Why?: My wife is a fan, but now I am too.
Tell me more!:
I listened to this and the follow up album "Eight Arms To Hold You" a number of times recently as we were going to see Veruca Salt play at The Corner Hotel in Melbourne and I wanted to be familiar with the songs.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at just how good this album is. I get a strong 90s Smashing Pumpkins vibe in a lot of the guitar work, especially on songs like "25" (from which BillyC might well have stolen a guitar riff for "Aeroplane Flies High"). Love the downtuned and palm muted heaviness of many of the riffs, covered with melodic echoing guitar solos, and of course those amazing harmonies throughout.
Lyrically there is a lot of interesting stuff going on. That's not usually my thing, but here it's all so heartfelt and real, I'm not surprised this album is so loved by those that were teenagers when it arrived. I wish I'd been there. My wife was, her favourite song being the epic "25", and I'd have to agree, it's pretty incredible. There isn't a song on this album I don't like though.
Veruca Salt were fantastic live too. A little rough at times, but in an authentic grunge way, and they made up for it with some really solid performances of longer songs like "25". Great stuff. The most authentically 90s thing I've seen since the 90s. Looking forward to their new album.
8/10
