Battle #12
The Vaselines : Sex With An X (Side A)
Vs.
Dead Boys: Young, Loud, and Snotty (Side II)
The Vaselines : Sex With An X (Side A)
The Vaselines are an alternative rock band from Glasgow, Scotland. Formed in Glasgow in 1986, the band was originally a duo between its songwriters Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee, later adding James Seenan and Eugene's brother Charlie Kelly on bass and drums respectively from the band Secession. The band released two short EPs, Son of a Gun, released in 1987, and Dying for It, released in 1988. The latter features two of the band’s most recognized songs, "Molly's Lips" and "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam," both of which 90’s grunge superstars Nirvana would later cover. Though they were not widely known outside Scotland during their short career, their association with Nirvana brought major exposure to the band. Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain once described Kelly and McKee as his "favorite songwriters in the whole world". With their songs "Son of a Gun" and "Molly's Lips" covered on Nirvana's album Incesticide and "Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam" covered on MTV Unplugged in New York, the band gained a new audience. I must admit, it’s totally how I heard of them. And thank goodness for that! Gems all of them! Kelly went on to found the band Captain America (later renamed Eugenius after legal threats from Marvel Comics), supporting Nirvana on their UK tour. RRW fans may remember them going quite far from a previous season of RRW. McKee founded the band Suckle and released her first solo album, Sunny Moon, in 2006. Shortly there after the band reformed on occasions and in 2010 they released this, their second full length studio album. “Ruined “ is the first track and it sounds amazing. More ballsy than the older stuff. Very produced and meaty by comparison. Drenched in melody and feedback. “Sex with an X” is the second and title track on the album. This is more like classic Vaselines. Light and jangling but still catchy like the clap (#seewhatididthere)! Following is the creepy, surf-like riffage that makes up the bulk of “The Devil’s Inside Me”. This has early Sub Pop written all over it. In fact, did Kelly find an old notebook or something?! It’s like they never broke up and we’re back in 1990. The Vaselines do such a good job of being both retro AND fresh...this is minimalist art! Beat Happenings anyone? (#seewhatididthere). “Such A Fool” is an example of another such artistic melody. Floating as if on sugar cube clouds, Frances takes lead vocals on this one. Pretty hooks and looks stunning on wax. “Turning it On” brings back the surf inspired leans into the curl and dreamboat Annies (#seewhatididthere). It’s a call and response song, and my response is brilliance. Morrissey would be proud. “Overweight but Over You” has more bounce to the ounce (#seewhatididthere). Fat man rock. An analogy to going under the knife. This is what makes them so good. Unique perspective and writing from unusual examples. Look, no matter how you slice it, this is their first output in nearly 20 years and it is sounding like they never quit. THAT is a talent all it’s own. Consistent and signature sound is everything in music and these guys have that formula down pat. They were one of the first two piece bands and with boy girl harmonies. Hipsters owe this band a LOT. PHENOMENAL.
Dead Boys: Young, Loud, and Snotty (Side II)
Dead Boys are an American punk rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. The band was among the first wave of punk bands, and had a reputation as one of the rowdiest and most violent punk groups of the era. Dead Boys were formed by vocalist Stiv Bators, lead guitarist Cheetah Chrome, rhythm guitarist Jimmy Zero, bassist Jeff Magnum, and drummer Johnny Blitz in 1976, splintering off of the band Rocket From The Tombs. They released two studio albums, Young Loud and Snotty and We Have Come for Your Children. Dead Boys were originally called Frankenstein, and as previously mentioned, they evolved out of the band Rocket From The Tombs . When the band members relocated to New York City in July 1976 at the encouragement of Joey Ramone, they adopted the Dead Boys moniker which came from the RFTT song "Down In Flames". The Dead Boys quickly gained notoriety for their outrageous live performances in the city that never sleeps. Lewd gestures and profanity were the norm. On more than one occasion, lead singer Stiv Bators slashed his stomach with his mic stand. These antics reportedly discouraged any mainstream rock following despite the relative breadth of their material beyond pure punk. Something tells me the Dead Boys didn’t give two shits about that. They frequently played at the rock club CBGB and in 1977 they released this debut album, Young, Loud and Snotty. Their song "Sonic Reducer" from it is often regarded as one of the classics of the punk genre, being covered by countless bands, some as diverse as Pearl Jam. Well, side two of this incendiary record starts off with “Caught With the Meat in Your Mouth”. That rock and roll riff, combined with Cheetah Chrome’s snot, form an animalistic ballistic statistic on this biscuit! Gimme some butter!! A great punch in the face to start. If you had any doubts if this was a punk rawk band, they are immediately shattered. “Hey, Little Girl” has a live-ish nitro. It’s about as laid back as these punx get. Another scorcher with those metallic guitar chords. “I Need Lunch” is next, and probably one of their more recognized tunes. Love that intro! Such poetic power trips here. It’s raw, uncensored, unapologetically sexist and NOT PC. In fact, it’s unadulterated filth and raunch, crawling straight out of an NYC gutter. This is what Dead Boys are known for. This captured well the short lived and self destructiveness of this band. “High Tension Wire” takes a little departure for the band. About as emo as they dare get in the times they lived in. Some good guitar work and a sad lamenting riff are all this song needs to draw you in. Nothing compares to
“Down In Flames”, though. If you listen to one Dead Boys still no in your life, make it this one. O. M. G!!! This song!! SOOOOOO GOOOOOOOD!! Again, the raw power is present and on full display. Guitar tones and fuzz on point! Brilliant screams and bleeds and leads. Even a mental breakdown right in the middle of the song, during the song! Amazing. The guttural throat scrapes are tops!! Look past the sexism and this band IS fucking rock. This is the classic album you always wish your band could write. 2017 re-issue On translucent green vinyl. Think Sex Pistols level greatness but not British, and more underground. The Stooges but on ALL of the drugs. In fact, I think you’ll get a contact high just from touching the record.
The Vaselines came back from the grave to have sex (with an X, apparently) and in doing so, wrote a slew of awesome new tunes. Wow. Re-reading that just now and it sounds pretty gross. Anyhow, They burned 143 calories over 21 minutes and 6 songs. That is 23.83 calories per song and 6.81 calories burned per minute. The Vaselines earned an impressive 15 out of 18 possible stars. The Dead Boys uprooted themselves from Ohio to New York City and became one of America’s most loved punk bands. They’re young, loud, and some of the snottiest punks you’re ever going to hear. Dead Boys burned 113 calories over 5 songs and 15 minutes. That is 22.60 calories burned per song and 7.53 calories burned per minute. The Dead Boys also managed to earn an even more impressive 13 out of 15 possible stars. Looks like those Dead Boys take the cake today!!
Dead Boys: “Down In Flames” (originally a Rocket From The Tombs song)
I just love that vintage footage exists...the audio is shit
https://youtu.be/Z3Cn4z4kYIA
Here is a better audio version
https://youtu.be/ueqTb0_jfMU
If you have half an hour to kill look up the amazing CBGB performance from 1977. It’s like having a time machine.
Oh hell here, I did it for you
https://youtu.be/QOHOM1hVM-M
#Randomrecordworkoutseasonsix
#Randomrecordworkout