"Meadow" is a good song. Not great. It has a slightly generic, modern rock attitude at times, though it's still vibrant and punchy with a trademark STP melodic path, especially in the chorus. The instrumental performances are top-notch as always with a groove so welcoming amongst a bleeding genre. The DeLeos and Kretz are immortal to less-than-stellar playing. The synth keyboard was a nice touch as well. However, I do have a couple problems.
I don't like the almost inaudible fade-in to the chorus with the line "Yeahh...we're all". It's awkward and protuberant. It just kind of juts in. In my opinion, it's a lazy songwriting/editing lapse heard similarly on sections of the 2010 self-titled album. I think it's evident that the original three members just don't have the producer's finesse and clarity of Brendan O'Brien. Another thing that bothers me - and some some would call this nitpicking and a tired argument, particularly in the digital age - but the over-compressed, hard-limited sound mixing and mastering on this song brings it down. It's mushy, restrained and lacking dynamic range. There's barely any breathing room sonically. It's the same deal with the 2010 self-titled. It's unfortunate that STP treads the same, indistinguishable modern rock ProTools glaze.
Moreover, I'm enjoying the introduction of Jeff Gutt. I think he's proven himself nicely so far. He isn't an emulation of Weiland but more of a reminiscent spark. His tone and phrasing remind me of Scott during Shangri-La Dee Da 2001-2002 era and reunion 2008-2012 era. I'm talking about those thinner, raspier vocals(though, I think this change was inescapable and propelled by Weiland's continued cigarette smoking and drinking during the last ten years of his life). I enjoy Gutt's vocal stylings more than Chester's. He's a better fit for STP with a rounder tone more reminiscent of Scott. This is all promising and I'm looking forward to the new album next spring and seeing them on tour.
