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What Did You Expect from the Vaccines? is the debut studio album by English indie rock band the Vaccines. It was released on CD and digital download in the US, and on CD and LP in Europe and the UK, on 11 March 2011 by Columbia Records, entering the UK Albums Chart at #4, going on to become the biggest-selling debut by a band in 2011. Two singles preceded the release of the album which attained generally positive reviews and gold status by May of the same year. In 2021, the Vaccines released a ten year anniversary edition of the album on pink vinyl limited to 2500 copies. Lead singer and songwriter Justin Young cites I, Jonathan by Jonathan Richman, Milo Goes to College by Descendents and "California Girls" by The Beach Boys as his major inspirations during the writing of this album] In a conversation with music site Atwood Magazine, Young said, "I remember we were petrified of not being able to capture the energy and we worked with (our producer) Dan Grech, who's an amazing producer and mix engineer but hadn't made any particularly energetic or aggressive sounding records, so we were constantly, as a team – Dan included – we were constantly aware of the fact that we might fall short. So we were always going the extra mile".
Great garage rock album by The Vaccines. A lot of energy and attitude in direct songs. Reminds of the Jesus and Mary Chain (reverb) and Arctic Monkeys (debut album).
Amazing surf-rock! I Remember the singles doing very good in the charts. The energy fits just right
I have not heard of The Vaccines and was skeptical. This hit just right and I was surprised to really love it! Listened to it several times today.
I'd heard of the band but didn't know the music. Brilliant!
One of the best suggestions after the original list so far. Only knew 1 song, but great album!
Loved a couple of the singles when this came out, I probably should have listened to the whole album back then. Very cool surf/punk simplicity but with kind of ethereal shoegaze atmosphere at times. Norgaard and If You Wanna put it on a 4 and the rest of the album does enough to nudge it to a 5.
So good Bordering 5 4
Good indie rock sound. Never goes too hard but always has fun. Occasionally dips into the folky sound that was popular in the early 2010s, but does not feel of a piece with that genre as a whole.
I enjoyed a good rockin time
Used to listen to this album all the time, however never allowed myself to fully appreciate it due to the link with the types of people who use sepia- Instagram filters and yes it's not doing anything amazing but enjoyed the music it was providing all over again.
Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Wreckin’ bar, If you wanna, Blow it up, Wetsuit, Family friend
Irreverent and naughty pop punk
Not a bad indie rock album. It’s pretty much right on the verge of pop and alternative. Some of the songs are really teenager in vibe but a few of them were alright for an early 10s album. The British rock style comes through which is usually a better alternative style than some later modern ameeican bands. 6.5/10
This was fun, with a nice crisp pace and some solid hooks. Treads no new musical ground, but I enjoyed it. Fave Songs: A Lack of Understanding, Blow It Up, Family Friend, If You Wanna, Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra)
Not sure what I expected with this - something more on the punk end of the spectrum I guess. But I liked it OK. Well performed and decently smart lyrics but maybe a little musically unambitious.
Indie rock, surf punk, garage pop. Ni fu ni fa.
This has a SHITLOAD of plays on Spotify but I've never even heard of it. I've usually at least heard OF an artist at this point, but nope. Don't recognise the big single, either. Anyway, just kinda average indie rock. Bit retro leaning. Probably UK. 3/5.
A perfect example of a “so that’s where that song is from” album. Rest was alright too.
Yawn
Real nice actually
Tiptoes between a 2 and 3 for me. The instrumentals are great, invoking early-aughts Interpol with a touch of gazey reverb and delay that makes for some great atmospheric tracks, but the vocals/lyrics feel so flat and obsessed with high-school level drama. Found myself getting worn out by the end as there's not many dynamic elements in the songwriting to make things sound varied and interesting.
Like a time capsule to the late noughties. The music was tedious mediocrity, but boy did they wear Top Man well and have almost too perfect scruffy hair. A happier time, maybe, but the music was crap, made only to sound risible E4 yoof sitcoms and reality shows.