American Thighs
American Thighs is the 1994 debut studio album by American alternative rock band Veruca Salt.[2] The album features the hit single "Seether" and received positive critical reviews.
American Thighs | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 27, 1994 | |||
Studio | Idful Music, Chicago, Illinois | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 52:24 | |||
Label | Minty Fresh | |||
Producer | Brad Wood | |||
Veruca Salt chronology | ||||
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Singles from American Thighs | ||||
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Background and release
Singer-guitarists Nina Gordon and Louise Post started working together in 1992.[3] They eventually formed Veruca Salt with bassist Steve Lack and drummer Jim Shapiro, and the four had been a full band less than a year when they signed with the independent label Minty Fresh.[4] In 1994, they released the single "Seether"/"All Hail Me". "Seether" became a hit on college and alternative radio stations, and the band recorded the album American Thighs with producer Brad Wood.[3][4] The album was released through Minty Fresh on September 27, 1994, the title a reference to a line from the AC/DC song "You Shook Me All Night Long".[5][6]
Veruca Salt then signed with the major label Geffen Records, which re-released the album. "Seether" became a hit on MTV. Two more singles, "Number One Blind" and "Victrola", were released from the album, but neither matched the success of "Seether". American Thighs was eventually certified gold.[3][7]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [8] |
NME | 7/10[9] |
Rolling Stone | [10] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [11] |
The Village Voice | A−[12] |
American Thighs received generally positive reviews from critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic gave the album 4 stars out of 5, calling it "a pure pop album masquerading as the next big thing."[8] Nick Kelly of Hot Press said, "Given that this is their first record, you can't help asking yourself how a band so young can sing songs so good."[13] Eric Gladstone of CMJ New Music Monthly wrote that "the album works an infectious formula: thick harmonies layered over attack-formation guitars and drums, with lyrics shifting from childlike innocence to guiltless brutality."[4]
Spin ranked it number 8 on its list of the 20 best albums of 1994.[14] In 2014, Rolling Stone ranked it number 21 on its list of the 40 best alternative rock albums of 1994.[15]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Get Back" | Nina Gordon | 3:12 |
2. | "All Hail Me" | Louise Post | 3:05 |
3. | "Seether" | Gordon | 3:16 |
4. | "Spiderman '79" | Post | 5:16 |
5. | "Forsythia" | Gordon | 4:45 |
6. | "Wolf" | Post | 4:19 |
7. | "Celebrate You" | Post | 4:20 |
8. | "Fly" | Post | 3:38 |
9. | "Number One Blind" |
| 3:43 |
10. | "Victrola" | Post | 2:19 |
11. | "Twinstar" | Gordon | 3:16 |
12. | "25" | Gordon | 7:56 |
13. | "Sleeping Where I Want" (CD release only) | Gordon | 3:19 |
Total length: | 52:24 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.
Veruca Salt
- Nina Gordon – guitar, vocals
- Louise Post – guitar, vocals
- Steve Lack – bass guitar
- Jim Shapiro – drums, background vocals
Additional musicians
- Christian Lane – additional vocals (on "Victrola")
Production
- Brad Wood – production, recording, mixing
- Casey Rice – additional engineering
- John McEntire – additional engineering
- Roger Seibel – mastering
Charts
Chart (1994–95) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[16] | 26 |
UK Albums (OCC)[17] | 47 |
US Billboard 200[18] | 69 |
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[19] | 1 |
References
- Danaher, Michael (August 4, 2014). "The 50 Best Grunge Songs (1/3)". Paste. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
- Marks, Craig (January 1995). "Thigh Masters". Spin. p. 24.
- Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Veruca Salt". allmusic.com. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- Gladstone, Eric. "Next Big Things". CMJ New Music Monthly. February 1995. pp. 20-24.
- Kot, Greg (September 18, 1994). "The Sound And The Flurry". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
- Borzillo, Carrie (December 10, 1994). "Veruca Salt Rocks The Charts". Billboard. Vol. 106 no. 50. pp. 7, 41. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- Caro, Mark. "Veruca Salt reunites years after explosive breakup". chicagotribune.com. July 3, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "American Thighs – Veruca Salt". AllMusic. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
- Dalton, Stephen (October 8, 1994). "Veruca Salt: American Thighs". NME. p. 43.
- Ahearn, Kim (November 3, 1994). "Veruca Salt: American Thighs". Rolling Stone. No. 694. p. 100. Archived from the original on December 19, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2004.
- Harris, Keith (2004). "Veruca Salt". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Fireside Books. p. 849. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- Christgau, Robert (February 21, 1995). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
- Kelly, Nick (November 2, 1994). "American Thighs". Hot Press. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
- Sheffield, Rob (December 1994). "20 Best Albums of '94". Spin. Vol. 10 no. 9. pp. 76–78. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- Eddy, Chuck (April 17, 2014). "1994: The 40 Best Records From Mainstream Alternative's Greatest Year – 21. Veruca Salt, 'American Thighs'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
- "Australiancharts.com – Veruca Salt – American Thighs". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
- "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
- "Veruca Salt Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
- "Veruca Salt Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
External links
- American Thighs at Discogs (list of releases)
- American Thighs at MusicBrainz (list of releases)