Veruca Salt - American Thighs

Great Album!

It is really a shame the orginal memebers of this group parted ways. They sure made some rockin' music. March 24, 2008

Like getting high

There was a stretch of time in the mid 1990s that women were making ballsier, and therefore better, rock than their male counterparts, and this was one of the best examples of that phenomenon.
While bands like Gin Blossoms, Better Than Ezra, and eventually every band with a number in its name were making good pop, it was acts like VS, Belly, Throwing Muses, The Breeders and others that were making the most noteworthy contributions to the rock lexicon.
'American Thighs' made me feel like I'd just gotten high even while stone cold sober. Its atmospheric production and at times otherworldly lyrical content was enough to blow me away.
Of course "Seether" is the tune that most remember, if they remember at all. But Louise Post's howl at the beginning of "All Hail Me" is enough to make the hair on the back of your neck stand on end, and the remainder of the song doesn't disappoint the announcement of its beginning.
"Victrola" is one of the best short, straight forward rock songs in a long time, and that's fitting seeing how it's simply an ode to a record player.
"Spiderman 76" was always the one that just set me over the edge in terms of the ethereal stuff. The mention of Ritz in a can made me remember being a little kid in the 70s like few things ever have brought back that feeling.
This is a great record, and though the pop ambitions of Nina Gordon ultimately led to Post's rather odd personality taking over what left of the group after Gordon's departure, it's a must-have album for anyone trying to put together a collection of the best releases of the 90s. July 3, 2007

represents the good and the bad of its era

This album would have faded completely into obscurity if not for the pop-perfection single "Seether". Beyond that song, the rest of the album represents to me the best and the worst of the early '90s alternative explosion. The good was that you had people like Nina Gordon and Louise Post making hit records, people who if born five years earlier probably would not have advanced their music careers further than their own basements. The traditional rules about how to "make it" went out the window after grunge broke, which was refreshing at a time when music had gotten real stale. I can recall listening to this album and almost being transfixed by the unusual melodic structure, slightly off-key vocals, and unusual harmonies. It was like two fragile adolesent girls with decent songwriting skills were given a record contract, and it was like nothing I'd ever heard before. However, with the good always comes some bad, and the sad fact is that the things which give songs their staying power such as resonating lyrics, quality musicianship, and good production, were missing in action on many albums of this era. However relevant American Thighs might have been in 1994, the album comes across as utterly irrelevant today. There are a few tracks that still draw you in, such as 'Forsythia' and 'Victrola' (despite the latter's cringe-inducing solo), but overall VS should be thankful that they were able to unleash "Seether" on the world before fading into obscurity. February 2, 2007

A must own classic....

This is probably the most important post-grunge album that doesn't get anywhere near the praise it deserves. Louise Post and Nina Gordon formed a singing duo that could easily be compared to a female version of Lennon and McCartney. Like Lennon and McCartney, Louise and Nina shared lead vocal duties and both wrote equally powerful songs. But the comparisons stop there because Veruca Salt was formed out of Chicago, not Liverpool.

The greatness of this album is its rawness and sincerity. It's poppy, yet grungy, dark yet cheerful, a whirlwind of emotions are captured in this unforgettable 13 track debut. This album is a must-hear for anyone who is fan of 90's rock/grunge/alernative etc. Though no Veruca Salt album is a let down, this is arguably the best. October 22, 2006

"You can go and burst my tiny bubble..."

Veruca Salt's American Thighs is an under-rated American masterpiece. What a great band they were, well they still play today but Louise Post is the only original member left standing. Nina Gordon and her were very special and gifted girls. This album is produced by Brad Wood who also produced Liz Phair's highly-acclaimed Exile in Guyville the same year as this record. All the tracks are great and low-key. Half the songs are written by Louise Post and the other half is written by Nina Gordon. Post's songs include: the terrific Celebrate You, the completely cool Wolf, Spiderman 79, Victrola, All Hail Me, and the soothing Fly. Gordon's songs include: the catchy Forsythia, Seether, Twinstar, Sleeping Where i want, Get Back, the epic 25, and Number one Blind. There is something special about this album, it doesn't grab your attention right away but after a few listens, you appreciate its simple and mellow texture. American Thighs is a piece of Americana. Also check-out their follow-up record Eight arms to hold you produced by Bob Rock. April 25, 2006

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