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THE REVIEW
The Vaselines never made history. They never entered the pantheon of Indie Rock and were never accused of originality. They have no talent and even fewer pretensions. From such a vast array of imperfections and this late-adolescent fury, steeped in defeat, all that can be drawn is "Dum-Dum".
Released in early 1989, the album in question is to date the only full-length by the Edinburgh band. Within it, there is a complete odyssey through the depths of the previous two decades, sifted through a lens saturated with fuzz. Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee describe post-modern Pop trajectories with the ease inherent in losers. Being Pop goes hand in hand with being Naïve. Their sugarcoated melody is as popular as that of potential fifteen-year-old The Pastels. You can feel an innocence in the grooves of "Dum-Dum". Nursery rhymes on fire for kids (too) raised on bread and Punk. Tributes to Iggy Pop & The Stooges ("Sex Sux (Amen)", "Dum-Dum") stand out, alongside existential ballads without any future of Velvet Underground influence ("No Hope") and bored anthems with clear Eighties derivation, like "Lovecraft". What remains is an Indie Pop lament nestled in short, ironic and sneering pieces ("The Day I Was A Horse" and "Oliver Twisted" can be quite explanatory in this regard).
Before even becoming infamous, the Vaselines will disband, only to reform definitively in 2006 (notably after a previous, indeed famous, reunion in 1990). They manage to touch the strings of the heart and the muscles surrounding it, breaking the emotional barrier to such an extent that it intersects with mere playful pleasure. They infect the listener with their Big Babol-flavored naivety. They won’t abandon you. The Vaselines will never make history. But they leave a mark inside and are not easily forgotten.
What are you waiting for to burn your "History of Music" manuals?
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Summary by Bot
The Vaselines' only full-length album 'Dum-Dum' (1989) showcases a raw, naïve indie pop sound filled with teenage frustration and fuzzy melodies. Despite lacking originality or classic status, the album captures post-punk references and emotional honesty. Their brief initial run ended before they gained notoriety, but their reunion in 2006 shows lasting appeal. This collection of ironic, sweet, and emotionally charged tracks leaves a memorable impact on listeners.
The Vaselines
The Vaselines are a Scottish indie/twee pop duo formed in Glasgow in 1986 by Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee. Known for lo‑fi, sweet‑and‑sour melodies and punk‑scuffed guitars, they issued early EPs and the LP Dum‑Dum before splitting. Nirvana famously covered several of their songs, boosting their cult status. The band reunited in 2006 and released Sex with an X (2010) and V for Vaselines (2014).04 Reviews
