Monday, August 01, 2005
Louise Post + Nina Gordon = Veruca Salt: The band with nothing lacking
Veruca Salt. Haven't heard of them? I pity you, but that's why I'm here.
Yes, they were named after that little spoiled brat on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (not the recent movie, the good one way back when) that makes you want to strangle her. They had all of the good stuff: voices, harmony, lyrics, guitar riffs and power chords, etc. Nina Gordon and Louise Post made a huge dent in girl rock history that can never be filled. Louise and Nina broke up in '98, Nina allowing Louise to keep the band name. Apparently, she left because of some guy thing, but i'm not really sure. Since the last record they made together, though, Eight Arms to Hold You, the name Veruca Salt hasn't been the same. Nina had the lyrics and Louise could rock. Together they were priceless, apart...not so much. Nina went on to pursue a more poppy career, I haven't heard much of it except a song "2003" on a mixed cd made by the guy that introduced me to Veruca Salt (Thank's Jesse!). Louise still rocks, and quite well. Her album Resolver is definitely a hard one with alot of favorites on it, but it's really not the same. Though it's hard, the depth of the lyrics aren't as impressive as when the girls were together, and is now more mainstream sounding(something i'm kinda very much against these days).
Personally, I started off with the album American Thighs, made in 1994. I had no idea what i was in for. It was a strange new mix to me, one of Nirvana like guitar and beautiful voices. "Get Back" is the perfect start to it and it only gets better. I had been exposed to bands such as Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, Bjork, Sleater Kinney and the like, and I'm sure you'll agree with me saying their voices, in the way being used in a way of beauty, i mean really beautiful, do somewhat lack. I love those other bands to death, but I'll be honest, according to my friend Joe, I'll never be able to use my voice in those ways, "it'd be a waste", he scolds me. Veruca Salt is the one band that, after blasting their music on the road in my car, I have to go home, plug in my amp and let it all out. I'm good at power chords mostly, and their music makes it sound so so good. They never get boring.
Though American Thighs came out in 1994, you really can't tell. Maybe you know what i mean, maybe not, but you can tell usually around what year an album was made. The early 90's have a certain distinct sound, especially in the female rock genre. In American Thighs there is no essence of whatever it is that makes early 90's music sound early 90's, it's just rock with Guitars like Bush and Nirvana. It sounds modern, and always will if you like good rock. You can put it in your cd player today and never guess it was made 11 years ago. So i guess you can say they were a couple of girls ahead of their time. 11 years? Great, now i feel old...
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They've been said to be the Nirvana Girl Band, and the title fits them well. Their lyrics vary in the way of deep, sometimes dark or just carefree (David Bowie - Eight Arms To Hold You). So if you're looking for quality, talent, hard guitars and packed with intense lyrics and sexy women with sexy voices singing them, this is the band you've been looking for. I'm not too handy with resources of good sites, but there are plenty out there with info on the old band. I would say verucasalt.com, but it's been taken over by Louise Post and you can't find too much of the good ol' stuff except in the bio. They helped define my taste in music, trained my ear, especially girl bands, and I'll never regret it. Because of them i can hear quality within seconds of a song's beginning. And it has made me very picky, but for the better. Go get American Thighs (i mean the CD, not literally, because i think that would mean eating alot of McDonalds and no exercise to get really really fat). You won't be sorry. I wouldn't say that about an album I wasn't sure about. However, feel free to blame me if you don't like it, which I'm convinced is impossible.
Ta ta for now.
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