Oh wow The Vaselines! The cult classic core Scottish duo themselves release….their SECOND album ever! After two EPs in the late 80’s and one full length entitled Dum Dum 1990, the group’s various labels released three compilations and remastered tracks, making it look like the duo had been around for decades and recorded a plethera of goodies. The funny thing is, as many people know, it was simply three tracks: “Son of a Gun” “Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam” and “Molly’s Lips” all written by Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee, that propelled them from obscurity via Nirvana’s covers and adaptation of the songs and Kurt Cobain’s proclaimed love for the Vaselines.
Now they’ve come out with a softer second (so late in the game “sophomore” just sounds weird) but still as raunchy as ever. The black leather-clad McKee and Kelly are armed for 2010 with a slightly more polished sound, constantly swallowing each other up in heavenly harmonies and the malefemale vocals become one. The album starts out with a bit of apprehension, with so much (strangely) to live up to, I was biting my lips with anticipation, afraid it would not live up to “You Think You’re A Man”. And the first track was teetering on too much Belle and Sebastian. But after that, a sigh of relief- and their old wanton, insinuating, simple, blasphemous (see track 11 and video below) selves. VIVA LA VASELINES!
FCC: 8
PLAY!!!!!! 7, 4, 5, 2, 3, 6
The Vaselines - Sex With An X from Sub Pop Records on Vimeo.