Veruca Salt

"I am not the same as before," says Louise Post at the opening of Veruca Salt's first album in
three years. There's reason to believe her: Post is the only original Veruca Salt member left
since co-singer and guitarist Nina Gordon split in 1998. The band's fluctuating fortunes -- its
tenure as a one-hit wonder, thanks to 1994's "Seether," was followed by a rank sophomore
CD and some internal strife -- have left their impressions on Resolver. Like Veruc... More >

They've never gotten respect for their girl- and sex-positive rock, and they never will. But they've never made a bad record either. With Nina Gordon off pursuing her dreams of Belinda Carlisle, the principles are down to Louise Post, who's as girl- and sex-positive as ever but more desperate about it. Whispery-vulnerable or bitchy-tuneful, she seems to be deciding that love etc. is more important than rock and roll, a truth always worth putting a hook on. (Grade: A-)