Despite their intentions not to be the kind of band that becomes an overnight sensation, The Vaccines snotty-nosed debut of spikey guitar pop blew up in a massive way. Two reasons. It's a tight debut with some brilliant memorably inane indie pop moments. Secondly there just isn't another band like them at the moment - unashamedly knockabout guitar riffs and lyrics you can shout along too.
But it must be difficult for The Vaccines to know where to go next. Churn out another album of short punky tunes or try to show some maturity as a band, some sort of musical progression.
They've opted to to a bit of both. But in doing so have delivered an album that's neither brave and progressive, or ticks the boxes of an air-punchingly good indie pop album like their first. Despite a few highlights, it's all a bit, well, forgettable.
The singles 'Teenage Icon' and the 'No Hope' in which Young affects a Dylanesque drawl are the standout tracks and the closest to the first album in terms if sheer 'moshability'. They sound most like what you'd expect and hope of a Vaccines song.
Elsewhere the bands attempts at maturity just sound like The Vaccines covering better artists. 'All In Vain' sounds like George Harrison. 'Ghost Town' is like The Cramps-lite. 'Aftershave Ocean' despite being a rubbish name is actually quite a good tune, but is the sounds exactly like Teenage Fanclub. You also have to hope that Elton John doesn't hear 'I Always Knew' as his lawyers may get in touch. It's chorus sounds uncannily like 'Crocodile Rock'.
No one minds a clunky lyric here and there and to be honest the first Vaccines album was hardly Wordsworth. 'Wetsuit' for example is lyrically naff but given its such a great tune and their rough delivery its become an anthem for the band and a highlight of their gigs.
Bad wordsmiths are part of pop music as singer Justin Young rightly pointed out in a recent Guardian interview, even The Beatles were prone to them he said. Let's be clear about this though, he is no Lennon or McCartney. He's Ringo at best. And there are some stinkers here. Chief culprit is 'I Wish I Was A Girl'. Musically its a dreary drag. The lyrics however are just awful. The Arctic Monkeys could get away with them because of Alex Turner's is known for arch lyricism and a knowing delivery. Justin Young just sounds a bit dumb and sexist. "Life is easy when you're easy on the eye" he sings in louche fashion before going on to list haute couture fashion brands. It's cringeworthy.
I think one of the major flaws for this album though is the choice of producer. In a quest to show they're a more mature band they've employed Ethan Johns who has worked with the likes of Ryan Adams, Kings Of Leon, Laura Marling and Emmylou Harris. His warm production style is perfect for alt country, folk and MOR rock but robs the snotty-nosed indie band of the harder punky edge their songs call out for. In the Ramones-esque stomp of 'Bad Mood' there's no power to Justin's vocals. He's a blunted instrument. We want the The Hulk, but you get a grumpy teenager. He manages to deliver lines like "better get ready if you rattle my cage" with absolutely no menace whatsoever.
Singles aside the is a sadly unremarkable album by a band who sound like their struggling to find their voice. A better title might have been 'What have you done with The Vaccines?'
Let's hope the make a reappearance for album No. 3.
'NO HOPE'
'TEENAGE ICON'
'ALL IN VAIN'
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