To prepare their fans for their upcoming album, The Vaccines have released a new EP. It is titled ‘Cosy Karaoke, Vol.1‘ and embraces a collection of song covers.
The Vaccines are a London-based indie rock band, formed in the late 2000s. They immediately gained popularity after releasing their debut single ‘Post Break-Up Sex’ in 2011, and have ever since continued putting out iconic tunes, such as ‘I Can’t Quit’ and ‘If You Wanna.’ When I think of The Vaccines, I relate their songs with energetic vocals, playful guitar melodies and spirited drums.
Yet, with their latest EP release, The Vaccines have proven that they are capable of producing a range of melodies. As one could guess from the name of the EP, this collection of songs is made up of relaxing and ‘cosy’ covers, not something that would normally be associated with this band. The EP consists of six covers, three of which have been released individually prior, namely, ‘No One Knows’, ‘High Horse,’ and ‘Fire.’
‘Cosy Karaoke, Vol.1’ opens up with a cover of Wanda Jackon’s ‘Funnel of Love,’ perfectly setting the relaxing tone for the rest of the EP. The strong resemblance to the music of Glass Animals creates an almost psychedelic atmosphere through the mesmerizing electronic instrumentals. The best way to describe this song would be that it feels as if you’re falling down the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland. The hypnotic vocals and calming instrumentals engulf the listener in the trouble-free world created by this track.
Following on, The Vaccines cover ‘No One Knows’ by Queens of the Stone Age, which effortlessly complements the soothing atmosphere established in the first track. The use of a keyboard for the repetitive melody, as opposed to the loud electric guitar as heard in the original, is the perfect alternative and gives the song a subtle jazzy undertone.
Next on the EP is ‘High Horse,’ a cover of Kacey Musgraves’ Grammy-winning song. The Vaccines take a different approach to the original, slowing down the tempo and eliminating some of the groovier and funk elements. The gentle, lullaby-like vocals and the mellifluous instrumentals definitely suit an atmosphere found in a comfy lounge.
The band have switched it up a bit, with their cover of ‘Telstar’ by The Tornados. This purely uplifting instrumental track livens up the mood and incorporates more of the traditional dynamics found in previous Vaccines songs. The energetic electric guitar and elevated tempo allude to the joyous emotion you feel when the sun finally shines through the clouds after a rainy week.
‘For What it’s Worth’ by Buffalo Springfield in the penultimate track on this release. This rendition embraces the popular features of music from the ’60s and contributes to the playful mood created in ‘Telstar.’
The EP ends with a cover of ‘Fire’ by Waxahatchee, another flawlessly coherent track, leaving the listener with a positive impression of the whole EP. The band incorporates similar instrumentals to those produced by Waxahatchee however, the unique vocals added by The Vaccines effortlessly transform the original into a completely new sound. Whilst listening, it feels like watching the end of a movie, when all the characters finally reunite once more before separating paths.
Overall, The Vaccines have successfully created a cosy ambience through their exceptional adaptations of already iconic songs. The band made impeccable song choices, and their renditions of them arguably give justice to the originals. This EP definitely has fans excited for what’s coming next. In an interview with NME last year, the band revealed that their next album would be heading in a different direction, making it one of their heavier and more colourful releases, thus perfectly following this euphonic tracklist.
“There’s lots of riffs. Yeah actually, there’s two punky songs on there. It’s weird, it’s the poppiest and most colourful record, but – actually, I’m gonna stop myself there. It just feels really heavy, it’s quite face-melting in places. Lots more screaming. It’s good, I think.”
