The Vaccines, there poking at us.

What did you expect from this review?

English indie rock band, The Vaccines, came out with their debut album, What Did You Expect from the Vaccines?, back in March.  In November 2010, they released their debut single Wreckin’ Bar(Ra Ra Ra) and it was met with rave reviews while only lasting 1 minute and 22 seconds.  This was a pretty radical move from a new band that had not made a name for themselves yet.  But the move paid off and the fast, powerful rock anthem is a great introduction to The Vaccines. 

Their second single entitled Post Break-Up Sex embodies everything you would expect from the title.  Trying to forget the painful end to a relationship and all you know that can help make it better is getting drunk and having sex with someone else.  Most of us have been there and like in the video, we often regret it… I don’t know why though.

Their third single, If You Wanna, continues the form of short, loud rock songs full of energy and rhythm.  I love this track and it may be my favorite single from the record.  It’s a song about a guy who misses his ex and feels lonely without her, dreading his newfound independence.  We know how this feels, thinking after a breakup that life will never be the same and that we need them in our life.

The tenth track from the album is entitled Wolf Pack and because of this I will always love the song.  Not even for the great indie rock sound that this song provides or for its reminiscence, for me at least, to early work by Vampire Weekend.  I will always love this song though, because it reminds me of Alan, wearing his howling wolf shirt on top of Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.

What I really like about The Vaccines is their accessibility to the average person.  Their songs are short and lyrics understandable.  We can relate to their songs and feel the passion they put in their tunes, which is something I think many bands lack at the moment.  Since The Vaccines are an English band, I guess the best compliment I can give to What Did You Expect from The Vaccines? is that it’s a bloody brilliant album and worth a look.

The Vaccines will be playing in Southampton in August for the Escape to New York Festival, along with fellow indie rockers Chairlift and The Submarines among others.

Nørgaard is another short song in the same vain as the rest of the album.  Not much I need to say about it, just take a listen and enjoy:

-Dan T