The Vaccines - "Combat Sports'

In the early 2010's, The Vaccines showed up on the Indie scene and started writing a lot of the wild, beer-soaked, sweaty garage tunes that were coming out of Britain at the time.  With their 2011 debut "What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?", it became clear very quickly that The Vaccines had great energy, and even more important could write a catchy hook (no matter how simple they were).  Now honestly, The Vaccines did sound like a lot of their contemporaries, to be honest, but even sweatier and less glitzy, and with a few subtle nods to Indie Rock thrown in.  But I for one really enjoyed their simple, yet really memorable song structures, even if tracks like "Wetsuit" and "A Lack Of Understanding" were on the less interesting side.  Now, The Vaccines returned rather quickly in 2012 with "Come Of Age", with so much less of a focus on a lot of the sounds that really attracted me to them in the first place.  I feel like The Vaccines on this album were trying way too hard to be a quaint Indie band who could play with some more upbeat rhythms.  And there were times on this album, like on "Teenage Idol" or "Weirdo" which were quirky, fun tunes.  But overall, this album was a drag, and not nearly as fun.  Now, a lot of what made their debut so much fun did return on 2015's "English Graffiti".  This album had some seriously punchy tunes like the haunting "Denial" and the ripping opener "Handsome".  But a lot of the more subtle Indie Rock inflections remained, and this was still much cleaner and much less sweaty of an album.  So it's been a few years since we've heard from The Vaccines.  And let's be real, they literally sound glitzier and more polished than ever.  But I'll be damned if they can still write a hook.  Let's chat about this!

    This album starts off with “Put It On a T-Shirt”, and it’s a very fluttering, Pop sounding intro.  Not in a bad way though.  This is actually some genuinely catchy and likable Indie Rock.  The Vaccines have seemingly embraced the fact that they know how to write some seriously catchy Pop tunes.  While the instrumental is simple, it actually does get seriously intense in parts.  Meaning, while this is certainly a catchy and Pop-oriented Rock track the Vaccines certainly do still pack a punch.  I love this track, I love the sort of cheeky and quirky lyrics, and everything else about “Put It On A T-Shirt”.  The lyrics though, while they’re seriously funny in parts are also adorable and seriously endearing.  The solos are solid, and this has just enough attitude to make the band’s older fans happy.  “I Can’t Quit” is up next, and I have some questions.  How is this so gigantic?  How is this so anthem?  And most importantly, how is this track so fun?  Like, this one has this great, pulsating riff, and a seriously carefree attitude that I love.  Once again, this is easily some of the most incredibly Pop-oriented material the Vaccines have touched,  but I’m honestly glad they went down this route.  The one thing I’ve always been able to say about The Vaccines is that they can seriously write a hook.  But this track is instantly some of the best Power Pop I’ve heard all year.  It’s got a great groove, and there’s some seriously wonderful buildup in the chorus.  I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this, this is just genuinely catchy, sunny Indie Pop.  Now, If you were begging for the return of the grimy, sweaty Vaccines of old, this material all around is not going to be for you.  Which especially goes for “Your Love Is My Favourite Band”.  This one has a soaring synth line and a determined verse.  It’s sweet, endearing, and incredibly fun.  What’s funny is that the Vaccines are literally crashing the current Indie Pop scene, and they’re doing this sound so much more justice than bands doing this style for years.  “Your Love Is My Favorite Band” is bouncy and bubbly, and these lyrics are cheesy to seemingly no extent.  But The Vaccines make it work really well, and this is one hell of a fun tune.  With tracks like “Surfing In The Sky” though, it’s obvious that The Vaccines still have some teeth to them.  This is a straight up Punk tune, a really catchy and sweet one however with some seriously fantastic lyrics.  Of all the tunes here, I honestly feel like this actually is the closest sound to their sound of years past.  Hell, there are actually some moments here where the band sound wild and unhinged.  The solos are great, the vocals are solid, this is all around so much fun.  And most importantly, it shows that The Vaccines while remaining Punk-oriented can write some of their catchiest material to date. 

    On the other hand, “Maybe (Luck of the Draw)” is much slower, more stripped down and incredibly breezy.  It remains sounding incredibly youthful though.  These songs at the end of the day, make me want to be young again, go out and experience romance and all of that jazz.  Needless to say, this tune is absolutely adorable.  And while of all the tunes here it’s probably the least punchy, I still really love so much of this track.  It’s all so simple, so obvious.  But it’s still some of the best Pop I’ve heard all year.  Now honestly, “Young American” is probably my least favorite track here.  The Vaccines remain very endearing in their lyrics, and this is still a very romantic album at the end of the day.  But I feel like some of their one-liners here are incredibly awkward, even cringe-worthy.  And it’s a shame because I really would like to hear them go for another softer tune or two like this.  But “Young American” just doesn’t work for me.  Instead of coming off as some steamy and sexy ballad, it’s insanely awkward and not good.  Thankfully “Nightclub” wipes away all of the remains of these goofy ballads with some seriously full throttle Punk riffs.  As far as an aggressive tune goes, this is by far the most intense tune here.  I’m not completely sold on some of these more spoken word vocals, but The Vaccines make it work.  “Nightclub” ends up being wrapped up nicely with a very intense and thrashing chorus that really sticks with you.  This track is a breath of fresh air and really does remind you of where The Vaccines have come from.  It’s fun and catchy, but it’ll still knock you out with its intensity.  I also love just how grimy “Nightclub” is compared to how polished the rest of this album is.  But apparently, The Vaccines still have a LOT of rowdy tracks up their sleeves.  “Out On The Street” is even more intense and Punk fueled.  It still brings up a lot of the same youthful sounds and romance fueled lyrics, but why change it if it’s working so well for them.  This track is just so much fun, and I absolutely love how catchy the chorus is.  A lot of these tracks are so obvious.  Like, I really want to know why Vaccines didn’t go for this sound 6 years ago?  I’m just glad they’re tackling it now. 

    On the other hand, “Take It Easy” is once again on the slower and more punchy side, and in a way, it’s sort of hypnotic.  Now, I do have to say that vocalist Justin Hayward - Young does sound a little more one dimensional on tracks like this.  But I have to say, he does the best with this sort of limited performance.  There’s a very old-school Power-Pop feel to this one, take your pick of any classic act in the genre.  And while admittedly, I wish this was a little more upbeat, I still dig this track and the slacker vibe to it.  Then we have “Someone To Lose”, which almost has a New Wave feel to it.  It’s still seriously catchy though, with some quirky and likable vocals.  At the end of the day, this is just more of some of the catchiest tunes I’ve heard all year, especially in the rock field.  There’s something really retro in this call and repeat style of songwriting, and it just makes me smile.  Honestly, a lot of this album does just that.  “Rolling Stones” ends this album off, and I honestly really don’t know what to make of this.  This isn’t the worst track I’ve ever heard, not even from The Vaccines.  But why do I feel like this track is grossly out of place as a finale?  The verses seem lazy, and the performances are average at best.  After all the fun, quirky Pop tunes here, this track is just so average.  Now, things eventually do get a little more likable towards the end.  But this is just so underwhelming as an ending to this incredibly fun album. 

Rating: 8.5/10


Give A Listen To: " Put It On a T-Shirt", "I Can't Quit", "Surfing in the Sky", "Nightclub"

Genre: Power Pop / Indie Pop / Punk Rock / Indie Rock

Overall Thoughts:  The Vaccines are back for the first time in years, and have returned with some of their most likable material yet.  For years, The Vaccines have gone from a Garage Rock revival band and slowly incorporated more Indie Rock influences while simultaneously getting more and more Pop-oriented.  This time, The Vaccines have dropped a lot of what made them enjoyable, to begin with, in return coming through with a straight up Power Pop album.  Yea, that sounds terrible, and for fans of the band's original sound, this is going to be rough.  But this is easily their catchiest and most fun release in years.  The lyrics are endearing, often quirky, and prove that after all of these years The Vaccines can still write an absolutely killer hook.