06-28-2022, 03:06 PM
(Have I written about this here? Can't remember.)
So. Stone Temple Pilots. Core. 1992. Basically a Pearl Jam knock-off. A very well-done Pearl Jam knock-off, but still. "Plush" is about the only notable song on the album, as far as I can remember, having not listened to it for over two decades. Because even conceding that it was a very well-done knock-off, it's a knock-off of a band I don't find very compelling, so it's not really a compliment.
Then came Purple (1994). Holy crap. Most definitely no longer a Pearl Jam knock-off, Stone Temple Pilots came into their own. Fantastic album. I became a fan.
1996. Tiny Music ... Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop. Not as well-received as the previous two albums, by the fans and critics, though it has been certified triple-platinum. But that's because of all the poseurs finding out about them and latching on, like teenagers to Nevermind, not the real fans who had been listening to them since Bleach. Anyway, I like Tiny Music. I liked that the band was exploring new styles and was interested to hear what they came out with next.
Then Weiland got into legal trouble.
So I'm over at a friend's apartment in, I don't know, '99? 2000? Maybe '01, and I'm looking through the cd collection an lo, there's No. 4. "Stone Temple Pilots have put out a new album?" "Oh yeah! Put it on." So I do so. A few songs in I'm asked, "What do you think?" "I think it sounds like their first album." "Yeah, isn't it great?" "No, it's not great."
In hindsight, I should have known from the album title. "No. 4?" Just a title knock off of J. J. Cale's 5 (1979), #8 (1983), and Number 10 (1992), as well as Big Star's #1 Record (1972), so why wouldn't the music just be more Pearl Jam knock-off? But not as good. I couldn't listen to the whole album. Stopped after four or five songs. (Fun fact: Jody Stephens is the only member of Big Star still alive and my mom knows him. Not on a personal level, but they used to work together. (He's a little young for her.) (She's more December than a September Gurl.))
Anyway. Needless to say, or maybe it is needful, but I haven't bothered with any of STP's subsequent albums.
So. Stone Temple Pilots. Core. 1992. Basically a Pearl Jam knock-off. A very well-done Pearl Jam knock-off, but still. "Plush" is about the only notable song on the album, as far as I can remember, having not listened to it for over two decades. Because even conceding that it was a very well-done knock-off, it's a knock-off of a band I don't find very compelling, so it's not really a compliment.
Then came Purple (1994). Holy crap. Most definitely no longer a Pearl Jam knock-off, Stone Temple Pilots came into their own. Fantastic album. I became a fan.
1996. Tiny Music ... Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop. Not as well-received as the previous two albums, by the fans and critics, though it has been certified triple-platinum. But that's because of all the poseurs finding out about them and latching on, like teenagers to Nevermind, not the real fans who had been listening to them since Bleach. Anyway, I like Tiny Music. I liked that the band was exploring new styles and was interested to hear what they came out with next.
Then Weiland got into legal trouble.
So I'm over at a friend's apartment in, I don't know, '99? 2000? Maybe '01, and I'm looking through the cd collection an lo, there's No. 4. "Stone Temple Pilots have put out a new album?" "Oh yeah! Put it on." So I do so. A few songs in I'm asked, "What do you think?" "I think it sounds like their first album." "Yeah, isn't it great?" "No, it's not great."
In hindsight, I should have known from the album title. "No. 4?" Just a title knock off of J. J. Cale's 5 (1979), #8 (1983), and Number 10 (1992), as well as Big Star's #1 Record (1972), so why wouldn't the music just be more Pearl Jam knock-off? But not as good. I couldn't listen to the whole album. Stopped after four or five songs. (Fun fact: Jody Stephens is the only member of Big Star still alive and my mom knows him. Not on a personal level, but they used to work together. (He's a little young for her.) (She's more December than a September Gurl.))
Anyway. Needless to say, or maybe it is needful, but I haven't bothered with any of STP's subsequent albums.
Getting me free admission into gaming conventions for a decade