The Vaccines – Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations

The Vaccines have been a staple of the UK indie scene since their debut What Did You Expect from the Vaccines in 2011. Their distinct tone of fun and swagger has won them a legion of fans and they have become a regular fixture on the festival circuit. The likes of I Wanna and Post-Break Up Sex have lasting appeal, 13 years on. The West London group returns with their sixth LP Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations, their first album of full material since 2021.

Opener Sometimes I Swear begins with a slow, subdued riff, bringing in Justin Hayward-Young’s vocals as he sings of being “caught in a good fight”.  The first minute gradually builds into a typically anthemic chorus: “Sometimes I swear I don’t belong anywhere.” It’s a fine way to kick off the album, showing off a slightly more refined side to the group.

Heartbreak Kid is at a three-minute dose of pure, unbridled indie energy, The Vaccines at their most lively, a sign that they’ve not lost any of their power to entertain. Lunar Ecplise retains the sense of vigour with plenty of wry humour: “I’m in trouble again, nearly died on the Thames.” There is a vibe of fun and exhilaration across the record that fans will surely be pleased with.

Primitive Man showcases some impressive riff work, again with a slightly toned-down opening. It’s a fine advert for various members of the band and a shift away from the typical sound associated with them. Sunkissed also has a sense of wit with “grew my beard to look like Dennis Wilson” – this also has slightly more of a funk feel to it.

Closer Anonymous in Los Feliz has a bluesier feel to it, which marries well with their usual sound and is a perfect way to round off a highly impressive LP.

As a collection of ten tracks, this record ranks as one of the most eclectic in The Vaccines oeuvre to date, full of witty lyrics and pulsating riffs and grooves, that will be a treat to enjoy across festivals this summer and beyond. It shows plenty to the group beyond tracks like I Wanna: none outstay their welcome but are tight and full of vibrancy, with plenty of the soaring choruses that fans have come to expect.

Christopher Connor
Image: Wrenne Evans

Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations is released on 12^th January 2024. For further information or to order the album visit The Vaccines’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Heartbreak Kid here: