Back in Love City
by The Vaccines
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. Classic Rock Magazine
    Sep 15, 2021
    80
    The Vaccines' retro rock'n'roll clearly suits this kind of next-generation upgrade. [Oct 2021, p.79]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. The Line of Best Fit
    Sep 10, 2021
    80
    Its effort to not just be another rock record is what makes it dazzle. Love City is The Vaccines in their own world, chiselled by the sounds that have trademarked them.
  3. DIY Magazine
    Sep 10, 2021
    80
    Against Justin’s increasingly interesting way with words, it feels like the purest Vaccines album yet.
  5. New Musical Express (NME)
    Sep 10, 2021
    80
    ‘Back In Love City’ refutes that assumption [being past their prime] emphatically, presenting instead a band still at their very best and still brimming with ideas, invention and – most importantly – a knack for writing great songs.
  6. No Ripcord
    Sep 21, 2021
    70
    The ambition they pursue overall shows in what Young himself affirms to be the band's best work, and their belief in that shows through and through.
  7. PopMatters
    Sep 13, 2021
    70
    The Vaccines have said Back in Love City is a concept album of sorts, with the songs meant to invoke the titular metropolis as a destination for good vibes and escape from the chaos. That sounds like a great place, but they shouldn’t forget that getting there is half the fun.
  8. AllMusic
    Sep 10, 2021
    70
    For the most part, the band plays things relatively safe. Even so, the Vaccines are adept enough architects of early aughts U.K. guitar rock (Kaizer Chiefs, Franz Ferdinand, etc.) to know how to craft an earworm, and the reliable Back in Love City is filthy with hooks, even if you've heard them a million times before.
  9. The Skinny
    Sep 10, 2021
    60
    Young’s jump into pastures new feels significant throughout, coupled with lyrical themes of escapism and adventurous spirit. As such, the record feels purposely detached from much of their discography up until this point. That said, the band’s long championed easy-breezy, summer indie-rock still exists in bursts.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 8 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. migaspinto
    Sep 15, 2021
    8
    I don't think it's the best Vaccines album, but it feels like the most genuine one yet: sonically it's a mix of all their eras, even thoughI don't think it's the best Vaccines album, but it feels like the most genuine one yet: sonically it's a mix of all their eras, even though with a different aestheticization and concept, and the result are great tunes that sound like no other band, except themselves. Actually, the lyrics are probably the best in their whole catalogue. The downside of this album is more in terms of production: even though i admire the risks that were taken, that in some cases ended up resulting really well (Back in Love City and Bandit are probably the best examples), in others it ended up betraying the potential of some tracks (in Jump Off the Top i think the drop of the song doesn't hit as it should, especially in the case of the drums, or in Headphones Baby where there are too many things happening at the same time production wise). Nonetheless, it ended up a great album, probably on the top 3 of the band.… Full Review »
  2. AJKolevsohn
    Sep 13, 2021
    8
    A good addition to The Vaccine's repertoire. It brings some heavy dance tracks and some slow and subtle tunes that all work well together. MyA good addition to The Vaccine's repertoire. It brings some heavy dance tracks and some slow and subtle tunes that all work well together. My top 2 tracks are XCT and People's Republic of Desire… Full Review »
See all user reviews »