Current Music

Veruca Salt; Resolver; Beyond Music

It’s been nearly three years since Veruca Salt has gotten any real radio airplay. After all, their first hit “Seether” was from their debut album American Thighs in 1994, and their short-lived second hit single “Volcano Girls” was from their 1997 LP Eight Arms to Hold You. But there’s a reason why Veruca Salt has taken a break from the music scene. To put it bluntly, the entire band ditched lead singer Louise Post, leaving her as the last grain of Veruca Salt standing.

It all began in November of 1997 when Veruca lost their drummer Jim Shaprio, brother of the band’s singer/guitarist Nina Gordon, after he decided to pursue his own music group. The band then went through a myriad of musicians who replaced different members of the band, and by 1998 Post and Gordon were the only original members of Salt left. That is, until March of 1998 when Gordon, the songwriter of “Seether,” decided to pursue a solo career.

Nearly 18-months ago, Post was ready to drop the name Veruca Salt and begin a solo career of her own, until she decided not to abort the band, but instead to rebuild it with guitarists Stephen Fitzpatrick, bassist Suzzane Sokol and drummer Jimmy Madla. And the steadfast Post now shoulders Veruca Salt’s guitar playing, singing and songwriting.

The new CD Revolver begins with the song “The Same Person,” and it’s basically a one-minute repetition of Post singing the phrase “I am not the same person anymore,” and proves it by throwing the f— word in nearly 30 seconds in. It then leads into the rock raging single about being on tour called “Born Entertainer,” and you smile, because you can still hear the soft, familiar voice of “Seether” in there some where.

“Officially Dead” is the song that Post said Resolver was all about.
“This song is about letting the past be peacefully put to rest,” said Post. “Working through the chaos that trauma breeds, and screaming and singing my way though it, and getting to a new virgin space.”
The rest of the album is pretty much about sex and love. Post sings about old relationships, pretty boys, getting dressed up for attention and she even sings an edgy and anxious ballad about being “Disconnected” that listeners know will break into a jamming guitar session at the half way mark.
“Yeah Man” is another musical roller coaster of a song that’s self-described by Post as “a girl getting’ laid. All eyes limbs, lust locked together, with a strain of doubt about what’s gonna happen tomorrow. It’s a celebration of one rad guy.”

Overall, even with a reconfigured band, Post keeps the sound of old Veruca Salt alive, but with just a little more passion and a little more feeling. There’s real insight into her most personal experiences and emotions. The 14-song album is what Post calls her most “honest body of work to date,” and it works. But watch out kids, because honesty also comes with a parental advisory sticker for explicit lyrics. – Louise Thach