What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?

With the recent ice-cream-friendly sunshine and subsequent emergence of wintry white skin in local public places, you would have been forgiven for thinking we had reached the heights of the British summertime. And of course, every summer needs its soundtrack. It’s about more than just music, it’s about memories too. One memorable summer, during my A-Levels, it was ‘By The Way’ from _Red Hot Chili Peppers_ that provided the background music, interspersed with the comedic genius of GLC and my newly-found passion for _Love_ and their ground-breaking _Forever Changes LP_. Music, like certain smells and tastes, evokes specific places, people and events in a truly magical way. And the soundtracks to those short-lived summer days of picnics, barbecues and “revising” in the park are perhaps the most evocative of all.

What this preamble is driving at, just in case you were wondering, is the reason why _The Vaccines_ have become one of the most talked-about bands around at the moment. It’s not because they’re musically original. It’s not because they were voted third in the BBC’s Sound of 2011 poll. And it’s certainly not because they’re boy-band attractive. It is because they’ve managed to do something far more important: capture the essence of the summer in aural form. In a little over half an hour, _What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?_ has all of the vital components that the summer soundtrack needs. For a start, it’s catchy as hell. From the opening bars of ‘Wreckin’ Bar (Ra Ra Ra)’ to the more thoughtful strains of ‘Wetsuit’, the band’s ability to put together an instantly hummable tune is showcased beautifully. Secondly, the lyrics will chime with the experiences of pretty much everyone at some point. Many people will get the message of ‘Post Break-Up Sex’ from the title alone, and there is a profound nonsensicalness to many of the songs that is easy to warm to. And thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, it is hard not to smile as you listen. There is an upbeat chirpiness to so many of these songs that you can feel your mood improving as you listen: it’s the equivalent to that feeling you got when you were eight and heard the ice-cream van on a perfect sunny day in the park.

To be more specific, we’re talking about a band who sound like _the Ramones_ with a suntan. There’s an irresistible simplicity to many of their songs, few of which break the three-minute barrier. Some of the songs pass in a chaotic flurry of drums and guitar; others, like the magnificent ‘A Lack of Understanding’ carry an almost anthemic _Jesus and Mary Chain_ vibe, particularly in the shimmering vocals. These are songs to shout along to at festivals, preferably from the heights of your best friend’s shoulders as the mud sloshes about their feet, as well as songs to feel nostalgic to. Even if you haven’t heard these songs before, it feels like you have, with that beautiful timelessness that characterised _The Strokes’_ comparable _Is This It?_ The only criticism is that it does get a little repetitive, which is quite something for a 33-minute album. There isn’t much variety in _The Vaccines’_ arsenal, but driving to the beach with your friends on a gorgeous July day you’ll struggle to find something that sounds better. And sometimes that’s enough.