American Thighs
Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox album 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>Template:Cite 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 |