Stone Temple Pilots

For their reunion album, their first in nearly a decade, the band get back together for probably the only reason that makes sense: They can't make anything else work. Sure, Velvet Revolver was successful, but Scott has clearly burned that bridge. For that reason, I'm going to assume that this album is going to sound hastily completed, with clichéd song structures that will exist more to feel familiar to the elder listeners than it will serve any progressive "let's be a band" purpose. They even told famed old-friend producer Brendan O'Brien to stay at home. And fuck, they couldn't even manage to muster up a title. But let's listen before we judge...

And from the first track / first single, I start to prove my point. Probably chosen because it hearkens back to days of greater risks. I have to admit, the line "You were my favorite drug even when we used to do drugs" is a good line worthy of the radio play it will surely receive. But other than that, it's fairly pedestrian and simple.

Not so of track two, which Weiland pushes well beyond his everyday range to great success. "Take A Load Off" also has an odd 6/8 time signature, so it falls around in certain places in a way that the listener has to catch up to. A much more satisfying boundary-pushing experience.

As we keep going, it's clear that STP are not above taking any chances, even if they don't stick the landing as hard as "Load". And sure, both may sound like Extreme song titles, but "Huckleberry Crumble" is some psychedelic storytelling and "Hickory Dichotomy" sounds like Aerosmith were back on the injectibles.

The absolutely awful "Cinnamon", which is destined for single release not on modern rock radio, but rather the Top 40 Owl City-friendly variety. A chorus which is nothing more than "Yeah- come on- come on now". This is matched with the "First Kiss On Mars" which sounds like the poppiest dreamiest Matthew Sweet track ever.

So, I admit that it's not as superficial as I would have originally expected. But on the other hand, I'm not going to give this a lot of listens either. Maybe I was hoping for more No. 4 and got more Tiny Music. That's all personal taste. Maybe you'll love it. (2 of 5 stars)