The Vaccines have only been a band since 2010 but after ranking third on the BBC sound of 2011,
they were hyped by the press as the next big British indie band. Anticipation was rife
for the release of their début record, What Did You Expect from the Vaccines? And while it may
have not been the instant classic that many were expecting, it was still a really strong showing from
the London rockers, with some excellent songs. But instead of resting on their laurels, the band
immediately began touring, writing and getting back in the studio. And after only 18 months since
the release of their first album, they are now ready to bring out their second.
With such a short time scale between both albums, fans maybe worried that this would be a rushed
effort from the band. But somehow, The Vaccines have been able to craft a great album, which
addresses many of the complaints regarding the first and makes huge advances in their sound. One
of the major criticisms of WDYEFTV was that most of the tracks felt the same, over relying on the
loud football terrace mentally. While these types of tracks still remain, Come of Age feels more
complete and varied, with excellent production.
The album kicks off with the explosive No Hope. This is a fantastic track, which has all the qualities
that we come to expect from the Vaccines. Other highlights include the anthemic Teenage Icon,
the poignant I was a Girl and the fun Ghost Town. But by far the best track is Lonely World. The
combination of dreamy guitars and Young’s mournful voice come together to produce a fantastic
climax to the album.
The Vaccines have definitely ‘come of age’ with this album. One of the albums of the year so far.
Four out of Five
