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IN REVIEW: The Vaccines - "English Graffiti"

 

Over the course of their first two records, The Vaccines have built up a sizeable fan base with their energetic brand of post-punk infused indie rock. It's served them well, giving them a pair of gold records in their homeland UK, so what better way to break out on a larger scale than to pair with producer extraordinaire Dave Fridmann and make your typically pleasant songs virtually unlistenable?

You may have heard lead single Handsome, in its volume-regulated incarnation, on TV commercials. On record, Fridmann's "technique" ensures that the drums obliterate all other sounds, their incredible levels of distortion creating a vaccuum through which all other instruments are sucked. On current single Dream Lover, the guitar fights back, mixed even louder than the obnoxious drums and coming off buzzy and piercing. It should be noted that these are both fantastic songs underneath all of that professional production.

It's the equivalent of discovering a restaurant with great steak; you've had it a couple of times, and they cook it just how you like it. So you go back a third time, and the steak is even juicier, but now you discover they've hired a renowned chef (for top dollar, no less) whose specialty is garnishing said steak with human excrement. The problem is, most people are perfectly content to eat shit because it's all we're fed these days. A vocal minority, like me, rail against it at every turn while an apathetic majority lap it all up without questioning why.

Look, I'm going to go off on a bad one if I continue down this road, and it's not The Vaccines' fault. Oh, wait: they hired him specifically, citing "consistently fantastic records" (thanks, Wikipedia!), so it is entirely their fault. Listen, boys (if you have any hearing left), I marginally liked what I heard of the first half of the record before the fatigue caused by your incessantly loud record made me shut it off, and you've got fine songwriting chops. However, your record sounds like hot garbage and I'm sick of having my ears assaulted by Dave Fridmann's terrible production. So, enjoy the impending gold record and heaps of praise by those who don't know any better or don't care. You don't need me to succeed, but I just wanted you to know that I'm glad I listened to English Graffiti through a subscription streaming service before throwing away money on a CD I could never bear to listen to.

May 26, 2015 • Columbia
Highlights Handsome • Dream Lover • 20/20

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