As with many failing indie rock bands from Great Britain,
The Vaccines have aimed west (unsuccessfully), now they are finally
showing signs that their Americanism is paying off. Sophomore album Come of Age was a
joke, released in-between Brit bands going state side. It failed to live up to
the standard set by 2011s debut album What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?
The Vaccines are gradually improving year by year. Ripped
shirt personas are something of the past - step forward the London intellectuals.
Calm, sweet, melodic - words you wouldn’t find attached to The Vaccines, but
this is what they have become. They're alienating a large proportion of their fan
base by doing so, but the well-read, musically gifted quartet can actually
begin to plan for serious critical receptions with this sound. It's not a new
sound, its aged and has been done before, and better by bands across the pond. Britain
hasn't been well represented in decent to good releases this year, and The
Vaccines' "Melody Calling" signals a change in American domination for this genre.
Last years Please Do Not Disturb EP highlights The Vaccines
influence. From the pop rock of ABBA to punks unsung heroines Wire, this
acoustic EP is the predecessor to "Melody Calling" and the releases
soon to follow. Justin Young and co keep Jonathan Richman close to their
hearts, as do I. The average Vaccines fan needs to ask Dad who Johnny is, and
even then the chances are slim Daddy knows the brilliance of Richman's brain.
Credit must be given to The Vaccines when due, and "Melody Calling"
deserves praise.
"Melody Calling" is somewhere in between the surf
rock sounds of The Drums, and the synth pop sounds of Wild Nothing. Rock, in
the general meaning of the word, is missing from this Vaccines track. It's absent
for a very good reason, they don't need it anymore. They don't need to prove
themselves to anyone these days. It's been two years since their debut album
hit the shelves, the 16 year olds are now 18, there's so much more to music
than sex, drugs and rock n roll. With "Melody Calling", The Vaccines
are showing us just how diverse they can be.
~Eddie
