Customer Reviews

Eight Arms to Hold You

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The recipient of inexplicably lukewarm reviews and little radio play, Eight Arms To Hold You is an album of unapologetically intertwined power pop and hard rock. Produced by Bob Rock (Metallica), the guitars are crunchy while the voices of frontwomen Louise Post and Nina Gordon are clear as bells.

A meager two stars from Rolling Stone are hard to explain in the face of an album of such extraordinarily catchy songs: the goofy lead single "Volcano Girls," adolescent hand-clap anthem "With David Bowie," arena rocker "Earthcrosser," and especially the mid-album trio of "Benjamin," "Shutterbug," and "Morning Sad" -- all three of which were singles overseas. Every song here is a classic, at once imitating and transcending similar chick rock from the likes of Juliana Hatfield, Elastica, and The Breeders to form an astounding aural experience in the course of over fifty minutes and fourteen songs.

One has to wonder if the relatively poor reception to this strong album was a factor in the band's messy breakup in the following years, if only because there is nothing but harmony on this disc. Definitely worth a listen.

the editorial review on this album is ridiculous. the way that veruca salt managed to seamlessly work out a 14 song album that frequently flops back and forth between arena rock and power pop and have it be one coherent and beautiful collection of music that addresses a variety of topics is anything but "one dimensional." people who don't like music shouldn't review music.

Veruca Salt's Nina Gordon is one of the best songwriters on young people's feelings out there right now, an achievement scarcely acknowledged.

In a way she is the positive flip side of postmodern culture amidst all of its pop-culture obsessions, wordplay, irreverence, laxitude and restlessness. Gordon's songwriting can simultaneously cut to the heart of the matter while remaining intriguing on the basis of her lyrical genius and musical punch.

"Loneliness Is Worse" is the masterpiece on this album, an aching, sweet ballad that perfectly captures endless nights of crying yourself to sleep with one phrase: "It's got a way of making everyone the same." Wrapped in angelic vocal harmonies and a surprisingly evocative wash of distorted guitars, "Loneliness" is the single most sincerely emotional song in the post-grunge era. For all of Kurt Cobain's meaningless doodlings, nothing beats a truly beating heart.

Eight Arms to Hold You contains its share of gut punches, pop delicacies and weird moments, as well. "Volcano Girls", despite its silly title, contains incredibly catchy lyrics coupled with an aggressive guitar riff; "Benjamin" is pure pop; "With David Bowie" is teenage exuberance personified in song. Gordon's bandmate Louise Post, though not as strong as songwriter, contributes some stylistic variety: "Sound of the Bell", almost reminiscent of Smashing Pumpkins' "1979" in texture, rings true, striking gold with its loud-soft dichotomy.

Gordon and Post have now gone their separate ways, with Gordon set to release as solo album (she's on Lilith Fair in 1999) and Post allegedly carrying on with Veruca Salt alone. This album almost emblematizes their ailing partnership: Troubled, but as much full of real feelings as energetic fun.

Veruca Salt's second album has a different sound than that of 'American Thighs'. While 'American Thighs was more low fi and indie sounding, this one is more polished and has more of a mainstream rock sound. At first I didn't really appreciate that, but I grew used to it. It's definately an infectious album, one you can't help but like. 'Eight Arms To Hold You' rips open with 'Straight' one of the harder rocking numbers on the album, thanks to Louise Post. Other standout tracks include 'Volcano Girls', 'Don't Make Me Prove It', 'Benjamin', 'Shutterbug', and 'Stoneface'. This was the last album that had contained the original Veruca Salt lineup. If you are looking for a sound that is somewhere in between Hole and the Go Go's, Veruca Salt's 'Eight Arms To Hold You' will not disappoint!

The swan song of Veruca Salt at the height of their creative collaboration before Nina Gordon left the band, Eight Arms to Hold You (taken from the temporary title of the Beatles film "Help!") has far more depth than their first album/cd: American Thighs. It seems to rise above the depressing grunge that was popular in 1997, but still contains some aspects of it. The recording quality is fabulous, harmonies are dead-on, and songs have catchy hooks. Some songs are radio-friendly rock & pop such as Volcano Girls and Awesome while some others are heavier (Straight, Earthcrosser) and a few easy-listening goodies (Benjamin, Lonliness is Worse). There is a definite layering of dimension to the songwriting, especially evident in Earthcrosser which has slow, bluesy acoustic parts alternating with heavy electric guitar parts between verse and refrain. This song is definitely inspired by Brother Cane's "Make Your Play" from the cd Brother Cane, 1994.
I don't see a weakness on this cd. The backup vocals are etheral and interwoven while contrasting with heavy guitar sounds. It's a stunning combination of sounds. Plus it's cool to hear girls with attitude, rather than the fluff you get from Britney, Christina A., or Mariah Carey.

This album would have to be one of my favorites from 1997. I cant imagine what Salt's third album would have been like. Chances are it would have been another fantastic jounrey through Smashing Pumpkins-thick distortion, but despite all the similarities they may have with their fellow chicagoites they explore new territory through a familiar genre. I can't even begin to explain how this godsend of an album makes me feel. Echoed in Nina Gordon's voice on " Loneliness is Worse" I can hear the sadness that was to come when they split not long after this album. Every track is powerful in its own way, but I feel " Loneliness" and " One Last Time" are two of the most amazing songs i've ever heard from the late '90s rock scene. In a day where everyone else wants to be Nirvana it was admirable to have a band like Salt around, a band who was defining their own bone- and emotion-crunching sound. Too bad this one didnt catch on like American Thighs and its Seether single did

Veruca Salt has always been one of my favorite female bands, up until Nina Gordon left the band in the reigns of Louise Post with their 2000 album RESOLVER. While their debut AMERICAN THIGHS was a good album, it was lacking something, something that is on EIGHT ARMS TO HOLD YOU, which I believe is their undisputed best album. From the first single "Volcano Girls" which grabs you from the get go, there is a certain aura and energy to this album. The opening track "Straight" gets the party started, with a rockin' edge and a vengeance! "Don't Make Me Prove It" disarms the power of promises, words just wont do. "One Last Time" looks at an abusive relationship and asks her aggressor to "love me like a monster". "With David Bowie" is a great track, full of energy and zest, and a killer guitar hook. Other highlights include the subdued "Benjamin", "Shutterbug", "The Morning Sad", "Sound Of The Bell", "Stoneface" and more.

This has to be one the greatest albums in the history of rock.
I am truly impressed by this band's amazing talent to craft one mind-blowing track after another. Nina and Louise's vocals are just heavenly. I hate it when every track on an album sounds the same. But each song here is like a rare gem, each one layered with rich melody and each one so very unique. I would put VS up there with major talents like Audioslave, Soundgarden, System of a Down, RATM, Incubus, etc. SHEER GENIUS.

A magnificent work of art!

- A guy who is crazy about VS

I bought this album on a whim from the used rack at my local Hasting's. Upon listening to it I wonder how I didn't fall in love with this when it first came out!

The album overall is very strong. It has only one weak song in my opinion, and that is "Benjamin." The rest of this album showcases the contrasting vocal styles of the two singers. However different, the two voices blend to make an amazing result.

My favorite songs off the album were "Awesome", "With David Bowie", "Don't Make Me Prove It" and "Earthcrosser."

I've heard that the VS albums following this one weren't as good, so I suppose I got lucky and started with a great one. If you like the sound of Hole then you'll probably enjoy this album.

Veruca Salt is a band that I had criminally overlooked upon their bursting onto the pop scene way back in the day of 1994. I had originally thought of them, like many nay-sayers, as a Breeders rip-off, but this album really got me into them. Bob Rock's production benefits the two singer/songwriters Louise Post & Nina Gordon greatly. With thick rhythm guitars and noticeable differences in the pair's voices, the album is some different than what I've heard from the previous album, American Thighs. Louise has that classic, almost Courtney Love-like voice, without sounding strangled like Ms. Love, while Nina Gordon has a beautiful, sweet voice, sort of like Kim Deal's. The songs are excellent, too. Gordon's "Volcano Girls" and "With David Bowie" are two of those incessantly catchy tunes that only come around every once and a while, while Post's "Straight" and "Don't Make Me Prove It" are more of the same. I recommend this album to anyone. Great Stuff.