Sub Pop Reissues Vaselines Catalogue . . . Again
The Vaselines are a legendary twee pop group, an extraordinary band of its genre and generation which might have been left behind had it not been for Kurt Cobain, who convinced Sub Pop to re-release the band’s two EPs and their full length LP under the title The Way of The Vaselines. Due to the enormous appeal of Nirvana, which covered three Vaselines songs (“Jesus Don’t Want Me For A Sunbeam,” “Son of a Gun,” and the beautiful “Molly’s Lips”) and the cultish deference to its frontman, Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee saw a resurgence which resulted in a much larger interest in their music than when the band was active. (Note: Both are still active solo artists and are still producing interesting music.)
Recently, it has come to our attention that Sub Pop has decided to reissue the whole Vaselines catalogue, including previously unreleased tracks, under the Bruce-Lee-like moniker Enter The Vaselines. And few of us are kung fu kicking the air with excitement. Those that care have already heard what we think is there to hear. Nevertheless . . .
What would characterize the Vaselines’ music? Cheeky lyrics, sunny chord changes, a refreshing jangly guitar aesthetic in keeping with the C86 tradition, as you may hear for yourself below; poise, mystique, and an indomitable indie cool are also apt markers. Frankly, I have discovered few musicians capable of addressing the ostensibly stupid, everyday anxieties we don’t readily admit to others. Every man who has felt denuded or jilted by a love affair, spurned from a beautiful woman’s (or man’s) gaze could identify with the pseudo-dance classic “You Think You’re a Man.” Sometimes, The Vaselines go much further, and one wonders what might have prompted such idiotic lyrics as those of “Monsterpussy.” But their songs are generally very short, in the punk singles tradition, so if you don’t like one in a series, you can easily wait it out until the following number. Rarely do we find a love song so pure, so simple and so compelling as “Molly’s Lips.” I don’t know the Molly of the song but every time I hear it I want to kiss her.
The less important question, I suppose, any fan should ask is whether there is any necessity for a reissue or whether this is just the label’s ploy to make money out of nothing. I suppose unreleased demos and recordings done in the early years of the band’s career, between 1986 and 1988, aren’t exactly nothing, but what I would really like is for the pair to make a new album. There have been reunion shows, rumors of new a release, and so forth, but no real signs that they are about to give that a shot anytime soon. But what else is possible for two gifted songwriters except to sit down and write the non-hits of another generation?
The Vaselines – Molly’s Lips
The Vaselines – You Think You’re A Man
The Vaselines – Teenage Superstars
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