Review: Stone Temple Pilots - Stone Temple Pilots

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS
Stone Temple Pilots
Atlantic Records

***

Most bands from the early-to-mid '90s grunge-rock boom have either fallen by the wayside or reinvented themselves to stay in the game. Stone Temple Pilots – whose three failed attempts at matching their 1994 classic Purple, coupled with frontman Scott Weiland's heroin addiction, led to their seperation in 2003 – attempt to buck the trend on this self-produced comeback. What we get, however, is vintage STP: crunching, retro-guitar riffs (Dare if you Dare's chorus recalls Mott The Hoople's All The Young Dudes), bluesy swaggers and lashings of melodic grunge. Renewed spirit drives opening tracks Between the Lines and Take A Load Off, and the sunshine pop of Cinnamon is surprisingly effective, but, for the main, it's a mid-strength effort.

Key track: It's not Interstate Love Song, but diehards will embrace Take A Load Off.