ALBUM REVIEW By SAM SCARPELLI
2023 FEB 13
On the cutting edge of cool with a moody atmosphere, Veruca Salt delivers a collection of heartfelt anthems that remain a standout of the grunge era. At a time when the rock world was defined and dominated by the intensity of male energy, a rising group of female artists set out to prove that angst was a universal emotion we could all relate to. Traditional displays of anger were bent more towards a sense of power and strength, leaving plenty of room for those who aspired to expand the genre.
A wall of feedback swiftly shattered by pounding drums drops the listener into a frenzy of raging guitar and melodic vocals. Lyrics wrapped around you like a friend in cold weather slam you into a bed of scathing hot guitar solos. Who said girls can’t rock? Sultry singing, sassy attitudes and gorgeous looks lifted grunge to a level of higher sophistication and emotion. More than just angry dudes smashing beer and yelling at the crowd, bands like Veruca Salt showed a deeper and more beautiful side of what the legacy media bitterly called “alternative music.” Such sensibilities clearly strengthened a movement seeking to legitimize emotion during an era where being angry was a novel concept.
Maintaining a consistent tone without growing stale was a hallmark of the time. Intense dynamic shifts can swing you into subtle valleys before throwing you over the edge. Soft and sweet crooning devolves into snide attacks where even a mundane phrase like “Where’s my lip gloss?” can shimmer down your spine and give you a chill. After all that had transpired in the world of rock and roll there remained lessons to be learned. As society began to wonder why music had become “so angry” the public slowly shattered the protective media shell that had been so carefully crafted for nearly a century. Bands like Veruca Salt were one of many that helped awaken society to the necessity of feeling.
Whimsical artwork with vintage overtones was the trend after the massive success of the Smashing Pumpkins album “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.” The band’s guitarist James Iha was good friends with Nina Gordon, who added vocals to his first solo album. Indeed both bands were from Chicago and even recorded in the same studio, Chicago Recording Company, possibly sharing the iconic mellotron heard throughout their records.
Any fan of the grunge era will feel right at home in “Eight Arms to Hold You” with its familiar guitar fuzz tone and disgruntled vibes. Every track is a standout and the album has quickly become one of my all time favorites by any artist. Nina Gordon and Louise Post have the incredible ability to take you by the hand so kindly and then thrash you around for fun. All interesting journeys have a memorable end, and in this case “Earthcrosser” leaves a lasting impression. You will be hard pressed to find another gem which so perfectly exemplifies the sound of the 90s in all its glam and grandiose extremes!
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Vocals, Guitar Vocals, Guitar Drums, Vocals Bass |
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