In 2008 Stone Temple Pilots reconnected for an incredibly successful reunion tour, after an extended leave of absence. As a result, the release of their comeback album has been eagerly awaited. Many wondered how the group would adapt their specific brand of psychedelic grunge to suit a new media-driven world. From the ashes, the phoenix rises, in this case, we almost wish it would retreat. This self-titled album is just that, self-titled and self-indulgent. Nothing new is brought to the table here.
The album opens with recent single Between the Lines which is itself a fairly solid track which mixes heavy beats with haunting voices. Unfortunately what follows is a chaotic formula in which the group’s passion seems lost. The tracks all start out good but inevitably blend together until it becomes impossible to differentiate between them. The fact that Scott Weiland recorded his vocals independently from the work the rest of the group were doing creates a fissure between melody and music which is anything but cohesive. Throughout the record, Weiland’s lyrics and vocals don’t quite fit with the rest of the track.
Tracks like Cinnamon are a rarity as each aspect seems to come together to create an upbeat sound which is both new and entirely Stone Temple Pilots. It’s an unusually upbeat attempt at new wave from the group, but it works. Other special tracks here are Hickory Dichotomy which violently bemoans the media and is one of few tracks in which furious vocal intelligence fits perfectly with the rest of the track. Epic album closer Maver which brings a welcome change in Weiland’s voice which is now grittier and contains a new honey-coated graininess.
One of the main issues with the record is that the group seem obsessed with sounding like anyone other than the band people know them to be. The tracks jump from David Bowie oddness in First Kiss on Mars, to Aerosmith mellow rock in Fast as I Can. The disappointment lies with the loss of what made them different. Dare if you Dare is a little too close to Green Day for comfort.
Stone Temple Pilots seem to have lost their gift. This is the one-night stand coyote ugly of the summer. You will wake up from the induced sleep of this album, feeling confused, tired, and a little used.
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