American Thighs is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band Veruca Salt, released on September 27, 1994. The album features the single "Seether".
Background and release Singer-guitarists Nina Gordon and Louise Post started working together in 1992.Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Veruca Salt". allmusic.com. Retrieved September 28, 2020. 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.Gladstone, Eric. "Next Big Things". CMJ New Music Monthly. February 1995. pp. 20-24. 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. The album was released through Minty Fresh on September 27, 1994, the title is a reference to a line from the AC/DC song "You Shook Me All Night Long".
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.Caro, Mark. "Veruca Salt reunites years after explosive breakup". chicagotribune.com. July 3, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
Critical reception
American Thighs received generally positive reviews from critics. 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." 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." Spin ranked it number 8 on its list of the 20 best albums of 1994.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called American Thighs "a pure pop album masquerading as the next big thing." In 2014, Rolling Stone ranked it number 21 on its list of the 40 best alternative rock albums of 1994.
Track listing
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) PeakpositionUS Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) 1
References
External links