American Thighs Explained

American Thighs
Type:	studio
Artist:	Veruca Salt
Cover:	VerucaSalt-AmericanThighs.jpg
Studio:	Idful, Chicago, Illinois
Label:	Minty Fresh
Producer:	Brad Wood
Next Title:	Blow It Out Your Ass It's Veruca Salt
Next Year:	1996

American Thighs is the 1994 debut studio album by American alternative rock band Veruca Salt.^[1] The album features the single "Seether".

Background and release

Singer-guitarists Nina Gordon and Louise Post started working together in 1992.^[2] 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.^[3] 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.^{[2] [3]} 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".^{[4] [5]}

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.^{[2] [6]}

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."^[7] 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."^[3] Spin ranked it number 8 on its list of the 20 best albums of 1994.^[8]

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.^[9]

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

External links

• • • News: Power . Ed . Why Veruca Salt's 'American Thighs' is the great lost album of the Nineties . Independent . 2019-09-27.

Notes and References

1. Thigh Masters. Spin. Craig. Marks. January 1995. 24.
2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Veruca Salt". allmusic.com. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
3. Gladstone, Eric. "Next Big Things". CMJ New Music Monthly. February 1995. pp. 20-24.
4. News: The Sound And The Flurry. Chicago Tribune. September 18, 1994. Greg. Kot. Greg Kot. October 31, 2017.
5. Veruca Salt Rocks The Charts. Billboard. 106. 50. December 10, 1994. 7, 41. Carrie. Borzillo. May 30, 2020.
6. Caro, Mark. "Veruca Salt reunites years after explosive breakup". chicagotribune.com. July 3, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
7. Web site: American Thighs. Hot Press. Nick. Kelly. November 2, 1994. October 31, 2017.
8. 20 Best Albums of '94. Spin. 10. 9. Rob. Sheffield. Rob Sheffield. December 1994. 76–78. May 30, 2020.
9. 1994: The 40 Best Records From Mainstream Alternative's Greatest Year – 21. Veruca Salt, 'American Thighs'. Rolling Stone. Chuck. Eddy. Chuck Eddy. April 17, 2014. October 31, 2017.