Album review: The Vaccines; Come of Age

Following the misfire of the overly anticipated debut What Did You Expect From The Vaccines, this second effort is locked and loaded with much more satisfactory results. Pitched somewhere between Squeeze and The Strokes, the London four-piece forge a thrilling post-punk sound all their own.

The riff from Black Sabbath’s Iron Man is in the blood of Bad Mood, Hank Mizell’s guitar sound from Jungle Rock appears to have been appropriated for Change Of Heart Part 2, and 24 and bored are wedged into a couplet in I Always Knew, decorated by sounds stolen from Joe Meek’s garage.

There are knowing nods to the guitar sound of George Harrison, and perhaps a wink or two for the faux rock music hall of Blur.

One awkward moment occurs with Aftershave Ocean, an exercise in quirky lyricism saved only by the Jeff Tweedy-style bouncy guitar solo.

I Wish I Was A Girl fails to get beyond the title as far as exploring the differences of the sexes, despite the gorgeous Sixties beat stylings.

When they take the foot off the gas on Lonely World, you get a glimpse of what other delights are in the locker.

This time round, it is much harder to remain immune to the band’s undoubted charm.

Download this: All In Vain, Bad Mood