Customer Reviews

Souls for Sale

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first heard about Verbena on M2 watching their "My Baby Got Shot" video. I was knocked out by that video the same way I was knocked out when I saw Sonic Youth do "Kool Thing" years earlier. I immediately went out and bought "Into the Pink", which while having its moments, ultimately was a letdown compared to "Baby Got Shot". After seeing them live and hearing songs off this album ("Souls for Sale"), I got excited again. "Souls for Sale" is a classic - one of those forgotten albums like Big Star's "Radio City" that bubbled under the radar for years before finally receiving the respect it deserved. The guitars have been compared to Keith Richards (one song is called "Me and Keith"), but I would say that would be because both guitarists play with more of a feel than technical dexterity. You can hear the blues in Scott's drawl, and when Anne-Marie adds her X-like harmonies it becomes transcendant. I have "The Desert" permanently encoded in my MP3 player so when I'm running it kicks in right when I need the energy boost. Every song is a highlight. There is no filler. Buy it.

When i first saw Verbena's cd, it was at a record store near my house. They didnt have any Pixies or Pavement so i was looking aound when i saw the odd cover of Verbena's "Souls for Sale." It caught my eye, and just as a test i picked it up and bought it. The first track "Hot Blood" slapped my right in the face. It was exactly the sound i had wanted. The female and male vocals were both amazing. The musicians' product seemed to loll along coherently, while at the same time their music was so jaded. It's not a child of Nirvana, nor a child of Weezer; Verbena is something on it's own. There's really no way to describe it in words, or any other medium i know about for that matter.

Alabama band Verbena made a solid, low-key entrance with "Souls For Sale." Their edgy southern rock (with a hint of grunge and blues), lots of raw riffs and solid lyrics. "Souls" a rare animal now -- rock with no hint of pop, just a stripped-down rock.

"Hot Blood" is the steady, solid rocker that kicks off the album, followed rounds of searing rockers that will make you tingle (the wonderfully catchy "Shaped Like A Gun," roaring "Desert") peppered with the occasional meditative bluesy songs (the wonderfully melancholy "Song That Ended Your Career," "Postcard Blues"), before wrapping up with the roiling riffs of "Kiss Yourself."

Rock is not dead, and Verbena proves it. Their "southern-fried rock" has a sort of hard-edged allure and catchiness, like the the leather-jacket-wearing bad boy that mothers warn daughters against. At the same time, there's a slightly quieter, more melodic side (as displayed in songs like "Song That Ended Your Career" which is slow and sad).

Scott Bondy's rock vocals are given their more bluesy edge with an elongated Southern drawl. During the softer songs, his voice rises a little and becomes sweeter. And he wrings every last drop from these songs: "I know it's hot when someone shouts, "I'm the only rebel"/it's where you wait, to share your fate with eyes the size of never," he announces in a sort of hopeful depression.

Bondy's guitar playing has often been compared to greats like Keith Richards; this is understandable, since Bondy's playing is full of fire and emotion. Sometimes he manages what sounds like a solid wall of sound, then a gentle strumming melody, then a riff that twists in on itself and seems to turn inside out. Bassist Anne-Marie Griffin also added her considerable skills (and some backing vocals).

The brash, whirlwind energy of "Souls For Sale" is a solid rock album that reminds me why I love rock music. Fantastic debut album for Verbena.

This is one of those really great hidden gem albums. Considering the state of music it's not surprising that an album of this brilliance went unnoticed by many. My personal favorite songs on this album would have to be 'the dessert', 'hey come on', 'postcard blues', and the wonderful 'the song that ended your career.' Of course, all the songs are simply great. While Verbena has been deemed a Nirvana rip off for many reasons like the lead singer kinda looks like Curt Kobain, and kinda sounds like Kobain, and I've been told has some of the same mannerisms as Kobain, they are simply not. They have a unique style all their own that is by far better than that of most bands around today. Their second album, Into the Pink, is a bit darker in its tone and not quite as good in my opinion but still great. This is definately I would recommend checking out.

This is Verbena's first full length. The album is mostly a rocking album reminiscent of the early 90s. The album has some tender moments, such as the beautifully bittersweet "The Song that Ended Your Career" that is accentuated by the backing vocals of Anne Marie. The album also has a rocking and yet biting criticism of the fashion industry/American consumerism in "Junk for Fashion." But who cares about that? Some of its best and most rocking tracks are "The Desert," "Hot Blood," "Kiss Yourself," and "Me & Keith." There are some grunge-type tracks like "Shaped Like a Gun" and "So What."

about the only weird and relatively weak track is "Postcard Blues" but otherwise this album is tops! It is a mystery why this band did not become much bigger.

If yr looking for Nirvana meets the Rolling Stones, look no further. This disc mixes old (good) Stones with new (great) Nirvana.
I'm talking about a mix of In Utero and Sticky Fingers.
All the tracks are memorable, and good in their own way. I don't think they overlap into the same territory too often. Each song is unique with the exception of "Kiss Yourself" and "Shaped Like a Gun"
"The Desert" should have been the obvious choice for single, but they picked the not quite as equally good "Hey, Come On."
"Junk for Fashion" may be the best song on the disc, with a great gritty feel and lyrics that stick. I like lyrics to be only semi-intelligible, and Bondy is spot on on this record.
I've been searching for another disc like this for a long time and still haven't been able to replace its grittiness and sleaziness mixed with a blues/punk/pop shine and attitude.

Tasty soul filled junkie rock from Alabama. Guitarist/Vocalist Anne Marie is sexy rock chick for the ages, and the two vocal delivery drips with sex,joy, sadness, and intoxication all at once....

After seeing Verbena live a while back, I decided to buy their two releases, Into The Pink and Souls For Sale. Since that time, Verbena has become one of my favorite bands, and La Musica Negra is arguably the best CD to hit stores in 2003. Although this debut shows great potential and has a number of excellent tracks, it just doesnt measure up to their latter releases. And it doesnt really sound like them either. The sound quality of the album is mainly mediocre. The guitar sound is not as prolific and heavy as it could be, lets leave it at that. But rest assured, dear loyal fan, if you love Verbena, you will like this album.

1. Hot Blood ( 5/5 ) is probably my second favorite song here. It has a very grunge-like start that progresses into more of a modern rock song. Awesome.

2. Shaped Like A Gun ( 3.5/5 ) begins like a Soul Coughing song, but mellows out into a decent hard rock track. Good lyrics.

3. Junk For Fashion ( 3/5 ) pretty much stays slow throughout. It gets caught in between a song like Hot Blood and the next track.

4. The Song That Ended Your Career ( 5/5 ) is, oddly enough, my favorite track here. Its very melodic, and shouldnt do any damage to the career of Verbena.

5. The Desert ( 3.5/5 ) works in the same fashion as Hot Blood, but with some suspicious lyrics. The shouts of I do! are quite enjoyable.

6. Hey, Come On ( 5/5 ) was the main single for Souls For Sale, though it didnt receive much exposure. Its a shame, really, the song is excellent and one of Verbenas best to date.

7. Me & Keith ( 4/5 ) has been rumored to be about Scott and Keith Richards (hmmm). Slow lyrics seem to be preparation for tunes off Into The Pink.

8. So What ( 3/5 ) is very grunge-ish, but just doesnt manage to outdo Hot Blood or The Desert. The female background vocals, courtesy of Anne-Marie, are great.

9. Postcard Blues ( 4.5/5 ), a very cool slow tune, is a definite gem on this album. Somehow, it seems to be the sad, slow songs that stand out here.

10. Kiss Yourself ( 3.5/5 ) features some great guitar work, but again, it doesnt outshine Hot Blood, the greatest fast-paced track on Souls For Sale.

Like I said, this is a fantastic debut CD for Verbena. But often times I find myself listening to La Musica Negra or Into The Pink instead. I just think their talents have evolved so greatly that its nearly impossible to enjoy Souls For Sale over the aforementioned albums. Whatever the case may be, this is definitely a worthwhile purchase... if you can find it. There doesnt seem to be too many copies of this left; ... If you have heard Into The Pink or, most recently, La Musica Negra, do not expect any of these 10 songs to be comparable to a Baby Got Shot or a Way Out West. Still, there are some excellent songs here, especially Hot Blood and The Song That Ended Your Career, and not one bad one.

An absolutely fantastic album. Verbeena is an up and comer that will be around for a long time, and this debut proves it. If you are going to buy one new cd on this visit to amazon, this should be it. You won't be disappointed.

this is so cool, i know anne marie so well. i love their music, and they're so fun to see live, i have seen them 3 times, and have seen anne marie a few times at the mall and around, they're great, i really advise you to get this cd, it's awesome.