In 2010, English indie rock group "The Vaccines"  formed.  In 2011, they released their debut album What Did You Expect from the Vaccines on Columbia Records.  Now in 2012, their second album Come of Age opened up at Number One on the UK Charts.

Not many bands can see their debut album reached number four on the UK Album Charts, make their network television debut on The Late Show with David Letterman, get nominated for an MTV Award, and be named by NME Magazine as the 'Number 1 Band of the Weekend at the Reading and Leeds Festival'.  After so much success in such a short period of time and extensive touring across the world, the Vaccines were ready to take on America.  Unfortunately that tour was cut short when singer Justin Young encountered a reoccurring vocal issue that required 3 operations in the span of 9 months.

With the release of "Come of Age" and plans to continue their trek across the world, Alternative Addiction sat down with the Vaccines to discuss the writing process, upcoming releases, and line up for their ideal show.

Alternative Addiction: Hey guys!  Congratulations on having the number one album in the UK!  When you guys began to prepare for the new album, what was the direction that you guys wanted to take it?

The Vaccines: "I don't think there was a grand plan. we just continued to write every day and when we felt like we had the bulk of a better album in us, we decided to make it. I think the first album was heavily referential and also pretty linear. I think we were keen to let the songs rule but also to start the journey to finding our own place in rock's landscape. and we wanted it to have more character."

Alternative Addiction: Tell us about the writing and recording process for the new album?  What were the major differences, perhaps in the songwriting process and production, between this album and the last album?

The Vaccines: "I guess i just answered a bit of this. The writing was done in a similar way. alone, on acoustic guitar, sat on the end of a bed. but when it came to arranging the songs and producing them I think we put more emphasis on self expression and character and didn't allow ideas of sonics or arrangements to hold us back. for example on the first album we arranged everything in a very linear fashion, and relied on guitar loops and reverbs. On this album we just took the song where it wanted to go."

Alternative Addition: In 2011 you worked with Albert Hammonds Jr. of the Strokes on your song Tiger Blood.  How did you hook up with him?  Any plans on working with him again in the future?

The Vaccines: "No plans to. but it was a great experience. I think he is getting into producing stuff and he said he'd like to do a song. so when we had some time off in new york last year we went upstate and recorded 'Tiger Blood.' It was really nice creating again after 6 months of solid touring and working with a musician, which we hadn't really done before."

Alternative Addiction: I  hear some Strokes influence in the song "No Hope".  What other bands have influenced you guys in the past and are currently influencing you right now?

The Vaccines: "I don't hear the Strokes thing! I tried not to listen to anything when we were making the record. but right now i just got into ELO. I never got it before. great pop songs though."

Alternative Addiction: What are the current touring plans now that the album is set for release in the UK and the US next month?

The Vaccines: "We're touring so much. UK and Europe this year, and over to Mexico too. Then we start next year with an Australian tour followed by Asia, followed by the USA.  I love seeing the world.  We didn't get to tour the US last time because of my throat, so im very excited about that."

Alternative Addiction: If you can build the ideal show to surround yourselves with, what other three bands would you want to play with?

The Vaccines: "We always try and build the perfect show, this is a difficult question. The Rolling Stones are the greatest rock n roll band of all time and they're still playing, so I guess The Stones. Tame Impala are one of my favourite bands making music right now, so them too. And then the last album I bought was the new Ariel Pink record. so he can complete the line up."

Alternative Addiction: "You guys are working on a project where every band member gets to write and record their own B-Side.  How will you be able to coordinate the recording and release while on tour?

The Vaccines: "We just recorded Pete's on a day off in New York. Mine and Arni's we did in London. There is always time!

To get more information on The Vaccines and see when they'll be playing in a city near you, go can check them out at:

http://www.thevaccines.co.uk
http://www.facebook.com/thevaccines
http://www.twitter.com/therealvaccines
http://www.youtube.com/artist/the_vaccines