The Vaccines - Pick-Up Full Of Pink Carnations (Album Review)
Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Written by Issy Herring
The Vaccines have reached a stage in their career where they can bend different themes to their will. Three years ago ‘Back In Love City’ was heavily inspired by dystopian blockbuster movies, but its excellent follow up ‘Pick-Up Full Of Pink Carnations’ is dominated instead by a dramatic, tangible feelings of loss.
With Sometimes, I Swear impressively setting the scene for the remainder of the record, the work that has gone into their indie-rock formula becomes immediately clear. Justin Young's formidable, instantly recognisable vocals and honest lyrics are to the fore, with his captivating croon lighting up a dark-yet-relatable chorus. “Sometimes I swear, It feels like I don’t belong anywhere,” he sings.
Elsewhere, Heartbreak Kid has a dreamy, almost Californian essence, while Lunar Eclipse simmers with luminescent, memorable instrumental flourishes, revolving around punchy, emotion-stoking percussion.
And while Discount De Kooning (Last One Standing) hosts an alluring, retro-sheened chorus, it’s Sunkissed that sets the cherry on the cake by mainlining some truly exquisite hooks.
‘Pick-Up Full Of Pink Carnations’ has a few slight issues — without Young’s impressive vocals Primitive Man would be truly lacklustre, while Love To Walk Away is one step away from filler — but as a whole it is assured and, often, magnificent. More than a decade on from the snotty brilliance of their debut ‘What Did You Expect from…?’, The Vaccines are still very much in their prime.
The Vaccines Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Mon February 05 2024 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Institute
Tue February 06 2024 - MANCHESTER Manchester Academy
Wed February 07 2024 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Fri February 09 2024 - LONDON Troxy
Sat February 10 2024 - LONDON Troxy
Sun February 11 2024 - MARGATE Dreamland Margate
Tue February 13 2024 - FOLKESTONE Leas Cliff Hall
Wed February 14 2024 - SOUTHAMPTON O2 Guildhall Southampton
Thu February 15 2024 - BRISTOL O2 Academy Bristol
Sat February 17 2024 - OXFORD O2 Academy Oxford
Sun February 18 2024 - BRIGHTON Brighton Dome
Mon February 19 2024 - SHEFFIELD Octagon
Wed February 21 2024 - LEEDS O2 Academy Leeds
Thu February 22 2024 - GLASGOW Barrowland Ballroom
Fri February 23 2024 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE NX
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