Skip to main content

IN REVIEW: The Vaccines - "Combat Sports"


When last I talked about The Vaccines, I was comparing their third record (English Graffiti) to a steak served with shit thanks to the production style of Dave Fridmann, my favourite Loudness Wars punching bag. What made that record so frustrating was that it was so difficult to listen to purely from a technical standpoint, because the songwriting exhibited growth even as it strayed from the guitar-centric impulses of their first pair of albums. As it turns out, what seemed like a surefire recipe for success on paper became the band's most divisive record, resulting in mixed reviews, middling sales and the departure of a drummer.

Combat Sports isn't a full retreat, but there is more focus on guitars (and zero involvement from Fridmann) even though they also hired their touring keyboardist on as a full-time member. Perhaps the resulting album could best be described as the album English Graffiti should have been, one that displays their sharpened songwriting and more melodic tendencies without straying too far off the beaten path. This is brought into focus from album opener Put It On a T-Shirt, which bounces along on light keys and clean guitars, the instruments not fighting for attention but rather working in tandem to the benefit of the song; likewise the sunny, radio-friendly vibe of Maybe (Luck of the Draw) begs for inclusion on your lovelorn summer playlist.

When Combat Sports kicks it up a notch and reminds listeners of the band's roots, the results are undeniable. Lead single I Can't Quit, as sugary as that chorus is, is the kind of dark and groovy single that out-muscles many other rock bands' attempts at crossover success. Not to mention the thrillingly fleet and groove-heavy nocturnal rager Nightclub or the beach-punk party Surfing in the Sky, two tracks that aren't afraid to coax banging heads and shaking hips at the same time. Perhaps the album's most pleasant surprise, though, comes in its tenderest, most heartfelt moment; the mid-album chillout Young American is a sparse and seductive ballad that Alex Turner probably wishes he'd written.

Boasting hooks and energy in equal measure, Combat Sports marks a triumphant return for The Vaccines, a document that serves as a reminder that, when looking to move forward, often remembering where you came from will get you there just a little faster.

March 30, 2018 • Columbia
Highlights I Can't Quit • Young American • Nightclub

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Year in Rock 2025

  Alright, I've got some explaining to do.   By now anyone who's visited this blog is well aware of how infrequently I've used this space in recent years; aside from the occasional fertile year of content, I really haven't posted all that often over the last five years or so. There are many reasons for this, which have already been outlined in previous apology posts; but, essentially, it boils down to my own laziness and the cold reality that blogs are, like Refused (again), fucking dead. So, I wouldn't hold my breath for a triumphant return to reviews, or even semi-regular posts, but:   a) I feel like Year in Rock posts have always belonged here and, even though I've experimented with different methods of presentation recently and been satisfied, the "blink and you missed it" unveiling via Facebook stories this year was perhaps ultimately a disservice to the records I lauded. After all, cramming the list into short videos isn't too far off from ju...
Post a Comment
Read more

Year in Rock 2013 Nominee: Arctic Monkeys

ARCTIC MONKEYS Do I Wanna Know? From: AM Released: September 10 That Year in Rock 2012's Single of the Year R U Mine? ended up on this album is pleasing, and it fits the motif well enough. But R U Mine? isn't what makes Arctic Monkeys' fifth album an Album of the Year contender. Sweaty, sultry and pulsing with sexual energy, AM is the kind of record that's just as effective whether you're chilling out after a long day, staring into a mirror prepping yourself for a late night clubbing session or setting the mood for some escapades in the boudoir.
Post a Comment
Read more

Year in Rock 2023: Album of the Year #10-1

Now we're getting somewhere; the top ten, where there are no duds or mids, only bangers. Also, no more teasing it out; let's wrap this up!  What I've learned this year from my ten faves this year is that it is indeed still possible for a dude approaching his fifties to more or less stay up to date on the new school. Of course, there are some listed here that got a boost from playing tribute to the old school, but there is an undercurrent happening in rock that points to the future. But, I'm getting ahead of myself; here come the champs. 10 MILITARIE GUN Life Under the Gun June 23, 2023 • Loma Vista Highlights Very High Will Logic Never Fucked Up Once Rising from the ranks of the still-potent L.A. hardcore scene, the debut record from Militarie Gun (following a trio of EPs) bears a dash of polish that's expected with backing from a larger label; the tension and energy remain, though, resulting in one of the catchiest hardcore albums I can think of in recent years. 9 ...
Post a Comment
Read more