The Vaccines
Come of Age

They literally don’t make ‘em like that anymore. Just a year after their much-touted debut, What Did You Expect From the Vaccines?, the English quartet delivered this follow-up. Come of Age didn’t completely replace the short, sharp indie rush of the debut. It did, however, build on it, adding a greater variety of styles without sacrificing the hooks. It also served as a coming-out party for guitarist Freddie Cowan’s thrillingly off-kilter playing. Justin Young’s romantic observations continued to combine aw-shucks demureness with a commanding voice. With a work rate from a bygone era, the Vaccines proved coming of age doesn’t have to mean growing stale.—John Bergstrom