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
Studio album by
Veruca Salt
ReleasedSeptember 27, 1994 (1994-09-27)
StudioIdful Music, Chicago, Illinois
Genre
Length52:24
LabelMinty Fresh
ProducerBrad Wood
Veruca Salt chronology
American Thighs
(1994)		 Blow It Out Your Ass It's Veruca Salt
(1996)
Singles from American Thighs
  1. "Seether" / "All Hail Me"
    Released: October 11, 1994
  2. "Number One Blind"
    Released: June 23, 1995
  3. "Victrola"
    Released: July 25, 1995

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
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
NME7/10[9]
Rolling Stone[10]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[11]
The Village VoiceA−[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.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Get Back"Nina Gordon3:12
2."All Hail Me"Louise Post3:05
3."Seether"Gordon3:16
4."Spiderman '79"Post5:16
5."Forsythia"Gordon4:45
6."Wolf"Post4:19
7."Celebrate You"Post4:20
8."Fly"Post3:38
9."Number One Blind"
3:43
10."Victrola"Post2:19
11."Twinstar"Gordon3:16
12."25"Gordon7:56
13."Sleeping Where I Want" (CD release only)Gordon3:19
Total length:52:24

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.

Veruca Salt

Additional musicians

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
  1. Danaher, Michael (August 4, 2014). "The 50 Best Grunge Songs (1/3)". Paste. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  2. Marks, Craig (January 1995). "Thigh Masters". Spin. p. 24.
  3. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Veruca Salt". allmusic.com. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  4. Gladstone, Eric. "Next Big Things". CMJ New Music Monthly. February 1995. pp. 20-24.
  5. Kot, Greg (September 18, 1994). "The Sound And The Flurry". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  6. Borzillo, Carrie (December 10, 1994). "Veruca Salt Rocks The Charts". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 50. pp. 7, 41. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  7. Caro, Mark. "Veruca Salt reunites years after explosive breakup". chicagotribune.com. July 3, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  8. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "American Thighs – Veruca Salt". AllMusic. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  9. Dalton, Stephen (October 8, 1994). "Veruca Salt: American Thighs". NME. p. 43.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. Christgau, Robert (February 21, 1995). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  13. Kelly, Nick (November 2, 1994). "American Thighs". Hot Press. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  14. Sheffield, Rob (December 1994). "20 Best Albums of '94". Spin. Vol. 10, no. 9. pp. 76–78. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  15. 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.
  16. "Australiancharts.com – Veruca Salt – American Thighs". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  17. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  18. "Veruca Salt Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  19. "Veruca Salt Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
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