# Album of the Week: The Vaccines’ Sophomore Release, ‘Come of Age,’ Packs a Sassy, Wild Punch - Link: https://indierockcafe.com/2012/10/album-of-the-week-the-vaccines-sophomore-release-come-of-age-packs-a-sassy-wild-punch/ - Published: 2012-10-03T23:27:05-04:00 - Author: Max Hammer Among the album releases this week, the much anticipated sophomore LP by **The Vaccines**, _Come Of Age_, is a courageous and triumphant progression from their break-through [debut album](https://indierockcafe.com/2011/06/releases-week-vaccines-2/), released last year, _What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? _Overall, _Come Of Age _is more colorful and sentimental than the band’s debut. The first half of _Come Of Age_ is a blast, with The Vaccines channeling the vigor and pop-rock perfection of ** The Strokes**, and at other times, unleashing a fast-driving, blazing wall of guitar rock reminiscent of bands like **Arctic Monkeys** and The Libertines with well-honed vocals and tight, bold melodies. It’s songs like the Dylanesque opener, “No Hope,” the anthemic, surf rock blog-hit, “Teenage Icon,” the adrenaline-charged burn of“ All in Vain” and “Ghost Town,” and the unabashed ’70s pop glory of “I Always Knew”( think **Cheap Trick**) that make _Come Of Age_ a sassy and exciting sophomore release from the young band. [“Teenage Icon”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/teenageicon-vaccines.mp3)–** The Vaccines** from _Come Of Age _ While the first half of the album is the most memorable, songs like the crisp, ** Ramones**-style punk rockers, “Bad Mood” and “Change of Heart, Part 2” are the stand- out tracks of the second half of the album.  But the track, “Weirdo,” is a complete dud that should have been left off the album altogether; it completely interrupts the flow and groove of the album. Finally, the album closer, “Lonely World,” which drudges up a darker side of teenage emotion and confusion, sounds so different from the rest of the songs on the album that it could almost be mistaken for a track from **The Walkmen**.  Overall, we give _Come Of Age_ an 8 out of 10, only because songs like the mid-point doozy, “Weirdo” and “I Wish I Was a Girl” fall flat and break up the roaring momentum of the first half of the album; otherwise, we would have given the album a 8.5 or 9. Related Post:  Album of the Week: Wonderous Appalachian Alt. Folk Rock from Virginia's Annabella's Curse [“No Hope”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/no-hope-vaccines.mp3) –** The Vaccines** from _Come Of Age_ Reaction from the music press has been mostly positive. _Mojo_ observed: “They may be musical magpies but what they build from their stash is gold,” while _NME_ added:“ _Come Of Age_ breezes through their awkward teenage phase with ease,” and _Uncut_ said: “The Ethan Johns-produced follow-up sees their punky, Spectorish pop continue to evolve.” _Clash_ wrote that the band’s sophomore release “is a brave and stunning progression that now solidifies the statement that this group can grow past 2011 without going stale.”   We do, to varying degrees, agree with some critics who complain the record has “ nothing to say” (Pitchfork), and UK critics who assert that _Come Of Age_ falls short of being a blockbuster second release (_The Guardian_), or that it lacks originality( _The Independent_ – Sunday). However, suggestions that _Come Of Age_ needs to have a powerful, coherent, over-arching message, or that it should somehow fulfill some“ bid for world domination” (_The Guardian_) come off as presumptuous and petty criticisms, failing to overshadow the simple fact that, musically, it’s an enjoyable and noteworthy second effort. We think, there are at least four to five songs from _Come Of Age_ that people will remember and play years from now. If it had been released three months earlier, _Come Of Age_ (minus a few songs) would have been one of the best summertime albums of 2012, especially considering that it was a rather disappointing summer for spectacular new albums compared to summers of the past few years. Related Post:  Album of the Week: Youth Lagoon's 'Wondrous Bughouse' View other IRC posts with [songs by The Vaccines](https://indierockcafe.com/2012/10/album-of-the-week-the-vaccines-sophomore-release-come-of-age-packs-a-sassy-wild-punch/=the+vaccines&x=0&y=0) Note: Our second favorite album of the week is **The Mountain Goats**, _Transcendental Youth_. It was a very close second. More on that coming up.