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