Back In Love City. The Vaccines

Yes, I know, I written this a couple of times now over the past decades, '(Ra Ra Ra) Wrecking Bar' made a great impression on me and every The Vaccines' song coming after it simply never matched that exemplary bar. It even went this far that I lost interest in The Vaccines and missed one, maybe two albums along the way.

Comes the single and title song of the band's new album, 'Back In Love City'. It made me forget that bar. The song simply is fun, full of life and has that exuberance Django Django has in its best songs like 'Giant'. The song opens the album and the mood is simply set. As if almost nothing can go wrong from that moment onwards. Does or doesn't it?

Although a few songs made me waver, when the end of Back In Love City comes near The Vaccines have triumphed, game, set and match. In the bio it says: "most euphoric, visceral and visionary work to date". Bio's often say a lot of things that make me frown here and there and to confirm this for 100%, I would have to listen to all the albums once again, something I simply do not have the time for. What I can share with you, is that Back In Love City is an album that is totally alive. The Vaccines, what a name for a band in 2021(!), who would have thought 10 years ago?, are simply bouncing, with many songs that will become live staples in the band's set. With 'Jump Off The Top' the band even goes after that 'Wrecking Bar' bar too.

Promo photo: Frank Fieber

Working with producer Daniel Ledinsky (Tove Lo and Rihanna) means that a large pop element is infused into the band's post-Britpop and alternative rock music. The feeling the album leaves me with, is that Ledinsky has brought out the strengths of The Vaccines and shines a bright light on them. Take 'Wanderlust'. The song is a huge rocker, with loud guitars, fat drums and bass, and yet pop oozes from it as well. The result is a song that will have whole festival fields bounce in 2022. The dynamics and guitar riff are created for jumping around on. 'Wanderlust' is major party time for alternative rockers.

The impression The Vaccines left me with around its third album was, nice but where is the extra that makes me want to keep listening? The band's albums simply drifted away in time. That extra is available on Back In Love City in abundance. This is the kind of album that injects listeners with energy and holds good and interesting songs as well. At first, second and third glance it spells potential favourite album for 2021. So, although bio's are not to be trusted, sometimes, this one seems to tell the truth on the energy levels that went into making of and comes out listening to the album.

Going to Texas and record with Daniel Ledinsky was an extremely smart move for The Vaccines to do. Now, those festival fields in 2022. That unfortunately is beyond us all to control. To live up to the band's name might just be the step in the right direction.

Wout de Natris