brilliant guitar riff of Nightclub, a song about falling for a sociopath, fills your ear drums. Young’s mixture of emotionally charged lyrics blend into the music.

Despite some darker lyrics, there is an offset element of fun within this record. We hear Young build up imagery then undoing his own metaphors: “Maybe I want to spend my life with you / I want to feel like other people do.” It results in the best record from the band yet, it is also an LP that will soar live.

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