This album caught me completely off guard.
Despite having heard most of the songs previously, and having high expectations, I didn't think I'd enjoy Blaster this much. I may doubt Scott Weiland as a person, and sometimes as a live performer, but it's hard to doubt him when it comes to the studio. I felt a joy while listening to the album that I haven't felt since hearing the original STP records for the first time. Maybe because some of the songs called to mind STP, particularly the bridge of Parachute and some of the guitar solos. It even has the standout track, "Circles", that the last STP record lacked. This is the record that S/T should've been. I can't wait until I can get this record on my phone and listen until I'm sick of it.
In the end, it's a bittersweet feeling. Bitter because this should have existed under the STP name, but sweet because it exists.