The Vaccines

“I don’t think you could accuse us of running out of ideas”. This is what Vaccines frontman Justing Young was quoted saying when discussing their sixth album. And he’s right. Vaccines albums since their brash and fiery first LP that entered the world in 2011 have always seemed to adapt a much more unique imagery than the last. Pick-up Full Of Pink Carnations continues that theme. The album cover itself suggests Taylor Swift-esque inspiration of a sunset drive in a vintage car taken from a suggestive retro lens. And it’s the perfect example of an album sounding exactly like its album cover.

The album opens with Sometimes, I swear. It’s a track with a slow introduction and little instrumentation, only to thrust you into a repetitive chorus line which summarises the sadness Justin draws from himself in the verses. It’s a powerful track which nods to Vaccines of old with a sense of maturity. Brash guitar like the first LP but with more control. A very notable track is Discount De Kooning (Last One Standing). Similar to Sometimes, I swear, a repetitive Chorus in which explains Justin’s emotions of the verse; almost like a call and response. The song seems to describe a world of which is falling apart but to just keep powering through it. Just from the two tracks I’ve given as an example, there is a sense of saddened reflection haunting this album.

Despite the underlying tone of what this record may be saying, this is actually one of the more upbeat records The Vaccines have ever done. The track Sunkissed perfectly describes how the guitar tones on this track, and generally the record itself sound. However, at times on this record it does feel that they’ve sacrificed the quality of the song itself in order to squeeze in all the instrumentation they wanted. The Dreamer has the sound of the cast of Grease dancing on top of retro cars in a drive-in cinema. However, it doesn’t quite fit the bill of the Lager downing festival fanbase that The Vaccines have built over the last 14 years.

Despite this, I believe that my previous criticism is actually the best part about the record. The Vaccines have made sure that the singles amongst this album have their fanbase in mind with large sing-along moments, and instrumentation that even Morrissey would smile to when hearing the blend of that jangly guitar crunch with lyricism describing a longing of greener grass. The rest of the album does feel like a bit of a sacrifice at times to explore that new imagery they’re trying to capture within the theme of this record. But it’s a label that British bands that have been active more than ten years and that are willing to experiment seem to get these days; becoming a bit LA. This is a record in which the die hard Vaccines fan may not necessarily be dancing around in their kitchen, but will certainly enjoy experiencing it when festival season arrives; LA with a shade of London.