(no subject)

[miko2]

Today's Song: Centipede by Veruca Salt

Veruca Salt has had an interesting history. Their first cd American Thighs, which brought them an immediate and surprise hit with Seether, was a bit unpolished and displayed a band without a great deal of talent. Their second cd Eight Arms to Hold You was a great deal more polished and much heavier as well. They were often accused of being a "fake" indie band, in the way so many bands jumped on the grunge/indie bandwagon in the early 90's (Stone Temple Pilots, Smashing Pumpkins, etc.) as a ticket to stardom rather than as bands who actually had a punk/indie/DIY attitude. But I always liked them, their second cd especially.

Then came the big breakup, with main singer Nina Gordon and the other band members leaving. Louise Post, who does not have as good a singing voice, forged on. She kept control of the band name, formed a new band, and put out a third cd, Resolver, with songs that were full of anger and bile directed at her former friend Nina Gordon and her former lover Dave Grohl (of Nirvana/Foo Fighters). Many fans hated the new cd -- it didn't sound the same without Gordon, Post shouldn't still be using the name, etc. But Resolver was really quite a good record, especially good for listening to when you're in a bad mood. (Side note: their first big hit was Seether, with its chorus "You can't fight the Seether"... the song Volcano Girls from their second cd included the lines "Here's another clue, if you please, the Seether's Louise..." so is it really a surprise, after breaking up several relationships, that Post's songs on Resolver are so full of anger and bitterness?)

In the meantime, Nina Gordon went on to a pop career that turned a lot of her former fans of her hard-rocking Veruca Salt days off. They claimed that she had "sold out". A few years went by and many assumed they'd heard the last of Veruca Salt. But in 2005 they self-produced a small EP, Lords of Sounds and Lesser Things that helped them secure a record deal with an independent label. In 2006 they released their fourth cd, IV, and then went on tour.

Louse Post's current band is very sharp, and the album delivered exactly what Veruca Salt fans should expect -- good indie hard rock. Of course, the band still sounds different without Nina's voice, but the band tends to get a lot more respect these days. This is one of the first songs from their fourth cd:

Veruca Salt -- Centipede