Stone Temple Pilots “Stone Temple Pilots” Review
It has been nine years since the Stone Temple Pilots released Shangri-La Dee Da, the band’s fifth album which received a lukewarm reception and was quickly dismissed after its second single, “Hollywood Bitch,” failed to propel itself into “hit” territory. After talk of returning to the studio following the band’s 2002 tour flared up, tensions also peaked, erupting most notably with guitarist Dean DeLeo and vocalist Scott Weiland nearly coming to blows during the band’s last show of the year’s touring schedule.
In the coming years Weiland would join the bulk of Guns N’ Roses’ legacy members in Velvet Revolver for two successful records while also releasing his second solo album, and Dean and Robert DeLeo would pursue a new group with Ray Luzier and Filter’s Richard Patrick, Army of Anyone—though the “super group” would have as limited success as Talk Show, the brothers’ band with STP drummer Eric Kretz and Dave Coutts which released an album in 1997. But until a reconciliation in 2008 (subsequently following Weiland’s unceremonious exit from Velvet Revolver and Army of Anyone going on an “indefinite hiatus”) fans were left with a sour taste in their mouths and a curiosity for what could have been.
But after a massive reunion tour and an extended recording session it was announced that fans’ answers would be provided in the form of Stone Temple Pilots. And with the release of the band’s first single from the album, “Beneath The Lines,” it seemed as though STP had found redemption. While opening at the #40 position on Billboard’s Rock Songs chart, the track would make history by jumping to number two the next week, marking the largest single-week bump on the chart ever. The song would later reach number one, solidifying it as the band’s most successful single since “Sour Girl” which landed squarely in Billboard’s Hot 100, amongst a number of other charts, in 2000. “We’ve got our best record so far. I hope to have four or five more great records with this band,” Dean DeLeo explained recently in an interview with Music Radar. But aside from the success of the album’s breakout single, is the band’s eponymous release really their “best record so far”?
Not even close.
As Weiland croons in “Between The Lines,” “There ain’t no magic pen to get back what you lost.” And even if he’s not talking about the band here—it’s actually a love song, of sorts—he’s right. But in all fairness Stone Temple Pilots takes a musical direction which hasn’t honestly been explored in the band’s past: Classic rock, or at least as close to classic rock as STP might come. Where Tiny Music… had a lingering crush on grunge, No. 4 leaned on heavier riffs, and Shangri-La Dee Da worked in a psychedelic flavor, the band’s self-titled release greatly relies on a lot of familiar sounding riffs, harmonies, and melodies, although it still retains STP’s thumb print.
Following the record’s soaring second track, “Take A Load Off,” Stone Temple Pilots deliver the dirty stomper “Huckleberry Crumble” (there’s a classic rock title for you if I’ve ever heard one). Late in the song Dean DeLeo breaks out into a solo that embraces a bit of Southern-fried reminiscing which sounds as though he’s anticipating Steven Tyler to jump in over his head and bring a stadium-sized ’70s audience to their knees. But in the end Tyler never shows and the audience isn’t moved. “Hickory Dichotomy” and “Dare If You Dare” do little to impress and “Cinnamon” harvests vocals so unusually light that it’s hard to imagine them actually coming out of Scott Weiland’s mouth.
“Hazy Daze” opens with a fierce riff and has Weiland slithering in and winding himself around the song. Like “Huckleberry Crumble” it’s a solid track, and DeLeo jumps in with another enjoyable solo, but little is ultimately made of it and STP allows an opportunity to erupt go unrealised.
“Bagman” and “Peacoat” both coast by before “Fast As I Can” kicks in and revs up the pace of the album again; Weiland accompanying the track with a floating chorus that levels things out nicely. Channeling Bowie in both song title and vocal style, “First Kiss on Mars” kicks off with another crunchy riff. “Maver” follows but is largely unmemorable, and “Samba Nova” closes out the record (oops, sorry, I was working with a non-”standard” release, sorry) with a relaxed bongo that flows soothingly behind a wave of melody as the album winds down. Offering one of the few noticeable changes of pace throughout Stone Temple Pilots, “Samba Nova” sounds much like a suitable complement to 1996′s Tiny Music… opener, “Press Play.”
Stone Temple Pilots isn’t without its enjoyable moments, but for the majority of the record it unfortunately succumbs to classic rock syndrome: you can listen to an hour’s worth of enjoyable music, but very little of it actually stands out and leaves an impression. Stone Temple Pilots is a good enough album, but there are a lot of “good” bands out there & STP has the potential for so much more. Time will tell if the band’s members can stand each other long enough to make those four or five more albums DeLeo had in mind, but if the band’s self-titled release ends up being STP’s final album, they’re not exactly going out on a high note.
I’ve listened to the album three times and I think you hit the nail on the head. There’s some good stuff on there but overall it’s pretty underwhelming.
Samba Nova doesn’t close out the album. The album closes with Maver, and Samba Nova opens up the second disc. What did you do, steal the record instead of actually buying it?
@Stephen Regardless, you have no thoughts on the actual album…?
Hicotomy Dicotomoy or whatver its called is a wicked tune. This album is a grower no doubt.
Ive heard it about 6 times now and it really sounding good.
Hmmm, you say the first single is ‘Beneath the lines’. Thought it was ‘Between the lines’.
Sounds like you are just not an STP fan. I love the album so far.
It seems this reviewer gave the album an average review just for the sake of giving it an average review. I’ve been a fan since the beginning, and detoured when Tiny Music was released because I felt the production was sub=par. But I got back on board with No.4 and rediscovered Tiny Music to be brilliant. I thought Shangri La was okay, but better than expected. These guys know how to write good rock songs, and are defo the real deal.
This self titled album, upon first listen, didn’t disappoint. You can hear the edits and cuts and snips in the music production, especially in Between the Lines, but the song writing and playing is pretty bang on. Kretz is an under-rated drummer. Robert a songwriter’s diamond in the ruff (and phenom on the bass), and Dean is a guitar hero. Weiland is hot and cold, but embodies what a controversial ‘rock star’ usually is.
This album is a keeper and has tons to like about it. Good on them, and it will stand the test of time.
This album was incredible, and if you consider the 9 years it took them to do it, then it’s unbelievable that it even exists.
Why do they pay people that are obviously not fans of band, to review their latest albums. Not only are there many errors in this review. It is very un-insightful. C’mon tell me what these guys have to do in order to ‘stand out’? You seem to have no answers or advice to back your claims that you claim. Why was the song unimpressive? You don’t know cause you don’t care.
I only became an STP fan after discovering Scott with Velvet Revolver, now I’m a HUGE STP fan, I think they are very underappreciated for their musicianship, etc. I love this CD! My only disappointment was they’re wasn’t a really slow ballad like “Hello, it’s Late” or “Wonderful” which I adore. Still, this is such a listenable CD and they sound so tight together. Scott’s vocals are amazing because he can change them for each song. I totally could tell he was doing “Bowie” on some of them and I know Bowie was a big influence on him. I want them to tour to Atlanta!! Regardless, this was an awesome CD and I hope people really take the time to listen to it and appreciate it…
Reviewer completely missed on this one, pretty safe bet he’s an emo fan. GREAT Record from a GREAT band surrounding in the “nickelback age” of formulaic hacks and overbloated productions this vibe record delievers as only STP can, minus “shangrai-la-de-crapola”. Hopefully if we’re lucky we’ll get 5 more records from this group, thank u guys we need u around!!!! AAAAA+++++
How do u review a “creatively genius” band anyway. They create, that is what they do! It is hard to rate their work because they don’t care about matching some former successful sound they made before. My ear loves them, I don’t care what they do!
After listening to the whole album i thought that “Take a Load Off,Huckleberry Crumble,Hickory Dichotomy,Between the Lines,Bagman and Fast As I Can’ were the best tracks.This album sounds alot like The Rolling Stones or The Beatles.They are definitley just playing the music that they like to hear.
This album is a big pile of poop. Sounds like they spent about 10 minutes writing all the songs, then went into the studio with a talented producer who couldn’t save them with decent production. Add to the mix the horribly compressed sound quality (the loudness war is still on!) and it’s not even possible to listen to it all the way through.
Indy Producer – I second that.
I’m only listening to the song ‘Between the lines’ for a project at work and I have no interest in listening to anything else from that album because this first song I was exposed to sounds like constant radio static: no dynamics, no soul, can’t tell the chorus from the verse…it’s all the same volume.
What a shame…
Think back to Vasoline and Interstate Love Song…..those were the non-loud days.
I can’t wait to finish my project.
Wait…radio static actually sounds better…it is what it is.
K-Dawg
I have been a fan since 1992. I’m in my early 30′s and have stayed true to this band;always will. I was at their concert on Long Island at Jones Beach. They were pretty awesome as always(this is my 3rd time seeing them live) but I noticed when they said they were about to “play a new one”, the crowd let out a bit of a groan. Now I had purchased their new album when it first came out but because I was busy with life, hadn’t had a chance to really sit down and listen to it. Went on a road trip with the wife (who is also a big fan) and went through the whole album. I gotta say, this is the SOFTEST album STP has ever released. And I thought Vatican was kinda soft. Halfway through we were looking at each other going, “HUH???” I hear you people talking about “evolving” and that’s all well and good. Thing is, you’re supposed to get BETTER as you evolve. NOwhere on this album is there any of the guts hard rock that made STP one of the best bands of the 90′s. We kept waiting and waiting and waiting……..nada. NOTHING!?!? Not a ONE. Surely they must have heard the reaction from the crowd at Jones when they were going gonzo for Sex Type Thing, Plush and Still Remains, yet heard crickets when they played anything from the new album. I sure hope so because while I love em’ and will continue to support them, i know a WHOLE lot of people who will not if this is the direction they are taking.