4/10

Label: Columbia Records  |  Released: 03.09.12

With the title Come of Age, one might expect The Vaccines to deliver a more mature, more cohesive record with fewer indie clich├®s than present on their debut, What Did You Expect From the Vaccines?┬á The band also expressed an interest to become more of a rock band on this album, and you could argue that they have achieved some success here.┬á Some pretty tasteful guitar work courtesy of Freddie Cowan and a driving rhythm section ensures a more classic rock sound.┬á However, the whole album is littered with tired indie rock archetypes, in both the instrumentation and lyrics.┬á And while this album may rock harder, it is decidedly lacking in memorable moments; only the first single No Hope, with its Bob Dylan-like vocal delivery and lazy guitar strumming really sticks in your head.┬á This is not a bad album, there is just nothing to distinguish it from countless other indie rock albums, and any personality it does display seems to be constantly paying homage to its predecessors.