Search - Verbena :: Souls for Sale

By far, one of the greatest albums I own.

Sam | 12/19/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

"Sale," with plenty of "Soul"

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 05/11/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Edgy, Gritty, Raw, and POWERFUL

H. Granadino | Los Angeles, CA | 12/21/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."