Veruca Salt
Ghost Notes (El Camino)
The image of Veruca Salt’s Louise Post and Nina Gordon bouncing up and down like marionettes in their video for 1997’s "Volcano Girls" remains an iconic piece of mid-‘90s nostalgia. Their bratty, two-part harmonies and ability to make their distinctive voices come together as one helped define their specific brand of grungy pop-rock with a side of sass.
Founding member Gordon departed the band in 1998 for a solo career. Ghost Notes marks her return, an album title that gives a wink and a nod to any proverbial skeletons in the closet between herself and Post.
“The Gospel According to Saint Me” begins with Gordon singing “I wanted to live, so I pretended to die”, addressing her absence head-on. The chorus is a classic major-chord uplifting wall of melody and guitar, ending on the uplifting mantra “It’s gonna be bright”. Lead single “Laughing in the Sugar Bowl” is a choppy, glossy pop rock classic filled with a quick-delivery, call and answer melody, this time sang by Post over thick Gibson SG power chords.
The queens of pop rock are back, and quite frankly don’t care much about what you think. Their formula hasn’t changed, but grown stronger despite their lengthy hiatus. Veruca Salt has, and always will be the Gordon-Post union, and their return to form feels like a welcome home present from a long, lost friend.
Rating: ★★★1/2
