The Vaccines
What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?

“What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?”

A legitimate question for a band formed just under a year ago, already with a handful of singles well-received in their homeland, sold-out concerts, a cover of the renowned magazine NME, the album release moved forward by a week due to the "enormous demand," and therefore with all the credentials to be considered the umpteenth "next big thing"?

Indeed, it begs the question of what to expect from these four young Londoners Justin Young (vocals), Árn­ið Hjörvar (bass), Freddie Cowan (guitar), and Pete Robertson (drums). Fortunately, they didn't have many pretensions, releasing an album composed of 12 quick and fun tracks where all the group's influences are expertly intertwined, ranging from punk (the opener "Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra)," "Nørgaard"), Indie rock ("A Lack Of Understanding," "Blow It Up"), Post-punk ("Wetsuit" and the surprising "Post Break Up Sex" and "All In White") with the addition of a noise component throughout all the tracks, except for the concluding ghost track "Who You Are," where only vocals and piano make their appearance.

After a few listens to this first effort from the English band, the answer to the question they pose in the title is the following: there wasn't much to expect, but for a start, it's definitely great. Even though there's nothing truly new (and how could one have expected this?!), the hope that with time something good might emerge remains, and, why not, even something new.

Meanwhile, let's be satisfied with these thirty-three minutes that flow quickly and induce the listener to press play again once a successful work is finished.

Rating 3 ½ / 5