We Expected No Less From The Vaccines

The music business can be a battlefield: sweaty, bloody and fruitless. It can take years for a band to get discovered, and some never make it out of the undercover music scene. Some don't receive widespread recognition until they have put out several albums, many are only known for one or two hits. When a band can form, put out an album and become the biggest selling new band of 2011 (BBC News Co.) in less than two years, it is evident that they are not just another indie group. When a band can attract attention from artists such as Markus Mumford and Alex Kapranos, it is obvious that they have musical integrity. When a band can open for alternative-rock rulers like Arcade Fire and Arctic Monkeys, it is vital that we realize they are something special, and that we begin to listen to what they have to say. The title of their debut album asks: What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? The answer? I don't think we could have possibly expected anything more than what they have given us.

It is hard to pinpoint exactly what makes The Vaccines so superior as they are different from other alt-rock bands, but not in a painfully obvious way. Lead singer Justin Young's voice is deeper than stereotypical rockers, similar to White Lies's Harry McVeigh, but not as distinct. The instrumental support is strong and steady, maintaining a rock-and-roll vibe without the obnoxiousness of overwhelming guitar and drum solos. For the most part, the tracks on the album are songs one can imagine listening to on a perfect July day. They are upbeat and can be sung along to, but are unique and non-formulaic: indie enough to be personal.

One of the songs that has gained recognition is Post Break-Up Sex, which describes the regret one might feel after post break-up sex, "Post break-up sex that helps you forget your ex/ what did you expect from post break-up sex?". Not only does the song play on the the title of the album, but it succeeds in giving a refreshing perspective on an over-sung topic in a catchy, almost pleasant way.

This is what The Vaccines do: they provide music that adresses popular themes, but in a unique way. The track Wrecking Bar addresses the changes relationships face over time by using interesting metaphors, even alluding to F. Scott Fitzgerald, in a musically enjoyable way.

If their rapid rise to worldwide recognition doesn't already prove they are a band worth listening to, hearing one of their songs will. The Vaccines are impossible to deny, and as they continue to gain the credit they deserve, there is no doubt that our expectations will not be disappointed.

Notable Songs:

Norgaard

Post Break-Up Sex

Wrecking Bar

Wetsuit