In the summer of ’97, I had an emergency surgery. It was my first time staying at a hospital and it was terrifying. It was a family condition regarding my gall bladder, as both my aunt and my grandad had theirs removed. On my father’s side, his youngest brother also had an emergency removal. So on both sides, it seemed on the cards.

It was the summer after Teresa had left suddenly, and also when I was considering changing majors from electronics to chemistry. It was the summer when Jeff Buckley died and the Bulls won -again-. It was a summer of a long holiday with my parents, usually helping with their luggage and not getting lost. It was also the summer of a lost gall bladder. Swings and roundabouts, I guess.

While recovering, I still tried to be helpful around the house, so even if my scar wasn’t fully healed, I would go and do errands to the supermarket near my gaff. It was a hot summer, and I wouldn’t risk my mum going by herself for the shopping. Back then, supermarkets still sold CDs and the unusual area at Comercial Mexicana for CDs was a weird square of loud Ranchera and Tropical music, with the odd grunge gem knocking about.

I usually would go and waste a few minutes there, with a quick glance for prices. Supermarkets were getting rid of their CD stock and you could find a cherished album for a couple of pesos. It was summer, so money was tight for me. I saw Veruca Salt’s Eight arms to hold you. It wasn’t on discount so I put it back into the rack. Then my mum’s hand stretched, grabbed the album, and placed it on the basket. I told her it was a bit expensive, she said it was a gift.

I listened to that damned album so much it probably was getting ready to fall apart. Mothers usually have to do magic to stretch a household’s budget to kingdom come, so I always appreciated when my mum dropped a few pesos my way for something. I love that album and will always remind me of her.

Shutterbug is easily my fave track from the album. Nina Gordon and Louise Post’s vocal intertwine perfectly, and that bass line should be studied for how joyful it is. The quiet hard quiet structure works and the outro solo is a cherry on top. Veruca Salt never get their dues and hopefully one day people can wake up to their unbridled energy.

-Sam J. Valdés López