VERUCA SALT
IV
Sympathy for the Record Industry Records 2006
www.verucasalt.com

What’s the 4-1-1?
Veruca Salt returns with a new line-up and a new album after a six year hiatus.

Genre
Alternative / hard rock / pop-rock / indie

The Good
“So Weird” is dominated by a single guitar tone that remains constant throughout. Vocalist Louise Post delivers her vocals with such confidence and melody. A driving drum beat and raw guitar tones set “Centipede” into motion, while Post drops into a deeper tone. She returns to her comfort zone on the angst-ridden chorus. “Perfect Love” pushed the instrumentation to the background while Post’s voice takes center stage. Louise gives her former Veruca Salt counterpart Nina Gordon a run for the money in the melody department here, although I prefer her in rocker chic mode.

“Sick as Your Secrets” has a tone in both music and words in which I could picture someone in a rubber room ready to go crazy. The chorus represents them losing it. All the rage and anger that’s pent up in Pots’ little frame is unleashed on the impactful track “Damage Done.” “The Sun” is sort of a melancholy ballad that builds with emotion. Rookie drummer Kellii Scott makes her presents known with her bumping beats on “Save You.”

The Bad
“Wake Up Dead” is a little too soft and emotional to match up with it’s title. The length and arrangement of “Salt Flat Epic” can become a bit annoying.

The Verdict
Veruca Salt return with a more stripped down and raw sound on IV, but still manage to balance their album out with an equal amount of rockers and dark ballads. They’re not as melodic as they once were, but they’re still so indie.

Did You Know?
Veruca Salt’s 1994 debut American Thighs went gold.

Rating: out of 5

--George Dionne