Stone Temple Pilots New Self-titled Album Review

I have to start this review by saying Stone Temple Pilots is one of my favorite bands of all time. The band gets lumped into a variety of categories, sometimes being associated with the grunge era of the '90s or more of the glam rock from before. Whatever the label, I like the band and the music.

Stone Temple Pilots, or STP, is comprised of Scott Weiland, Dean DeLeo, Robert DeLeo, and Eric Kretz. While the band broke up and everyone seemed to pursue their own things (most notably, Scott Weiland fronting the supergroup, Velvet Revolver with former members of Guns & Roses), they reunited at the 3rd annual Rock on the Range concert in 2008, Columbus, Ohio. My husband and I had the pleasure of attending the concert and hearing STP's kick-ass sound after the long-standing hiatus. There were many great bands there, but few compared to the quality and cohesiveness of STP; that can be said about STP's sound on the album versions and live versions. Of course, for my taste, it helps greatly that Scott Weiland can actually sing live - I also witnessed that the year before when he was with Velvet Revolver at Rock on the Rang.

So, on to the new album. I just downloaded it on May 25 and have listened to most of the songs more than once. I can say I really enjoy the album. However, I can anticipate the issues other people may have.

The biggest criticism I anticipate is that the album is not as edgy or mysterious or seductive as some of the previous STP albums. Perhaps this is just a sign of a band that spent many years apart and is now focusing on the positive side of things? Or perhaps moving forward instead of focusing on what the individuals have been doing in these past few years. I have no clue...I'm just speculating. But the music doesn't feel quite as mysterious or elusive as it once was. If you're expecting "Creep" or "Dead and Bloated" or "Plush," you may be disappointed. However, if you're willing to accept a modified sound with a little less of the grunge era seeping in, you should like the self-titled Stone Temple Pilots album.

A curiosity more so than a criticism that I have is that it's hard for me to determine which songs would make good radio singles. "Between the Lines" is the breakout hit for now, but I actually think it sounds more like Velvet Revolver than STP. The album as a whole is cohesive, but there may not be as many catchy radio hits that people will easily remember.

Something I perceived from this album was a sense of channeling classic rock artists such as Aerosmith and the Rolling Stones on certain songs. I enjoy hearing modern takes based on those influences. The album focused more on guitar solos than the previous STP albums as well.

Take a look below at my overall review of Stone Temple Pilots' new self-titled album that (finally) has graced our presence after nine years without an STP album!

Originality: 5 out of 5 stars
Whether this is your favorite STP album or not, I still don't think any current artists sound like them, so they definitely score points for being "STP." The lyrics are as clever and quirky as always, Scott's voice sounds awesome, and the band's sound is cohesive and sharp.

Price: 4.5 out of 5 stars
I purchased Stone Temple Pilots' self-titled album for $14.99 from the iTunes store and immediately synced it up with my iPhone. The purchase from iTunes came with the digital booklet download (what you'd get as a CD insert), 16 songs, a video of the first hit, "Between the Lines," and a video interview with the band. To me, it was definitely worth the price.

Sound Quality: 5 out of 5 stars
The quality of the album and the videos is top notch.

Memorability: 3 out of 5 stars
After listening to the songs a couple of times, I can't pick out too many that would be as popular as radio singles as some of STP's previous songs. People who only listened to STP songs played on the radio may be disappointed by this, but die-hard STP fans, the people who appreciated the range of sounds and styles from the past, will be less likely to worry about that.

Overall, the self-titled Stone Temple Pilots album offers the unique lyrics and great sound quality fans have grown to expect. The album is not as edgy, the songs are not as seductive, but it is a great effort from a band that should never stop making music.

Sources: iTunes album listing, CD insert, personal experience