(Credit: Roger Sargent)
It's been a long time since an indie band has sent the British music press into such a frenzied state the way The Vaccines have. Not since The Klaxons and their psychedelic dance-rock revolution have Brit music tastemakers been so bowled over by a group. But one listen to The Vaccines and it isn't hard to see what all the fuss is about.
The Vaccines expertly mix England's rich alternative rock tradition with an atmospheric sound that recalls The Jesus & Mary Chain or Spiritualized and literate songwriting in the vein of The Smith. They have a disaffected contemporary sound not unlike The Drums and sport sort of a charmingly disheveled look, not unlike a Salvation Army-shopping Vampire Weekend.
The fact that The Vaccines are rather elusive (their members go by names like Jay Jay Pistolet and Freddie The Kid, and the group itself has next to no web presence) has done nothing but fuel the fires of interest in the band.
Who are these mysterious men? Well the easiest way to find out is to have a listen for yourself. Watch The Vaccines' debut video for "Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra)."
+ Discover all of MTV's Artists To Watch in 2011