American Thighs
Template:Use mdy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: Template:Start date | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Blow It Out Your Ass It's Veruca Salt1996studioAmerican ThighsVerucaSalt-AmericanThighs.jpgVeruca SaltTemplate:Start dateIdful, Chicago, IllinoisTemplate:HlistTemplate:DurationMinty FreshBrad Woodx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}} American Thighs is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band Veruca Salt, released in 1994.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The album features the single "Seether".
Background and release
Singer-guitarists Nina Gordon and Louise Post started working together in 1992.<ref name="Erlewine">Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Veruca Salt". allmusic.com. Retrieved September 28, 2020.</ref> 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.<ref name="Gladstone">Gladstone, Eric. "Next Big Things". CMJ New Music Monthly. February 1995. pp. 20-24.</ref> 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.<ref name="Erlewine"/><ref name="Gladstone"/> 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".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
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.<ref name="Erlewine"/><ref>Caro, Mark. "Veruca Salt reunites years after explosive breakup". chicagotribune.com. July 3, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2020.</ref>
Critical reception
Template:Music ratings 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."<ref name=hotpress>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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."<ref name="Gladstone"/> Spin ranked it number 8 on its list of the 20 best albums of 1994.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called American Thighs "a pure pop album masquerading as the next big thing."<ref name=allmusic/> In 2014, Rolling Stone ranked it number 21 on its list of the 40 best alternative rock albums of 1994.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
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) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 1 |